Crop, grassland, soil and agricultural land management

Module Identifier: RD18040
Module Title: Crop, grassland, soil and agricultural land management
Academic Year: 2027/2028
Semester: Semester 2 Taught over 2 semesters
Co-ordinator: Dr Irene Griffiths
Reading List: View on Aspire
Other Staff: Dr Ruth Wonfor; Dr Hefin Williams; Dr Ifat Shah

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Crop Report: 1500 Words	20%
Semester Assessment	Forage ID: 2 Hours Students will be asked under invigilation to identify a range of forages. Partial credit will be awarded for providing reasoning behind their identification.	20%
Semester Assessment	Soils: 1500 Words	20%
Semester Exam	MCQ Exam: 1.5 Hours	40%
Supplementary Assessment	Soils: 1500 Words	20%
Supplementary Assessment	Forage ID: 2 Hours Students will be asked under invigilation to identify a range of forages. Partial credit will be awarded for providing reasoning behind their identification.	20%
Supplementary Assessment	Crop Report: 1500 Words	20%
Supplementary Exam	MCQ Exam: 1.5 Hours	40%

Learning Outcomes

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

Demonstrate retained knowledge of the structure, function, characteristics and importance of grassland, forages, cereals and non-cereal arable crops in UK and world agriculture
Demonstrate retained knowledge when identifying a range of forage plants.
Identify varietal characteristics of cereal crops and forage species, describe how they meet the demands of the market
Plan, evaluate and implement a cereal and forage crop's manure and crop protection requirements with due regard to their potential impact on the environment
Demonstrate retained knowledge of the different components of soils and their processes and relate to broader environmental concerns, conditions and key soil processes including moisture relations and nutrient cycling.
Apply understanding of soil physical characteristics to practical land management techniques including drainage and cultivation.
Identify the conservation value, status and current management of a range of farm habitats

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. This module will introduce students to soil composition and key soil processes with an emphasis on how these vary between different soil types. Following the delivery of these fundamentals, the module will focus on their implications for land management and protection of the environment.

Content

This module is divided in several sections to cover different aspects of agricultural land management.
Soil science is introduced, focusing on soil structure, texture and moisture. It explores nutrient cycling and management for soil health.
The importance of UK grasslands is discussed, including pasture species and herbage varieties. Workshops on seed mixtures and nutrient programs will link with the soil components.
Field trials will form the basis for the crop section. The lectures, workshops and practical classes are designed to follow the life cycle of the crop and guide crop management decisions. Topics covered include: yield, variety selection, crop protection and nutrient planning.

Module skills

Skills type	Skills details
Co-ordinating with others	Students will work in groups on the crop plots
Creative Problem Solving	All the assignments in this module will involve the identification of problems associated with the growth of plants or management of soils in the field and the development of a subsequent management strategy in response to that problem.
Critical and analytical thinking	Students will have a range of calculation to perform. For example, seed rates, plant populations, nutrient requirement and application rates and yield.
Digital capability	Internet sources will be utilized routinely , in association with published information, in preparation of the assessed work.
Professional communication	The crop report and grassland planning assignment will require the production of a written report in an appropriate format.
Real world sense	Identifying forage species is a transferable skill to individuals involved in agriculture, conservation, consultancy etc.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4