Module Information

Module Identifier
RD11500
Module Title
Crop and Grassland Management
Academic Year
2016/2017
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Other Staff

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Practical 2 x 3 Hour Practicals
Field Trip 5 x 3 Hour Field Trips
Lecture 11 x 1 Hour Lectures
Lecture 16 x 2 Hour Lectures
Field Trip 6 x 3 Hour Field Trips
Lecture 6 x 2 Hour Lectures
Practical 3 x 3 Hour Practicals
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Cereal crop report.  30%
Semester Assessment Cereal oral presentation.  5%
Semester Assessment Pasture management report.  35%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   Short-answer question paper.  30%
Supplementary Assessment Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module.  70%
Supplementary Exam 2 Hours   Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module.  30%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Describe the importance of grassland, forages, cereals and non-cereal arable crops in UK and world agriculture

2. Identify and describe the characteristics of common crop and herbage species

3. Identify the factors associated with the physical and financial performance of crops

4. Discuss the need for and recommend planned cropping programmes.

5. Identify the influence of management and environment on pasture composition and plan a programme of pasture management for a range of end uses

6. Describe the requirements of cereal and forage systems and the crop market and identify varietal characteristics which meet demands

7. Plan, evaluate and implement a cereal and forage crop's manurial and crop protection requirements with due regard to their potential impact on the environment

8. Appraise the husbandry, harvesting and storage of cereal crops

Brief description

Through an integrated programme of lectures, demonstrations, practical sessions and visits, students will be made aware of the precise management requirements of agricultural grassland and cereal crops as well as the factors that underpin a range of cropping strategies. Impact of these strategies on fundamental growth processes will be considered.

Content

The economic importance, uses and distribution of grassland, forage, cereal and non-cereal arable crops in UK and world agriculture.

For grasses:
Influence of geographical distribution and growing environment on pasture composition and productivity.
Identification of grass and forage species through the assessment of vegetative and reproductive structures.
Manipulation of botanical composition and production through management strategies.
Fertilizer and manure management.

For cereals:
(here much of the learning will be developed in tandem with individual students' monitoring and management of a winter sown cereal in the field)
Varietal characteristics and selection.
Seed quality and factors affecting germination and seedling emergence.
Plant structure and crop development, measurement of crop growth characteristics.
Photosynthetic efficiency and radiation interception
Crop protection ? weeds, pests, diseases
Crop fertilizer requirements.
Interaction of soil characteristics and crop growth processes; drainage, soil cultivations, soil nutrient management.
Harvesting and marketing

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Students will have to calculate seed rates, plant populations, nutrient requirements and fertilizer / manure and crop protection chemical application rates. Gross margins will be produced.
Communication Both the Cereal and Grassland assignments will require the production of a written report in an appropriate format. The Cereal assignment will include an oral presentation at the module’s mid-point
Improving own Learning and Performance
Information Technology Internet sources will be utilized routinely, in association with published information, in the preparation of the assessed work.
Personal Development and Career planning
Problem solving Both the Cereal assignment and the Grassland assignment will involve the identification of problems associated with the growth of plants in the field and the development of a subsequent management strategy in response to that problem.
Research skills
Subject Specific Skills
Team work Students will work on the Cereal Assignment in pairs and will make a joint oral presentation.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4