agr1agr agronomy 1

AGRONOMY 1

AGR1AGR

2017

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

This subject will develop students' knowledge in the practice of agronomy as an interdisciplinary study that underpins sustainable agricultural plant production practices. Different crop and pasture establishment and management options will be explored along with conventional, alternative and sustainable plant management systems. Students will develop skills in the measurement of plant growth and yield of crops and/or pastures. Skills in decision-making related to crop varieties, establishment, growth and harvest production plans will be developed. Students will be introduced to the ecology of weeds and be able to identify common weeds, insects and crop and pasture diseases and will engage in field practice, laboratory work and excursions to undertake crop and pasture monitoring assessments and analyses and apply their findings to productive use and sustainability in landscape management planning.

SchoolSchool of Life Sciences

Credit points15

Subject Co-ordinatorPenelope Smith

Available to Study Abroad StudentsNo

Subject year levelYear Level 1 - UG

Exchange StudentsNo

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites Admission into SBATE

Co-requisitesN/A

Incompatible subjectsN/A

Equivalent subjectsN/A

Special conditionsN/A

Learning resources

Readings

Resource TypeTitleResource RequirementAuthor and YearPublisher
ReadingsAustralian soil fertility manualRecommendedPrice, G 20063RD EDN, CSIRO PUBLISHING, COLLINGWOOD, VICTORIA
ReadingsDesign of experiments for agriculture and the natural sciencesRecommendedHoshmand, A 20062ND EDN, CRC PRESS, BOCA RATON, FL
ReadingsIntegrated pest management for crops and pasturesRecommendedHorne, P & Page, J 2006LANDMARK PRESS, VICTORIA
ReadingsInterpreting soil test results: what do all the numbers mean?RecommendedHazelton, P & Murphy 2007CSIRO PUBLISHING, COLLINGWOOD, VICTORIA
ReadingsPests of field crops and pasturesRecommendedBailey, P 2007CSIRO PUBLISHING, COLLINGWOOD, VICTORIA
ReadingsProductivity growth in Australian agriculture: trends, sources, performanceRecommendedMullen, J 2007AUSTRALIAN FARM INSTITUTE, SURRY HILLS, NSW
ReadingsThe coming famineRecommendedCribb, J 2010CSIRO PUBLISHING, COLLINGWOOD, VICTORIA
ReadingsWeeds of the south-east: an identification guide for AustraliaRecommendedRichardson, F, Richardson R & Shepard, R 20012ND EDN, CSIRO PUBLISHING, VICTORIA

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

01. Describe and explain the fundamental aspects of plant biology relevant to agricultural plant production practices

Activities:
Practical sessions and lectures will introduce the relationships between the plants, soil and the environment. The farm will be used to demonstrate some of these relationships.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)

02. Describe different crop and pasture establishment and management options

Activities:
Lectures, practical sessions and field trips will be used to demonstrate differences in purpose between crops and pastures, their establishment and management. Use of keys and identification characteristics of common crops and pasture species.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Ethical Awareness(Ethical Awareness)
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)

03. Research, develop and present a crop and/or pasture establishment program in a format suitable for a professional audience

Activities:
Students will research and develop fundamental aspects of a crop or pasture establishment program. This may be put into practice on the farm to test the program.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
Ethical Awareness(Ethical Awareness)
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

04. Measure plant growth and yield of crops and/or pastures

Activities:
Practical sessions and lectures will be used to introduce the students to commonly used scientific measures of crops and pasture growth stages and yield. The farm will be used for these exercises.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)

05. Identify common weeds, pests and diseases of crops and pastures and discuss the range of management options to control them

Activities:
Practical sessions will be used to identify weeds, pests and diseases of crops and pasture. A range of keys will be used. Methods of assessing for suitable controls measures and their efficacy will be explored.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)

Subject options

Select to view your study options…

Start date between: and    Key dates

Epping, 2017, Semester 1, Day

Overview

Online enrolmentYes

Maximum enrolment sizeN/A

Enrolment information

Subject Instance Co-ordinatorPenelope Smith

Class requirements

Laboratory ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 3.0 hours laboratory class per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

WorkShopWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours workshop per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment elementComments%ILO*
Practical Assessment - 2 Reports (200), 1 Report (300)3001, 02, 03
Assignment (1500 words)3002, 04, 05
Tutorial Assessment (100 words)1001, 02, 04
Written Exam (2 hours)3001, 02, 05