AGRONOMY 1

AGR1AGR

2020

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

This subject you will develop knowledge in the practice of agronomy as an activity that under pins plant production practices in sustainable agriculture. Different options for crop and pasture establishment and management will be explored as well as conventional, alternative and sustainable systems for plant management. Skills in decision-making related to crop varieties, establishment, and growth will be developed and students will learn how these integrate into production planning. You will be introduced to the ecology of weeds and learn how to identify common weeds, insects and crop and pasture diseases. You will develop the s kills to assess a crop and pasture monitoring program and practice these skills in the field and apply them to production planning. The environment and principles of sustainable agriculture will be considered in production planning.

School: Life Sciences (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Marisa Collins

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: No

Subject year level: Year Level 1 - UG

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: No

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: Must be admitted into SBATE

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: N/A

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: N/A

Quota-conditions or rules: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Learning resources

The coming famine

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Cribb, J

Year: 2010

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING, COLLINGWOOD, VICTORIA

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Productivity growth in Australian agriculture: trends, sources, performance

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Mullen, J

Year: 2007

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: AUSTRALIAN FARM INSTITUTE, SURRY HILLS, NSW

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Pests of field crops and pastures

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Bailey, P

Year: 2007

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING, COLLINGWOOD, VICTORIA

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Design of experiments for agriculture and the natural sciences

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Hoshmand, A

Year: 2006

Edition/Volume: 2ND EDN

Publisher: CRCPRESS,BOCARATON

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Interpreting soil test results: what do all the numbers mean?

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Hazelton, P & Murphy

Year: 2007

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING, COLLINGWOOD, VICTORIA

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Integrated pest management for crops and pastures

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Horne, P & Page, J

Year: 2006

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: LANDMARK PRESS, VICTORIA

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Australian soil fertility manual

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Price, G

Year: 2006

Edition/Volume: 3RD EDN

Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING, COLLINGWOOD

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Weeds of the south-east: an identification guide for Australia

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Richardson, F, Richardson R & Shepard, R

Year: 2001

Edition/Volume: 2ND EDN

Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING, VICTORIA

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: No

Work-based learning: No

Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A

Entire subject or partial subject: N/A

Total hours/days required: N/A

Location of WBL activity (region): N/A

WBL addtional requirements: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

Intended Learning Outcomes

01. Describe and explain the fundamental aspects of plant biology relevant to agricultural plant production practices
02. Describe different crop and pasture establishment and management options
03. Investigate, develop and present a crop and/or pasture establishment program in a format suitable for a professional audience
04. Measure plant growth and yield of crops and/or pastures
05. Identify common weeds, pests and diseases of crops and pastures and discuss the range of management options to control them

Epping (Melbourne Polytechnic), 2020, Semester 1, Blended

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Marisa Collins

Class requirements

Industry Based Learning-Off SiteWeek: 10 - 22
One 8.00 hours industry based learning-off site per study period on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
A field trip is included to view practical agronomy in industry

LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.00 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Recorded via ZOOM

PracticalWeek: 10 - 22
Three 6.00 hours practical per study period on any day including weekend during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Farm based activities and practicals will be demonstrated. Note these dates are subject to change if weather conditions are not suitable.

PracticalWeek: 10 - 22
One 3.00 hours practical other recurrence on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Experimental kit is provided for students for self- directed study. Students must arrange to collect experimental kit from Epping in weeks 1 or 2.

PracticalWeek: 10 - 22
Three 3.00 hours practical other recurrence on any day including weekend during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Students will practice weed identification competences in field/campus situations during unscheduled times. Weed identification skills are practiced and then evidenced as part of the practical assessments.

WorkShopWeek: 10 - 22
One 6.00 hours workshop other recurrence on weekdays from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
An intensive, one day weed workshop will be delivered to teach students how to identify weeds and overview control methods. This knowledge is required for the practical assessment

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Practical Assessment - 2 Reports (450 words each, total is 900 words)

N/AOtherIndividualNo20SILO1, SILO2, SILO3

Assignment (1,500-words)

N/AAssignmentIndividualNo35SILO2, SILO4, SILO5

Written Exam (2 hours) (2,000- words equivalent). Exams will be completed at the Melbourne Polytechnic campus

N/AOther written examIndividualNo45SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4, SILO5