Agronomy and Crop Improvement

Cod y Modiwl: RD27620
Teitl y Modiwl: Agronomy and Crop Improvement
Blwyddyn Academaidd: 2026/2027
Semester: Semester 2 Dysgwyd dros 2 semester
Cyd-gysylltydd y Modiwl: Dr Irene Griffiths
Rhestr Ddarllen: Gweld ar Aspire
Staff Eraill sy'n Cyfrannu: Dr Ruth Wonfor; Miss Gwenllian Jenkins; Dr Ifat Shah

Dulliau Asesu

Math o Asesiad	Manylion Asesiad	Cyfran
Asesiad Semester	Crop protection plan presentation: Prepare a crop protection plan for an arable crop of your choice, grown in either an organic or conventional setting. The information provided should be in a form of a growers guide. Principle components include:1. Anticipated pests, weeds and diseases, in the order they are likely to occur2. Control strategies, including opportunities for integrated pest management 15 Minutes	50%
Asesiad Semester	Grassland management assignment: This assignment requires you to prepare a detailed grassland management plan based on a given scenario.Principle components to include are:1. Allocation of land for grazing.2. Fertilizer and manure program.3. Pasture maintenance and improvement. 2000 Words	50%
Asesiad Ailsefyll	Crop protection plan presentation resit: Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module. 15 Minutes	50%
Asesiad Ailsefyll	Grassland management resit: 2000 Words	50%

Canlyniadau Dysgu

Wedi cwblhau'r modiwl dylai'r myfyrwyr fedru:

Explain the mechanisms behind the major biotic constraints to crop productivity in the UK.
Describe the agronomic requirements of a range of non-cereal arable and forage crops.
Describe and critically analyse crop production systems.
Identify and evaluate appropriate crop protection strategies.
Understand the importance of variety production in terms of agronomic and quality characteristics.

Disgrifiad cryno

The module describes the basic agronomy of a range of selected UK arable and combinable break crops including potatoes, sugar beet, oilseed rape and field beans. Agronomic characteristics include rotation, soil type, sowing and plant establishment, nutrition, crop protection, harvesting and post-harvest storage. Contrasting systems approaches to crop and grassland production will be discussed and their effectiveness evaluated. Biotic constraints on production will focus on the impact of diseases, weeds and pests in arable crops, including mechanism and magnitude of yield losses, crop resistance, chemical and biological control, integrated crop management. Finally, the objectives and achievements of arable crop, grass and legume breeding will be reviewed. These lectures will include discussion of the variety development, registration, multiplication and certification procedures and the likely impact of advances in biotechnology on future crop production and management.

Cynnwys

Systems approaches to arable, grass and forage crops
- Crop rotation and rotation planning
- Integrated crop management

For grassland and forages
- Management systems, production and environmental protection
- Grazing management
- Forage conservation
- Forage crops

For crop plants incl. oilseed rape, potatoes, sugar beet and field beans :
- Market requirements
- Varietal characteristics and end use
- Rotation, soil preparation and seed establishment
- Nutrition
- Plant protection: weed, disease and pest control
- Harvesting and post-harvest treatment and storage

Crop protection
- Disease development and epidemiology
- Disease management strategies
- Pests and pest damage
- Pest management strategies
- Weed biology and competition
- Weed control
- Integrated crop protection

Plant breeding

Sgiliau Modiwl

Math o Sgiliau	Manylion Sgiliau
Cyfathrebu	Students will write coursework in contrasting styles and formats.
Datrys Problemau	Students will draw up a crop protection programme for a given set of conditions
Sgiliau ymchwil	Students will research material beyond the scope of the lecture material for both components of coursework

Nodau

Mae'r modiwl hwn yn cydymffurfio a FfCChC Lefel 5