Course: Natural Resource Use and Conservation in the Tropics and Subtropics (3803-411)

Persons:

• Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch (verantwortlich)
• apl ProfDr Bettina Haußmann (verantwortlich)
• Prof. Dr. Uta Dickhöfer (verantwortlich)
• Dr. Thomas Hilger (begleitend)
• (begleitend)
• apl ProfDr Ludger Herrmann (begleitend)

Type of Course:

lecture

In-Class Hours Per Week:

4

Contents:

1.) Introduction - module requirements - module links within the compulsory moduls - Ilias - exam mode and requirements - expectations

2.) Systems thinking - multidisciplinary approaches - Resources - functions - links between resources - concepts of use and conservation

3.) Weather - Climate - global circulation - wind systems - ocean currents - global energy distribution - precipitation patterns - agro-ecolgical zoning - agri-ecological zones -examples

4.) Precipitation patterns - agro-ecological zoning - agri-ecological zones -definitions- Length of growing period - Köppen-Geiger-vegetation zones -examples

5.) Global water cycle - precipitation - evaporation - transpiration - run-off - surface pools - kondesation - movement - immobilisation - water table recharge - drainage - percolation

6.) Water as a resource - global water issues- virtual water - Green -Blue -Grey - Water Concepts - rain water harvesting - field water management - water and soil -soil degradation and withering -tropical soils = problem soils

7.) General definitions, soil functions and global soil degradation

8.) Soil description and systematics

9.) Soil diversity at variable scales

10.) Problem soils and their management

11.) Exercise: Calculation of site characteristics

12.) Soil management in Sahelian subsistence farming systems

13.) Major land usetypes of the tropics and subtropics and ecosystems services

14.) Crop production systems, crop management and resource use in the tropics and subtopics: Potentials and constriants

15.) Land use change, LUC assessement: tools and approaches

16.) Matter flows in landscapes, interconnectivity of landscapes

17.) Land degradation: types, extent, human impact, consequences and mitigation options at landscape level

18.) Global diversity of vascular plants, Role of the tropics and subtopics: origin of most food crops, Agricultural threats to biodiversity

19.) Natural resource use in tropical livestock systems: - System classifications - Resource use by livestock - efficiency of nutrient and water conversion - examples

20.) Tropical feed resources: - Feed evaluation systems - Nutritional value of tropical feed resources

21.) Tropical feed resources: - Nutritional value of tropical feed resources (cont.) - Feed management and conservation - examples of livestock feeding in different production systems

22.) Grassland-based livestock production: - Grassland ecotypes - Spatio-temporal availability in resource availability - Pastoral livestock systems

23.) Grassland-based livestock production: - Grassland degradation processes -

24.) Grassland-based livestock production: Rangeland concepts - Management strategies

25.) Plant Genetic Resources (PGR), Roles and functions of crop and varietal diversity in the production system (including linkage with nutrition), PGR conservation (ex situ, in situ - farmer management of diversity), Use of PGR : legal framework (CBD, ITPGRFA, SMTA, benefit sharing)

26.) Use of PGR and crop improvement targeting sustainable production systems and sustainable use of natural resources (P, N efficiency)

27.) Use of PGR and crop improvement to cope with climate variability and change

28.) Use and breeding of minor crops

Location:

Hohenheim

Module:

• 3803-410 Natural Resource Use and Conservation in the Tropics and Subtropics (compulsory)