Pastures and Forages

Code: FIT13346L

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Agronomy

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

Addressing the agronomic, environmental, economic, territorial and social importance of Pastures and Forages and the Animal Production Systems associated with them, respecting the environment and preserving natural resources.

Sustainable Development Goals

Fome zero e agricultura sustentável - Acabar com a fome, alcançar a segurança alimentar e melhoria da nutrição e promover a agricultura sustentável.

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Vida terrestre - Proteger, recuperar e promover o uso sustentável dos ecossistemas terrestres, gerir de forma sustentável as florestas, combater a desertificação, deter e reverter a degradação da Terra e deter a perda da biodiversidade.

Learning Goals

It is intended that the student acquires knowledge about the economic importance; morphology; growth and development; soil and climatic requirements; and cultural techniques of the pastures and forages .This course also aims to get students to master the techniques for the establishment of pasture and forage cultivation and species, to know the different species the ecological requirements and its fitness (cutting or grazing). It is hoped that the knowledge gained from this course enable students to choose the best option in terms of culture and cultural techniques for each situation of different systems to produce in quantity and quality while respecting the environment and preserving natural soil and water resources.

1.Pastures
1.1. Concept and importance;
1.2. Permanent Dryland Pastures;
1.3. Biodiverse Pastures rich in legumes.
1.4. Temporary Pastures and Permanent Irrigated Pastures.
1.5. Production curves of Permanent Dryland and Irrigated Pastures
1.6. Management of Permanent Dryland and Irrigated Pastures
1.7. Grazing systems
2. Forages
2.1. Concept
2.2. Autumn-Winter-Spring and Spring-Summer forages
2.3. Forage conservation techniques
2.3.1. Haymaking
2.3.1.1. Forced ventilation and artificial dehydration
2.3.2. Silage
2.3.3. Haylage
2.3.3.1. Large Round Bales and Large Parallelepiped Bales
3. Techniques for Pasture Installation and Improvement
3.1. Soil mobilization and direct sowing
4. " Montado" - Agro-Silvo-Pastoral System and its Multifunctionality
4.1. The pastures and the sustainability of the system
5. Techniques and methodology for quantitative and qualitative evaluation of pastures and forages
6. Observation of the dynamics of pastures in the field

Teaching Methods

This curricular unit will be taught in theoretical-practical classes, complemented in the practice with study visits and individual or group work.
The student can opt for the Continuous Assessment or Final Assessment.
Continuous Assessment: Two evaluation tests. This scheme applies only to students with a presence of ≥ 75% of classes held. Any student who obtains, on the first evaluation test, a grade less than 9 [0-20], will automatically change to the Final Acessment. Teachers can implement individual or group works, which will count for the final grade depending on the rules presented at the beginning of the semester.
Final Assessment: An exame on all the subjects taught in the semester.
Approval in the curricular unit: Getting a rating equal to or greater than 10 [0-20] in the evaluations carried out (Continuous Assessment or Final Assessment).