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Year:

AGRO211 Ecology and Adaptation of Agricultural Plants

Updated: 30 October 2012
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
N/A N/A 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 BIOL120 or RSNR120 or for BAgBus: AGRO100 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 on campus each year and off-campus in even numbered years

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

Without green plants we would neither breathe nor eat. Of the billions of tons of food the world consumes each year, the bulk comes from agricultural plants, which synthesise it out of air and soil with the help of sunlight. The remainder comes from animal products, which in turn are derived from plants. In this unit the student will become familiar with the recognition, ecology and adaptation of a wide range of agriculturally important plants, including pasture, crop and weed species. In particular students' will learn how to identify these plants and to understand in what ways they are adapted to soils and the climatic environment. The principles of how these plants interact with one another will also be addressed.

Prescribed Material
Mandatory
Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.

Grasses of New South Wales
ISBN: 9781921208225
Wheeler, D.J.B., Jacobs, S.W.L. and Whalley, R.D.B., UNE Publishing Unit 4th ed. 2008
Text refers to: Trimester 1 , 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
Practical Examination 50%
Assessment Notes
Two practical examinations
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1, 2, 6
Unit Test 10%
Assessment Notes
Theory Test
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-3 GA: 1, 2, 6
Final Theory Examination 2 hrs 40%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 2-4 GA: 1, 2, 4

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. identify and/or recognise a range of agriculturally important plant specimens and be able to name them (both common and botanical names);
  2. have a good understanding of related plants and their uses;
  3. have a broad understanding of the ecology of weed, crop and pasture species and their interactions and the regions to which they are adapted across Australia;
  4. know the origin of a wide range of species; and
  5. understand something of the genetic differences between plants and the opportunities that exist for plant improvement in Australia.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Through detailed lectures, notes, practicals, and assessments.
True True True
2 Communication Skills
Examples of quality written communication are provided and assessed.
True True
3 Global Perspectives
Through lecture material including aspects of global ecology.
True
4 Information Literacy
Through use of simulation modeling which is assessed.
True True True
6 Problem Solving
Through use of simulation modeling which is assessed.
True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Through lecture coverage of historical aspects of approached to sustainability.
True
8 Team Work
Through practical sessions where students work in teams
True
   

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