Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 1 x 2 hour lecture per week |
| Practical | 4 x 3 hour practicals per semester |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 3000 word critical review of research paper Outcomes assessed: 1 | 30% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours Examination Outcomes assessed: 2, 3, 4 | 70% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Exam, testing all outcomes | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Evaluate the potential of exploiting knowledge of basic mechanisms to improve crop management practice
2. Assess the level of precision with which inputs can be determined in crop production.
3. Recommend practices for improving the quality of grazed and conserved herbage.
4. Design production systems that offer long-term sustainability.
Brief description
The module examines how the physical environment and crop management decisions influence the growth, yield and quality of grass and arable crops. The aim is to explore how limitations may be overcome to maximize the efficiency of crop production systems. The module is taught through a series of lectures and visits and includes the following specific subject areas: herbage quality limitations and the potential for improving quality; evaluation of grass cultivars; nutrient cycling in grassland systems; grass sward improvement; silage and rumen microbiology; nitrogen nutrition of arable crops; physiology of yield determination; phosphorus nutrition; implications of climate change for crop and grassland production, GM technology.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Communication | Production of a written review of a research paper. |
| Research skills | Students will be required to evaluate research methods, design and procedures in order to produce a written review of a research paper. |
Reading List
General TextBazzaz F and Sombroek W editors (1996) Global climate change and agricultural production FAO & J Wiley and Sons, London Primo search Hay R and Walker A (1989) An introduction to the physiology of crop yields Longman Scientific Primo search Loomis R S & Connor D J (1992) Crop ecology : productivity and management in agricultural systems Cambridge University Press Primo search McDonald P, Henderson N and Heron S (1991) The biochemistry of silage 2nd edition Primo search Minson D J (1990) Forage in ruminant nutrition Academic Press, San Diego Primo search Whitehead D C (1995) Grassland nitrogen CABI, Wallingford Primo search Recommended Text
European Environment Agency Report (2004) Impacts of Europe's climate change http://reports.eea.eu.int/climate_report_2_2004/eu/tab_content_RLR Natural Environmental Research Council Briefing Note GMOs and the environment http://www.nerc.ac.u/publications.gmo (2004) Institute of Food Science and Technology Genetic modification and food http://www.ifst.org/hottop10
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6