792-182 Plant Production

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of this subject is to extend participants' ability to:

• identify the position, extent and importance of plant production systems within agricultural systems;

• describe the climatic features and soils of an area;

• understand the processes of growth and development of plants;

• identify plant structures, their function and modifications;

• understand physical and biochemical processes which regulate plant growth;

• become aware of some of the interactions between the plant and its environment.

The content includes: Climate - types and their effect on plant productivity and the development of the production system. Soils - Features of soil classification - texture, colour, pH, etc. Description of the common land forms and associated soil profiles. Identification of factors that are likely to affect plant growth. Systems - Identify the place of plants in the biological, social and economic systems. Plants - Classification - Life Cycles - Plant Growth. State factors affecting germination and emergence. Differentiate between good and bad seed on the basis of purity, freedom from disease and germinability. Identify the structures and modifications of stems, roots and leaves and relate these modifications to their functions. Identify the structures and processes involved with pollination, fertilisation, fruit formation and seed dispersal in a range of agriculturally significant species. Quality - Evaluate a grain sample for suitability for receipt. Evaluate a pasture or fodder sample for its quality. Identify how a grower can manipulate product quality.

Assessment

Two hour written examination (40%); one hour practical examination (20%), two field reports (10% each); assignment of 1000 words (20%).

Prescribed Texts

• Prately J (ed), Principles of Field Crop Production. (3rd ed), Sydney University Press, Sydney (1994).