304044 (v.2) Agricultural Production Systems 501
| Area: | Muresk Institute |
| Credits: | 25.0 |
| Contact Hours: | 5.0 |
| Lecture: | 1 x 2 Hours Weekly |
| Practical: | 1 x 3 Hours Weekly |
| Prerequisite(s): | 303292 (v.2) Plant and Soil Resources 101 or any previous version
AND
303297 (v.2) Animal Science 102 or any previous version
AND
303301 (v.2) Plant and Soil Systems 102 or any previous version
|
| Syllabus: | Examination of the profitability and sustainability of dry land agricultural systems including crop, livestock and forestry components. Models used to analyse and modify systems components and systems. Statistics includes comparison of means and non-parametric analysis such as t-tests, tests of independence and goodness of fit using chi-square. Interpretation of results and use of SPSS. |
| |
| Unit Outcomes: | Upon completion of this unit students will have- Analysed the strengths and weaknesses of the agricultural systems in WA, Australia and globally. Described the basis of agricultural production systems considering the interaction between climate, soil crops, pastures, animals, machinery, capital and management. Analysed the linkages and relationships between systems components [animals and crops etc] in given farming system as a basis of optimisation of farm productivity. Described the basis of selected computer models in agriculture and their use to optimise the performance of the systems and /or sub-systems. Gained knowledge on the management of soil resources for sustainable agricultural production, pasture production and utilisation, and grazing animal production, integrating trees into farming systems, organic production systems, rangeland and intensive animal production systems.Gained skills in retrieval of information and clear, concise and organised oral and written presentation. |
| Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information. |
| Unit References: | Kemp, D.R. and Michalk, D.L., (1993). Pasture Management: Technology for the 21st Century. Melbourne, CSIRO. Loomis, R.S. and Connor, D.J., (1992). Crop Ecology: Productivity and Management in Agricultural Sstems. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.Lovett, J.V. and Scott, J.M., (1997). Pasture Production and Management. Port Melbourne, Intaka Press. Roberts, B., (1995), The Quest for Sustainable Agriculture and Land Use. Sydney, UNSW Press. Spedding, C.R.W., (1998). Introduction to Agricultural Systems, 2nd ed. Essex, United Kingdom, Elsevier Applied Science Publication. Squires, V. and Tow, P., (1991), Dryland Farming- A System Approach. Sydney, Sydney University Press. Wilson, J., (1992), Changing Agriculture: An Introduction to Systems Thinking, 2nd ed. Kenthurst, Kangaroo Press. |
| Unit Texts: | Anderson, W.K. and Garlinge, J.R., (2000), The Wheat Book- Principles and Practice, Agriculture Western Australia, Bulletin 4443. |
| |
| Unit Assessment Breakdown: | Assignment (1) 15%, Assignment (2) 15%, Assignment (3) 10%, Examination 30%, Practical Book 20%, Seminar 10%. This is by grade/mark assessment. |
| Year | Location | Period | Internal | Area External | Central External | | 2004 | Northam Campus | Semester 1 | Y | | | |
Current as of: February 2, 2004
CRICOS provider code 00301J
