This research line of the PhD in Crop Science explores a wide range of challenges linked to soil management, climate change, crop productivity, and technological innovation in modern agriculture. The studies combine field experimentation, remote sensing, modelling, and environmental analysis to develop strategies that improve sustainability and resilience in agricultural systems.
Agronomy
The Agronomy group deals with multiscale research on soil–plant–atmosphere interactions in the agroecosystem using laboratory, lysimeter, plot, and on-farm experiments, supported by proximal and remote sensing and modeling. Crop research focuses on diversified systems that deliver multiple ecosystem services, improve drought tolerance, and support farmers in adopting sustainable practices such as, among others, conservation agriculture, organic and precision farming, and emerging carbon-farming approaches. The group also advances knowledge in weed ecology and management. Leveraging numerous long-term trials on fertilizations and cropping systems in different soil types, the group develops methods for soil monitoring and sustainable management to enhance soil health and carbon sequestration. Water research targets both quantitative and qualitative aspects of agricultural water use, improving irrigation efficiency through the study of water-saving crops and technologies. Efforts on water quality address strategies to reduce nonpoint-source pollution from nutrients and plant protection products. The sector also prioritizes climate-change mitigation and adaptation strategies, including reducing greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions.
Field Crop and Turfgrass
The main research topics of the Field Crop and Turfgrass unit include: crop physiology under abiotic stresses, wheat-legume intercropping, agroforestry and shading effects on field crops, recovery and cultivation of ancient grains, microbial biostimulants application in field crops, and other topics related to phytoremediation and agronomic management to improve crop quality and food safety. The group also focuses on i) managing and monitoring semi-natural grasslands, such as permanent meadows and pastures, using traditional methods and remote sensing to enhance productivity and habitats’ conservation, ii) evaluating methods, sites, and species for grassland restoration and revegetation, and iii) assessing forage crops’ performance in terms of yield, forage quality, and stress adaptation. A specific attention is devoted also to turfgrass management, including sustainable practices, stress resilience, pest and weed control, and the use of innovative technologies.
Horticulture and Floriculture research
The Horticulture and Floriculture research group develops innovative strategies for the sustainable production of vegetable crops, ornamental species, cultivated mushrooms, and green infrastructure systems. The activities cover both open-field and greenhouse cultivation, including advanced approaches for efficient resource use, reduced environmental impact, and improved resilience to climate change. A central focus is the in-depth study of how agronomic practices—soil management, irrigation, mineral nutrition, lighting, and microclimate control—affect the nutritional, sensory, and technological quality of horticultural products. The group also works on the development of high-efficiency soilless systems, aquaponics, vertical farming solutions, and technologies for the monitoring and automated management of controlled environments. In the field of cultivated mushrooms, research addresses the optimization of substrates, microclimatic parameters, artificial lighting and product quality. For the ornamental sector, activities include propagation, sustainable cultivation, and the use of plants in green roofs and living walls, promoting innovation and sustainability across all production systems.
