You are here: UNE Home / Course and Unit Catalogue / 2010 / A-Z / AGRO321

Year:

AGRO321 Crop and Pasture Management for Sustainable Agriculture

Updated: 29 July 2010
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 2 Off Campus A- Internet access required
Armidale Semester 2 On Campus A- Internet access required
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
09 September 2010 12 September 2010 Mandatory
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites AGRO211 or BOTY211 or BOTY203 or candidature in a postgraduate award in the School of Environmental and Rural Science or School of Science and Technology
Co-requisites None
Restrictions None
Notes

offered off-campus in even numbered years

Combined Units None
Coordinator(s) Brian Sindel (bsindel@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

The objective of this unit is to integrate fundamental aspects of agricultural plant production (pastures, crops and horticultural species) into sustainable management systems which result in improved yields and quality of the products. The following topics will be covered in this unit: (a) Pastures. Principles of the production and utilisation of pastures. Pasture establishment; seed production; grazing management; pasture nutrition; pasture and forage conservation; computer modelling of grazed ecosystems; pasture assessment skills. (b) Field Crops. Major Australian crops; constraints to yields and methods of optimising crop yields in winter and summer cereals, oilseeds; legume crops, fibre crops and sugar. Crop options in systems throughout Australia. (c) Horticultural Crops. In this section horticultural geography, horticultural production systems, principles of orchard and vineyard management, tree crop production, vegetable production systems, nursery and floriculture crops will be covered.

Recommended Material
Optional
Text(s):

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library - purchase is optional

Pasture Production and Management
ISBN: 9780909605858
Lovett, J.V. and Scott, J.M. (eds), Inkata Press 3rd ed. 1997
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
Management of Profitable and Sustainable Pastures. A Field Guide: Prime Pasture Program
ISBN: 9780731057320
Keys, M.J., NSW DPI
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
Managing Native Pastures for Agriculture and Conservation
ISBN: 9780734716200
Simpson, P. and Langford, C., NSW DPI
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
AGRO321 Crop and Pasture Management for Sustainable Agriculture Study Guide
ISBN: ARDA37
School of Environmental and Rural Science
Note: For On Campus students only. Available from the United Campus Bookshop, UNE.
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Oral Examination 10%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1 GA: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8
Practical 25%
Assessment Notes
Crop practicals
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1 GA: 1, 3, 4, 6,8
Practical 25%
Assessment Notes
Pasture practicals
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1 GA: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8
Final Examination 3 hrs 40% 2000
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1 GA: 1, 2, 6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to: integrate fundemental aspects of agricultural plant production (pastures, crops and horticultural species) into sustainable management systems to improve yields and quality of the products.
Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Throughout the whole course the overall knowledge is presented in lectures, assessed in both exam and practical sessions.
True True True
3 Global Perspectives
The world perspective is taught in all 3 components in lectures, assessment and practicals. It is expected that students will answer questions relating to the world crop, pasture and horticultural production in Australia in comparison with other world productions.
True True True
4 Information Literacy
Both the in-course assessments and the practicals are expected to be presented in a correct literate format.
True True
6 Problem Solving
The students undertake series of problem solving exercises as part of the practical component and this is related to the lectures and overall knowledge of the crop and pasture system.
True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Consideration is given in the lectures to the consequences of changes in crop production systems and their influence on social conditions in the production areas.
True
8 Team Work
Students work in groups for practical sessions and are assessed on that basis.
True True True
   

Email to a friend