Agrarökologie

Part I: Fundamentals of ecology: environment of organisms, populations, ecological niche, co-existence, competition, trophic level, food webs, energy and material flow, biocoenosis, ecosystems, biomes, human demography, alteration of atmosphere and climate (greenhouse effect, ozone, acid rain).

Part II: Agroecology Introduction in agroecology as the basic science of the functionability of agro-ecosystems under special respect of sustainability. After an overview on structure and function of agro-ecosystems, the different compartments are treated: cultivated plants as producers of harvestable biomass, weeds as competitors for resources, energy-flows through agro-ecosystems under special respect of the need of fossil-energy in agriculture, material cycling with the nitrogen example, soil-life as a system of reducers and recyclers, as well as self-regulation of plant diseases and pests focussing on the enhancement of beneficials. Finally, the agroecological significance of uncultivated biotopes in the cultural landscape is dealt with.

Part III: Introduction in agroecosystems and production methods; men as actor in the agroecosystem; nutrient cycles, energy consumption in agriculture, effects of pesticides on environment, soil compaction, soil erosion.