Agronomy BAG306

Course Structure: Agronomy BAG306

There are 8 lessons in this course:

 1   INTRODUCTION TO AGRONOMIC PRACTICES
        Introduction
        Crop Types
        Plant structure and Function
        Transpiration rate
        Selection Criteria for Plants
        Understanding monoculture
        Row Crops
        Cover Crops
        Crop Operations
        Planter types

2    CULTURE - WHAT INFLUENCES CROP GROWTH
        Soils
        Problems with soils
        Loss of soil problems
        Erosion
        Salinity
        Soil sodicity
        Soil acidity and alkalinity
        Improving soils
        Cultivation techniques
        Plant nutrition
        Nutrient deficiencies
        Organic fertilisers
        Soil life
        Insect Pests
        Diseases

3    CROP HUSBANDRY PRACTICES
        Operations
        Identifying weeds
        Ways to control weeds
        Spraying
        Irrigation
        Chemical crop protection
        Preparing plant pathogens for microscopic observation
        Culturing Pathogens
        Natural pest and disease control
        Physical controls
        Organic sprays and dusts

4    SEED AND SEED MANAGEMENT
        Seed storage
        Types of seed storage
        Seed vigour testing
        Dormancy factors affecting germination
        Germination treatments
        Types of media
        Media derived from rock or stone
        Media derived from synthetic materials
        Organic media
        Diseases
        Salinty build up

 5   ARABLE CEREAL CROPS
        Cereal crops
        Zadock scale
        Wheat
        Barley
        Oats
        Triticale
        Sorghum
        Maize
        Rice
        Millet
        Sugar cane
        Ryegrass
        Hay and Silage
        Quality control
        Storage and handling
        Hydroponic fodder

6    ARABLE BROADLEAF CROPS
        Characteristics of broadleaf crops
        Oil crops
        Chickpeas
        Narrow-leafed lupins
        Canola
        Faba beans
        Cover crops
        Common legumes

7    HARVESTING
        Crop preparation for harvest
        Crop harvest equipment
        Forage harvesting equipment
        Cereal harvesting equipment
        Root crop harvesting equipment
        Grain storage
        Contract harvesting

 8   CROP MANAGEMENT - SPECIAL PROJECT
        Crop management from planting to post harvest handling

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Develop your understanding and confidently describe the nature and scope of agronomic practices within your country and others.
• Discuss what is grown, where it is grown and the diversity of practices used to grow a wide range of crops.
• Learn how to identify factors that affect the success of a crop; including soil condition, climate factors and biological influences such as pests and diseases.
• Clearly desribe significant practices used by farmers in the growing of an agronomic crop; including the management of soils, water, cultivations and crop protection.
• Explain how to achieve successful seed germination for different agronomic crops under different conditions in the field.
• Discuss practices used to farm cereals for harvest and sale as cash crops.
• Discuss practices used to farm broadleaf crops for harvest and sale as cash crops.
• Understand the use of different harvesting equipment and techniques including post harvest handling for a range of different crops.
• Demonstrate your knowledge by producing a management plan for a crop from planting to post harvest handling.

What You Will Do

• Go to your local department of primary industries (or equivalent), collect cropping guides on crops grown locally in your area. Ensure your information includes broadleaf, legume and grass (cereal  crops). Collect     fodder crop information also and find out what the main fodder crops are in your area.
• Obtain pictures of the seed and mid season crop and mature crop. Become familiar with agronomic terms and start a glossary, use library, text and internet searches to complete this task.
• Having looked at what crops are grown in your region, now look at the soil types. What type of soil is common to your region. What are the main features to these soils. That is, what colour is the soil, what texture is it, does it have a high sand or clay content, does the soil drain well, or waterlog? How did this soil form? Write these down as a reference.
• Collect photos of the various planting, cultivating and harvesting equipment used in your country and write brief notes on when and where you would use which machine and for which crop. Do this for a maximum of 5 pieces of equipment.
• Collect samples of your own seed (for 4 different crops), from a local farmer or produce store.
• Perform your own germination test using the cotton wool method.
• Take photos on day 2, and the final day.
• Record the number of seed germinating per day, and then the total number on the final day.
• Develop a management plan for a crop from planting through to post harvest handling.