Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Scienze agrarie - SA

The aim of the course is to provide students with analysis tools used to understand the quantitative mechanisms governing the water cycle between soil-plant-atmosphere and the problems of optimization, management and pollution of water resources for agriculture. Some concepts related to precision irrigation will be provided, as well.

Knowledge and understanding

Understanding the processes related to the absorption of water by plants, storage and movement of water in the soil, and water cycle between soil, plant and atmosphere. Develop a critical reasoning on the interaction between agronomic practice and irrigation management and the connected environmental impacts (climate change, pollution of waterways).

Apply knowledge and understanding

Use of software for the calculation of hydrological balances

Implementation of the calculation of Evapotranspiration according to Penman-Monteith

Give a judgment

Analyze the water balance of different cropping situations and the related impacts on the use of water resources in a given environment and verify them through mass balances with the use of software.

Communication skills

Acquire a specific vocabulary, improve the ability to communicate in English, as well as data analysis skills through the adoption of simple models to the problem under consideration.

Learning skills:

- calculating Evapotranspiration from meteorological data;

- managing and elaborating big data set;

- managing water balance of a crop during growing season;

- knowledges in evaluating water footprint of the crops.

The course programme will focus on the following aspects:

Agrometeorology: Structure of the atmosphere. Composition of the atmosphere, greenhouse gases and aerosol. Role of agriculture in modifying greenhouse gasses.

Solar radiation: physics of radiation, Solar irradiance spectrum at top of atmosphere, absorption of radiation by atmosphere, radiation balance.

Water in the atmophere: water vapour, evaporation process, condensation. Water cycle, relative humidity, saturation deficit.

The evapotranspiration (ET): evaporation from the soil, transpiration by the crops, aerodynamic and surface resistances. Calculation of ET by Penman-Monteith. Crop coefficients.

The green, blue and grey water footprint of crops and derived crop products

Soil water balance: determination of soil and plant characteristics driving influence the process

Effect of agronomical practices on cropping system

Use of specific software to calculate the water balance

The course deals with:

The water and the atmosphere and water cycle which will transmit the theoretical concepts related to the studied processes;

practical exercise which involves the individual use of excel for the implementation of evapotranspiration according to Penman-Monteith and its automatic calculation for two years of different meteorological dataset for each student.

Presentation by the students of a scientific article published in an international journal in English relating to the use of water in agriculture: green, blue and gray water and water footprint of crops.

The activity will be based on specific software for calculating the water balance. The needed variables will be analyzed and the effect of cultivation practices will be assessed.

Attention will also be paid to the field determinations of variables useful for checking the balance sheet and the sensors used for its determination. Concept related to precision irrigation will be introduced as well.

The exam involves the drafting of an integrated report on the water balance of a specific crop situation which will be presented and discussed in an oral part. Presentation and discussion of an ISI scientific article.