Pastures and meadows are predominant elements in the Swiss cultural landscape. There are synergies and conflicts between both agriculture and landscape- or biodiversity- conservation. This course gives an introduction to instruments and knowledge in both theory and practices. It enables the graduates to elaborate scientifically based, optimal solutions for agriculture and biodiversity-conservation

The students integrate the knowledge they have gained in the practical courses (Integrierte Praktika) by applying it to tackling a specific environmental problem.

Crops in the World Food System presents selected crop species in the context of various cropping systems in Switzerland and the tropics and depicts mutual relations. Common principles with respect to cultivation and to importance for the World Food System will be depicted for these showcase species.

Research results in grassland sciences will be presented and discussed, ranging from citation classics to most recent research results from published or on-going studies. Topics will range from plant ecophysiology, biodiversity and biogeochemical cycling to management aspects in agro and forest ecosystems.

No description available.

This course is an introduction into forage cropping and grassland sciences. Topics include: extensive/intensive use, grassland evaluation, grassland maintenance and management using fertilization, grazing, cutting, etc. Relationships between site, vegetation composition and management will be explored.

This course focuses on grasslands globally and their respective properties. Spatial distribution, vegetation composition, soils, management and productivity as well as the impact of fire, invasion or over-exploitation will be discussed. The use of existing data sets will be one topic as well.

This lecture provides an introduction into crop and forage sciences - with a focus on sustainable management methods.

This lecture provides an introduction into crop and forage sciences. Aspects of sustainable production, interaction with and control of weeds will be topics as well as an introduction to the wide diversity of local plants and their groups in general. Scientific and application-related literature will be discussed; excursions provide an in-depth-learning experience.