New‐Alternative Crops

Type: Graduate course / Mandatory course

Division: Plant Science and Environment

Coordinator: Spyridon Koutroubas

Semester: 1^st

ECTS: 7.5

Instructors: Spyridon Koutroubas / Christos Damalas

E‐mail: skoutrou@agro.duth.gr; cdamalas@agro.duth.gr

Telephone: 25520 41125 / 25520 41116

Cooperation with students: after contact (via email)

Course description:

Definitions, introduction to new‐alternative crops. International trends and the Greek situation. Factors affecting crop growth and distribution (climate, soil, biotic factors). Ecological conditions in Greece. Environmental conditions required for crop growth. New field crops of interest for Greece. Taxonomy, botany, crop growth cycle, common cultivation techniques. Perspectives of commercial exploitation. Production costs and total revenue.

Suggested textbooks:

 (The following titles are offered by the library of our Department)

• Weiss A. (2000): Oilseed Crops, 2nd edn. Blackwell Science, London, UK.
• Bavec and M. Bavec. (2006): Organic Production and Use of Alternative Crops, CRC Press, London, UK.
• Gunstone D. (2004): Rapeseed and canola oil: Production, Processing, Properties and Uses, CRC Press, London, UK.

Learning outcomes

 Upon successful completion of the course students will be able to:

• To recommend new‐alternative crops based on crop adaptability and
• To design appropriate farming systems with new‐alternative
• To recommend appropriate management approaches for increasing productivity and improving the economic efficiency of crops

Evaluation methods:

• Written / oral exams at the end of the semester

Tentative schedule of classes for the course ‘New‐alternative Crops’