Studying at the University of Verona

Here you can find information on the organisational aspects of the Programme, lecture timetables, learning activities and useful contact details for your time at the University, from enrolment to graduation.

Study Plan

The Study Plan includes all modules, teaching and learning activities that each student will need to undertake during their time at the University.
Please select your Study Plan based on your enrollment year.

1° Year

ModulesCreditsTAFSSD
6
B
BIO/19
1 module between the following
6
C
AGR/07
6
C
AGR/13
1 module among the following
6
B
ING-IND/25
6
B
CHIM/06
6
B
ING-IND/25
1 module among the following
6
B
BIO/11
6
B
BIO/18
6
B
BIO/10
1 module among the following
6
B
ING-IND/25
6
B
CHIM/01
6
B
ING-IND/34
1 module between the following
6
C
BIO/04
6
C
AGR/16

2° Year  activated in the A.Y. 2023/2024

ModulesCreditsTAFSSD
6
B
IUS/04
1 module between the following
6
C
BIO/04
6
C
AGR/13
1 module among the following
6
B
CHIM/03
6
B
CHIM/03
6
B
CHIM/06
1 module between the following
6
C
AGR/16
6
C
AGR/12
Training
3
F
-
Final exam
36
E
-
activated in the A.Y. 2023/2024
ModulesCreditsTAFSSD
6
B
IUS/04
1 module between the following
6
C
BIO/04
6
C
AGR/13
1 module among the following
6
B
CHIM/03
6
B
CHIM/03
6
B
CHIM/06
1 module between the following
6
C
AGR/16
6
C
AGR/12
Training
3
F
-
Final exam
36
E
-
Modules Credits TAF SSD
Between the years: 1°- 2°
1 module among the following
6
B
BIO/07
6
B
BIO/11
6
B
BIO/10
Between the years: 1°- 2°
12
D
-
Between the years: 1°- 2°
English B2
3
F
-

Legend | Type of training activity (TTA)

TAF (Type of Educational Activity) All courses and activities are classified into different types of educational activities, indicated by a letter.

A Basic activities
B Characterizing activities
C Related or complementary activities
D Activities to be chosen by the student
E Final examination
F Other training activities
S Placements in companies, public or private institutions and professional associations

Climate change and soil functions (2023/2024)

Teaching code

4S008301

Credits

6

Coordinator

Claudio Zaccone

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

AGR/13 - AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY

Courses Single

Authorized with reserve

MoodleMoodle Seminars 0

The teaching is organized as follows:

Teoria

Credits

5

Period

Semester 1

Academic staff

Claudio Zaccone

Lessons timetable
Esercitazioni

Credits

1

Period

Semester 1

Academic staff

Claudio Zaccone

Lessons timetable

Learning objectives

With ca. 1500 Gt C, soil is the largest terrestrial carbon sink after oceans. An unsustainable soil management can shift soil from carbon sink to carbon source (CO2, CH4) and, consequently, contribute to climate change. The aim of the course is to provide fundamental concepts about the effects of climate change on soil and vice versa. In particular, the course is focused on: i) the impact of global warming on soil ecosystem services, ii) the potential role of soils to mitigate climate change, and iii) sustainable management practices allowing to enhance soil organic carbon sequestration as a key to address climate change mitigation, adaption and food security.

Program

INTRODUCTION. Climate change: the socio-economic and political context. From the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the EU Green Deal.
OVERVIEW ON THE EARTH’S CLIMATE SYSTEM. How it works: components, temporal scales, external forcing and internal interactions/responses, positive and negative feedbacks.
CLIMATE CHANGE OVER TIME. The climate change since the Last Glacial Maximum. Humans and pre-industrial climate. Humans and post-industrial climate. Global emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), global warming potentials (GWP) and radiative forcings. The global carbon budget. Greenhouse effect and global warming: Earth’s radiation budget, models and possible future scenarios.
SOIL AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION. Soil organic carbon (SOC): distribution, functions and analytical determination. Soil organic matter (SOM) and SOC: composition, carbon cycle and mechanisms of carbon stabilization. Pools of SOC: chemical vs. physical fractionations. Global carbon sequestration: overview (accumulation vs. sequestration, sink vs. stock, features of an ideal carbon sink), determination of carbon stock, mechanisms of carbon sequestration (mineral vs. organic soils), strategies and technological options (with a focus on terrestrial ecosystems), limitations (saturation, permanence/reversibility, dispersion, barriers, potential risks), benefits (with a focus on climate change mitigation and food security) and initiatives (4p1000).

Bibliography

Vai alla bibliografia
Visualizza la bibliografia con Leganto, strumento che il Sistema Bibliotecario mette a disposizione per recuperare i testi in programma d'esame in modo semplice e innovativo.

Didactic methods

Classroom lectures, classroom discussion of scientific papers, seminars.

Learning assessment procedures

The final exam consists of an oral interview (ca. 30 min of duration; generally consisting of 3 questions) on the topics developed during the course.

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD), who intend to request the adaptation of the exam, must follow the instructions given HERE

Evaluation criteria

The final exam aims at ascertaining both the completeness and the rigor of learned concepts as well as the ability to link them and discuss implications. The final examination method is the same for attending and non-attending students.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final grade depends exclusively on the oral interview.

Exam language

Italiano

Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs

This initiative contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030. More information on sustainability