Module Information
Course Delivery
Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
---|---|
Lecture | 2 x 1 hour lectures per week |
Practical | 5 x 3 hour practicals during semester |
Assessment
Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
---|---|---|
Semester Assessment | Essay | 20% |
Semester Exam | 1.5 Hours Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3 | 60% |
Semester Assessment | 3 Hours Practical examination Outcome assessed: 4 | 20% |
Supplementary Exam | 1.5 Hours + | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module students will be able to:
1. describe crop growth processes;
2. analyse effects of environmental variables on growth.
3. predict the consequences of variation in environmental variables on crop growth;
4. identify crop species.
Content
The lecture course is principally concerned with crop growth and provides an introduction to the origin and growth of the shoot and root systems; leaf growth and functioning; photosynthesis and factors determining rates of photosynthesis; crop growth analysis, in particular in terms of radiation interception and radiation use efficiency; seed quality and germination; plant population density effects; crop water relations and nutrient requirements; introduction to plant-microbe interactions. The practicals investigate the vegetative and reproductive structure of grasses and keys are used to identify species; the internal anatomy of leaves, stems and roots; developmental changes in wheat and oilseed rape; inflorescence structure in cereals, measurement of crop growth characteristics.
Aims
The module aims to provide a comprehensive series of lectures and practicals that demonstrate the main processes in crop growth and development and to use integrated approaches to analysing the principal environmental factors that affect the rate of crop growth.
Module Skills
Skills Type | Skills details |
---|---|
Communication | The essay will require students to communicate in writing. |
Improving own Learning and Performance | Students will be required to manage themselves in order to submit coursework to a deadline. |
Team work | Some of the practicals will require group work. |
Reading List
General TextForbes J C, & Watson R D (1992) Plants in Agriculture Cambridge University Press Primo search Gardner F P, Pearce R B & Mitchell RL (1985) Physiology of Crop Plants Iowa State University Press Primo search Langer R H M, & Hill G D (1991) Agricultural Plants 2nd Cambridge University Press Primo search Weston G D (ed) (1994) Crop Productivity Butterworth-Heinemann Primo search Weston, G D (ed) Crop Physiology Butterworth-Heinemann Primo search
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4