| Semester 1, 2020 On-campus Toowoomba | |
| Short Description: | Agronomy |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences |
| School or Department : | School of Sciences |
| Student contribution band : | Band 2 |
| ASCED code : | 050101 - Agricultural Science |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Rationale
Continued crop production is critical to the health of the Australian economy. It is essential that individuals supporting the agricultural industries are familiar with the principles and methods of production of the major field crops, pasture plants and horticultural species used in Australian farming systems. Such knowledge and associated critical and creative thinking agriculture graduates will require to ensure that crop productivity continues in a landscape with increasing constrained biophysical resources. Knowledge of the impacts of cropping practices on soil, water and other species will also be important so graduates can contribute to the sustainability of the broader agricultural landscape. Understanding the pressures facing food producers in ensuring sufficient, safe and nutritious food for world populations will prepare graduates for the future opportunities and challenges in the agricultural sphere.
Synopsis
This course outlines the characteristics and growing approaches of the main plant species used in Australian farming systems. The characteristics of field crops, pasture plants and horticultural species are outlined. Land preparation, planting approaches, fertiliser use and irrigation systems are also detailed. The major biological threats to crop health are discussed including weeds, microbial diseases and insect and vertebrate pests. The impacts of cropping on environmental health are explored. The course finishes with an exploration of food security in the 21st century.
Objectives
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
- explain the characteristics of the main field crops, pasture plants and horticultural species used in Australian farming systems
- apply competence in the design and analysis of crop production systems
- apply an appreciation of the principles of crop and pasture production used in Australian cropping systems
- critically evaluate the main biological threats to crop health
- integrate knowledge of the interactions between cropping systems and the landscape in which they reside
- critically evaluate the natural, demographic, logistical, economic and political pressures facing food producers
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Characteristics of crop species and cultivars I. Field crops | 5.00 |
| 2. | Characteristics of crop species and cultivars II. Pasture plants | 5.00 |
| 3. | Characteristics of crop species and cultivars III. Horticultural species | 5.00 |
| 4. | Land preparation, tillage and planting approaches | 10.00 |
| 5. | Fertiliser use | 10.00 |
| 6. | Harvesting | 15.00 |
| 7. | Plant production systems I: dryland production | 10.00 |
| 8. | Plant production systems II: irrigation production | 15.00 |
| 9. | Plant production systems III: Small-holder and peri urban production | 5.00 |
| 10. | Crop protection (weeds, diseases and pests) | 5.00 |
| 11. | Impacts of cropping on soil, water and other species | 5.00 |
| 12. | Food security in the 21st century | 10.00 |
Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=AGR2303)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
(Available online for free at .)
Reference materials
Student workload expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Assessments | 62.00 |
| Lectures | 26.00 |
| Private 精东传媒app | 64.00 |
| Tutorials | 13.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial Report Assignment 1 | 100 | 12 | 31 Mar 2020 | (see note 1) |
| Tutorial Report Assignment 2 | 100 | 13 | 30 Apr 2020 | (see note 2) |
| Crop Production Plan | 100 | 25 | 21 May 2020 | (see note 3) |
| Take Home Exam | 100 | 50 | End S1 | (see note 4) |
Notes
- Examiner to advise the due date of assignment 1.
- Examiner to advise the due date of assignment 2.
- Examiner to advise the due date of the crop production plan.
- This will be an open examination. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via 精东传媒appDesk. The examination date will be available via UConnect when the official examination timetable has been released.
Important assessment information
-
Attendance requirements:
It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item. -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Requirements after S1 2020:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course (i.e. the Primary Hurdle), and have satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), i.e. the end of semester examination by achieving at least 40% of the weighted marks available for that assessment item.
Supplementary assessment may be offered where a student has undertaken all of the required summative assessment items and has passed the Primary Hurdle but failed to satisfy the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised), or has satisfied the Secondary Hurdle (Supervised) but failed to achieve a passing Final Grade by 5% or less of the total weighted Marks.
To be awarded a passing grade for a supplementary assessment item (if applicable), a student must achieve at least 50% of the available marks for the supplementary assessment item as per the Assessment Procedure (point 4.4.2). -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course. -
Examination information:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date
Requirements after S1 2020:
Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period. -
精东传媒app Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene 精东传媒app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
Assessment notes
-
Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their thesis to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide.
Evaluation and benchmarking
In meeting the 精东传媒app鈥檚 aims to establish quality learning and teaching for all programs, this course monitors and ensures quality assurance and improvements in at least two ways. This course:
1. conforms to the USQ Policy on Evaluation of Teaching, Courses and Programs to ensure ongoing monitoring and systematic improvement.
2. forms part of the Bachelor of Science (BSCI) and is benchmarked against the internal USQ accreditation/reaccreditation processes which include (i) stringent standards in the independent accreditation of its academic programs, (ii) close integration between business and academic planning, and (iii) regular and rigorous review.
Other requirements
-
Access to a computer with a windows operating system, a 1 GHz CPU and 512MB RAM on which APSIM (www.APSIM.info) can be installed (Instructions for installing APSIM are provided in the course).