Overall objectives:

1 - Assessing the soil physicochemical fertility
2 - Assessing needs for soil organic correction before and after his conversion to organic production
3 - Understanding the process of composting
4 - Quantification of soil organic matter and soil nutrient availability
5 - Assessing crop nutrient demand and fertilizer recommendation in organic agriculture
6 - Assess the fertility of the soil
7 - Decide how to manage the soil and the time required to convert it to organic production
8 - Recommend composting techniques to increase the quality of the compost and to recommend organic fertilizer application, and other fertilizers certified for organic farming, to increase productivity and quality of the crops.

Syllabus:

1 - Soil behavior to mobilization and consequences in terms of degradation or improvement of their physical and chemical characteristics.
2 - Relationship between mineral nutrition and plant growth. Quantification of soil mineral and organic reserves.
3 - Evaluation of mineralization rates of soil organic matter and the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.
4 - Evaluation of soil nutrient availability. Nitrogen management in the soil is a limiting factor for organic production.
5 - Lime and organic fertilizers are used in organic agriculture.
6 - Calculation of fertilization for organic crop production.
7 - Study of the composting process. Materials used and evaluation of biological, physical, and chemical parameters during composting.
8 - Study of composting techniques that maximize the retention of nitrogen.
9 - Quality assessment of the composts and evaluation of their use to maximize crop yields in organic crop production

Literature/Sources:

Regulamento (UE) 2018/848 , Regulamento (UE) 2018/848 do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho, de 30 de maio de 2018, relativo à produção biológica e à rotulagem dos produtos biológicos e que revoga o Regulamento (CE) n.º 834/2007 do Conselho ,
Brito, L. M. , 2015 , Manual de compostagem , ESA/IPVC.
Brito, L. M. , 2017 , Compostagem, fertilização do solo e substratos , Publindústria, Edições Técnicas. Engebook - Conteúdos de Engenharia e Gestão, Porto
Diário da República, 1.ª Série, n.º 71. , 2022 , Colocação no mercado de Matérias fertilizantes não harmonizadas ,
Ferreira, J. , 2023 , Guia de fatores de produção para a agricultura biológica , Agro-Sanus.
Jones Jr., J.B. , 2012 , Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility Manual , CRC Press
Diário da República, 1ª Série. Nº 140. , 2022 , Portaria nº 185/2022 de 21 de julho. ,

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
The teaching and learning methodologies are articulated with the pedagogical model of the study cycle as they were structured accordingly, with the principle of 75% of ECTS in distance learning (30h), and 25% in face-to-face activities (10h). To achieve the objectives and execute the program contents, contact hours are distributed into 16 asynchronous hours (TP), 20 synchronous hours (TP), 4 face-to-face hours (S). Teaching and learning methodologies include a period of synchronous work with students to frame the program contents, and autonomous asynchronous activities, which include research, critical reflection and study by students, with the completion of work on the program topics, forums discussion, moderated by teachers. The face-to-face activities will be carried out under the coordination of the conductor, supported by common scripts and protocols, and will involve visiting case studies and applying the knowledge acquired.