208-156 Crop Production And Management

207-151 Plant Biology

This subject is an introduction to the cropping industry and Australia's position in the international market place. Topics include domestic marketing of cereal grains and analysis of economics of growing cereals in suitable climatic zones of Australia; crop selection and the influence of climate and soils; the role of different crop species in a mix and the basis of crop cultivar recommendations; the resources needed for successful cropping; the principles of crop growth and development; crop establishment techniques and special management requirements of different crops; developing a crop rotation and principles of establishment; yield potential and limitations to yield; managing the harvest process; crop management issues involving irrigation and combining livestock with cropping; pulses and vegetable oilseed crops, their production potential, establishment, management and benefits in a rotation with cereal crops; assessing the merits of alternative crops, particularly summer grown grain crops and pasture seed production; and possibility to expand enterprises to include agroforestry, fruit, vegetable or floriculture crops.

One 2.5-hour written examination worth 40% of final marks, two assignments equivalent to 3000 words and worth 30% of final marks each.