Plant culture practices (20h + 10h)
Rotation. Soil preparation and seeding. Organic and mineral fertilization. Ecological requirements and culture cycles. Crop protection (weeds, pathogens, pests). Harvest. Environmental impact.
Field visits: farms (conventional and organig farming), agriculture services, field trials
Mechanization (20h)
The tractor: benzine, diesel and 2-stroke engines (functioning and characteristics); notions of couple and power; mechanic and hydraulic transmission (clutch, gearbox, drive shaft, power take-off, differentials, wheels and tires, couple converter); hydraulic systems (pumps, engines, circuits); lifting; security, comfort and ergonomy
Soil preparation: objectives, types of soil preparation, mode of action of tools, operations and tools
Seeders: principles, classical and precision seeders, mechanical and pneumatic seeders, planting machines (potato...)
Manure spreaders
Soil pulverizers: principles of droplets formation, types of nozzles, types of pulverizers, circulating systems, pulverizer components
Harvesting macihines: combined harvester (cereals, maize...), silage-cutter, potato and sugar beet harvesters
Precision agriculture (10h)
Introduction : definition and motivation
Basic components
Technologies : computer, geographic information system, GPS, captors and control systems
Making the difference between «precision agriculture » and « precision of agriculture »
Approch of precision agriculture: variabilty assessment (types of variability, quantifying methods and techniques, modelling), variability management (pH, main nutrient, weeds, pathogens, pests, water and culture management)
Evaluation: economic profitability, environmental impact, technology transfer (innovation)
|