| Module Identifier |
RS10310 |
| Module Title |
CROP SCIENCE |
| Academic Year |
2002/2003 |
| Co-ordinator |
Dr Peter D Jenkins |
| Semester |
Semester 2 |
| Other staff |
Dr Malcolm H Leitch |
| Course delivery |
Lecture | 22 Hours |
| |
Practical | 12 Hours 4 x 3 hour practicals |
| Assessment |
Semester Exam | 1.5 Hours Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3 | 60% |
| |
Semester Assessment | 3 Hours Practical examination Outcome assessed: 4 | 20% |
| |
Semester Assessment | Essay: | 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; structure and development of a range of fodder and root crops; inflorescence structure in cereals.
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.
Transferable skills
Transferable skills:
.1 Independent project work
This will be developed in the preparation for the assessed essay.
.4 Writing in an academic context
This willb e developed through the assessed essay and also in the written examination.
Reading Lists
Books
Forbes J C & Watson R D.
Plants in Agriculture. Cambridge University Press
Langer R H M & Hill G D.
Agricultural Plants. 2nd. CUP
Gardner FP, Pearce RB & Mitchell RL.
Physiology of Crop Plants. Iowa State University Press
Weston G D (ed).
Crop Productivity. Open Learning Series
Weston G D.
Crop Physiology Biotechnology. Open Learning Series