Advanced Management of Fertilizers and Biostimulants in Cropping Systems

Course description 

The purpose of the Course is to provide technical skills to help plan and manage crop nutrition through in-depth study of agronomy and the science of herbaceous and arboreal crops. Students will gain in-depth knowledge of fertilisers and biostimulants. From the point of view of the agricultural company, the use of these technical resources represents a cost, so conducting appropriate cost-benefit assessments become a priority for the purposes of economic and environmental sustainability. From the point of view of industry, the specific skills provided by the course will be used for agronomic support to agricultural companies.

Course target 

The Course represents for bachelor's degree graduates and master's degree students a functional path to acquire training that is complementary to the skills provided by the university path, offering a look at the problems related to the use of fertilizers and biostimulants in different national and international contexts.

Training objectives

The Course aims to train technical personnel and agronomists, through close interaction with agricultural companies and agro-industries producing fertilizers and biostimulants, to plan and manage crop nutrition, evaluate the economic and environmental sustainability of their use and contribute to and position the products on the market.
The knowledge acquired will be useful to find professional opportunities in the following areas:

• Industries operating in the fertilizer and biostimulant sector
• Agricultural companies and/or agricultural cooperatives
• Professional firms specialized in crop management
• Chemical analysis laboratories of soil, water and plant matrices
• Professional consultancy for national and international companies and industries operating in the fertilizer and/or biostimulant sector.

Teaching methods

Teaching methodologies consider both in-person and remote lectures, as well as participation in practical sessions using portable instruments for non-destructive measurements of crop performance under stress conditions with or without applications of biostimulants.

The Course has a duration of 128 hours. A final assessment test is foreseen at the end of the Course.

Structure and Contents 

The Course is divided into 8 modules, 2 of which are in-person and 5 are online.

In-person lectures and laboratory:

• Agrometeorology, fertilization management in vulnerable areas
• Statistical analysis, evaluation of crop performance using non-destructive methods, soil analysis and crop needs

Online lectures

• Nutrients balance and fertilization plan, vegetables nutrition, soilless cultivation and nutrient management
• Tree species nutrition, crop nutrition and postharvest, nutrition and fruit quality
• Ecology, abiotic stresses,
• Soil microbiome, microbial biostimulant, plant biostimulant
• Crop fertilization, soil properties, fertilization and environment
• Regulatory of fertilisers and biostimulants, biostimulants in Europe, soil biology

Course fee 

€ 800,00

Application deadline

August 28th 

Attendance certificate 

At the end of the Course the School will issue a certificate of attendance with value to the extent permitted by law, and with the details of the ECTS obtained to the students who attended at least 70% of the lessons, passed the assessment tests foreseen and are up to date with the payment of the enrolment fee.