Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Module Identifier
RS10310
Module Title
CROP SCIENCE
Academic Year
2010/2011
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2

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 Text
Forbes 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