2024

Agricultural Systems and Technology

Name: Agricultural Systems and Technology
Code: FIT12384L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area: Agronomy

Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

Sustainable production of crops, using agriculture conservation, namely the no-till system, which reduces the emission of C02 into the atmosphere

Sustainable Development Goals

Learning Goals

The objective of this Curricular Unit is to provide theoretical and practical knowledge about agriculture and
agricultural and agro-forestry systems under Mediterranean conditions. Knowledge about climate, soils
and land use through annual and perennial crops and pastures, as well as farming operations and
technologies used in agricultural production. Enable the students to analyze different agro-climatic
conditions and to evaluate their agricultural potential. Perception of the fundamental mechanisms of farm
management and operations and the interaction of farms and rural environment.

Contents

1. Climate
1.1. Climate and agriculture
1.2. Characterization of the Mediterranean climate and its aptitude for agriculture production
2. Soil
2.1. Soil as agricultural resource
2.2. Characteristics of the main soil types and their aptitude for agriculture
3. Crops
3.1. Crops adapted to the Mediterranean environment
3.2. Definition of crop rotations and their spatial distribution on a farm
4. Pastures
4.1. Introduction and concepts of pasture utilization
4.2. Utilization of natural and improved pastures
5. Forages
5.1. Concept of forage and its classification
5.2. The importance of forages for animal feeding
5.3. Forage conservation methods
6. Agricultural machinery
6. 1.Machines for crop establishment, fertilization, spraying and harvest
7. Forestry
7.1. Forests and biodiversity
7.2. Forestry systems with and without grazing
7.3. Forest use and hunting management
8. Crop fertilization
9. Crop protection
10. Extensive animal production

Teaching Methods

The approach of the contents of the Curricular Unit is done through a theoretical introduction about each
theme and a theoretical-practical approach in the field, through study visits to farms. The theoretical
subjects taught exhibitions are made using PowerPoint software. The assessment consists in the
elaboration of an individual report for each subject taught, being the final classification assigned to the
student through the arithmetical average of the classification of the different reports.