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AGRO223 Agricultural Ecology and Crop Physiology

Updated: 28 April 2010
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 2 Off Campus B - Internet access required
Armidale Semester 2 On Campus B - Internet access required
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
13 September 2010 16 September 2010 Mandatory Intensive school held only when unit offered off-campus
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites None
Co-requisites None
Restrictions AGBY221 or AGRO221
Notes

offered off-campus in even numbered years
Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) Nigel Warwick (nwarwick@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

The unit consists of two modules. The crop physiology module covers physiology of plant growth and development at whole plant level and relates that to the morphology and structure of plants with emphasis on important agricultural plants. Topics include factors affecting seed dormancy, germination, and seedling development, hormone physiology, transpiration, photosynthesis, stress physiology and mineral nutrition. In the ecology module the principles of ecological theory and the application to specific problems in agriculture are covered. Examples to illustrate principles are drawn from natural environments and agriculture ecosystems with an emphasis on Australia. On the completion of this unit students will have a good understanding of fundamental agriculture ecology and crop physiology.
Prescribed Material
Mandatory 		Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

AGRO223 Resource Book
ISBN: ARDA04
School of Environmental and Rural Science School of Environmental and Rural Science
Note: Available from the United Campus Bookshops, UNE
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Ecology Quizzes 15%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1-4, 6, 7
Laboratory Handbooks 15% 1000
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 3, 6 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6-8
Physiology Mid-Semester Test 10% 500
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1-8
Scientific Paper 15% 1500
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 3-5 GA: 1-8
Final Examination 2 hrs 45%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO; 1-5 GA: 1-4, 6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. demonstrate an understanding of central concepts in agricultural ecology and crop physiology;
  2. show an understanding of the major physiological processes in plants and appreciate the relationship between structure and function, with specific reference to crop plants;
  3. apply a knowledge of ecological principles to practical problems in sustainable agriculture, including pest management, optimisation of inputs for production, conservation of endangered species on and around farms, habitat preservation and control of pollution;
  4. discuss some current issues in ecology which affect agriculture, including their legal and social aspects. Examples may include water resource allocation, vegetation clearing and land degradation; and
  5. understand the fundamentals of scientific research and communication through critical analysis and writing of scientific papers.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Knowledge of the disciplines of agricultural ecology and crop physiology will be taught through lectures and practicals. It will be assessed across a range of assessment tasks. In lectures and practicals the students are given examples which relate to practical problems found as Rural Science and Agricultural practitioners. This unit provides some key concepts that they will be used in later field-based units. 		True True True
2 Communication Skills
Students will develop their communication skills through work in small groups during practicals, are expected to present findings in lab-based discussions, and in written form in all assignments. 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
Students examine issues in agricultural ecology and crop physiology using examples drawn from Australia and Internationally that will assist in developing a regional and global perspective. 		True True
4 Information Literacy
Students are instructed, assessed and expected to demonstrate a capacity to write to an acceptable level and use a wide range of sources in written assignments. They will further develop their skills in critical analysis of the relevant literature. 		True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Through completion of the assessments for this unit students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to carry out research, write and discuss issues relating to this discipline and others. These attributes will be assessed in all of the assessments. In addition, during practicals the students will refine skills in group discussion and team work which they will find of inestimable value in later life. 		True True True
6 Problem Solving
The written report, practical classes and the test material will develop the students? problem based learning skills. They will develop skills in interpretation of results and development of solutions and hypotheses to ecological and physiological questions. 		True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Students will be encouraged to participate in group work and discussions during practicals, and in doing to exhibit social responsibility. Students will be taught about their professional responsibilities when doing research to provide balanced and accurate interpretation of results. 		True True
8 Team Work
Students will develop their teamwork skills by work in small groups during practical classes. They will be encouraged to participate in class discussions in a thoughtful and respectful manner. 		True True
   

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