LV EN RU DE FR

Crop Production and Grassland Management

Course developers

Prior knowledge

LauZ4002, Crop Production II

LauZ4219, Crop Production I

LauZ4241, Grassland Management

Course abstract

Course project consists of two parts that can be or can not be interrelated: crop production and grassland management. Project can be carried out as experimental work or wide scientific literature survey. It is also possible to analyse in detail crop production technology or grassland management in chosen farm and to carry out project of improvement of management practises. Also development of new business plan for crop production or grassland management in farm is possible.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

After completing the course student will have:
• knowledge of crop and grassland management assortment of plants, its cultivation and production specifics.
• skills – know how to select and analyze scientific literature, creating a course project literature review. Is able to analyze the production processes of plant production in a particular farm and assess the strengths and weaknesses, and is able to make suggestions for the improvement of future operations;
• competence – organize, analyse and improve plant (field crops, grasses and legumes) production in farms, and to take part in experimental work; study scientific literature and to carry out further self-education on topics included into the study course.

Evaluation of results: course project development and public presentation.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Course project topic selection and development of methodology.
The subject of the course project is individually choosen by the students and agreed by supervisor of the course “Crop Production and Grassland Management” by the end of the 3rd course in full-time studies or by the end of the 4th course in part-time studies. The topic of course project may be choosen from the list given by lecturers or by offering their own.
The terms of reference and the methodology are individually coordinated with the respective lecturers. The topic of the course project should be with practical or theoretical significance.
2. Course project development.
The course project can be developed by: performing specific field or laboratory tests on specific crops; analyzing the experience of a particular farm in growing a field crop or group of crops and developing a scientifically based project to increase yields or improve yield quality; critically evaluating field and grass cultivation technologies used in Latvian and / or foreign farms; acquiring skills in the development of scientifically based technologies for the harvest of field crops and grasslands suitable for the relevant use; as a result of specialized literature studies, compiling analytical reports on specific topics and developing draft projects on the application of the latest scientific knowledge in practice.
The volume of the course project is at least 20 pages, of which 7-10 pages are devoted to each part of the study project. The course design must conform to the applicable methodological regulations for students of the Faculty of Agriculture. It should include the title page, content, introduction, Field Crop production section, Grassland Management section, conclusions, and bibliography. Attachments may be added.
3. Submission and presentation of study project.

The term of study project submittion is no later than the deadline indicated in the study schedule. After reviewing it, the day of presentation and the time are determined. The defense is open, organized in groups and consists of a presentation by the author and answers to questions from the commission and audience.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Final mark is obtained as average evaluation for “Field crop production” part and “Grassland mangement” part and for public presentation.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The study project is one of the forms of students' independent work. Its task is to supplement, consolidate, summarize and develop practical applications of the knowledge acquired during the learning process. The course project should be developed independently in consultation with the lecturer. Individual work includes literature studies or laboratory tests, or analysis of plant production on a particular farm.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Each section of the course project is evaluated by the responsible lecturer. Public defense of the course paper is required if a positive evaluation from both part lectuers is given.
Evaluated is the content of the course paper, its relevance to the topic, the quality of the sources used, the ability to collect literature, process and analyze data, draw conclusions. In public presentation is measured content of presentation, the quality of visuals used, the ability to be on time, the ability to answer questions and engage in discussion.
The final mark is formed as the average mark from the separate marks on the share of Crop Production and Grassland Management, and student is allowed to public presentation.

Compulsory reading

1. Adamovičs A. (2017). Zālāju ierīkošana un izmantošana. Mācību grāmata; otrs, papildinātais izdevums. Jelgava, 140 lpp.
2. Augkopība (2001). A. Ružas red. Jelgava, 2001. – 324 lpp.
3. Augkopība (2004). A. Ružas red. Jelgava, LLU, 2004. –374 lpp.
4. Alfa and Alfa Improvement (1998). Ed. by Hanson A.A., Barues D.K., Hill R.R. et al. No. 29 in the series Agronomy, American Society of Agronomy. Crop Science Society of America J. Soil. Science Society of America. – Medison, Wisconsin, USA. 1084 p.
5. Champan G. P. (1996). The biology of grasses. Oxon: CAB International. XIV, 273 p.
6. Clover science and technology (1985). Editor N.L.Taelor, by Number 25 in the series Agronomy, Wisconsin, USA. 616 p.
7. Cool-season forage grasses (1996). Ed. by L.E. Moser et al.; American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Society of America. Madison, Wiskonsin: USA. 841 p.
8. Forages. Volume I. An introduction to Grassland Agricultur. (2013). Under the Editorial Authorship of Robert F. Barnes, C. Jerry Nelson, Michael Collins, Kennet J. Moore with 42 contributing authors. Jowa State University Press, Ames, Jowa USA. 556 p.
9. Forages. Volume II. The science of Grassland Agriculture (2013). Under the Editorial Authorship of Robert F. Barnes, C. Jerry Nelson, Michael Collins, Kennet J. Moore with 94 contributing authors. Jowa State University Press, Ames, Jowa USA. 791 p.
10. Frame J. and Laidlaw A.S. (2014). Improved Grassland management. The Growood Press Ltd, United Kingdom. 352 p.

11. Martin J.D., Leonard W.H., Stamp D.L., Waldren R.P. (2006). Principles of Field Crop Production, 4th Edition. Canada: Pearson. 976

Further reading

1. Balodis O., Bankina B., Gaile Z., Grantiņa I. (2012). Ziemas rapsis. Jelgava, LLU, 68 lpp
2. Bankina B., Gaile Z. (2014). Ziemāju labības un to slimības. Jelgava, LLU. 104 lpp.
3. Copeland L.O., McDonald M.B. (1995). Principles of Seed Science and Technology. 3rd Edition. USA: Chapman & Hall. 409 p.
4. David J. Gibson (2009). Grasses and Grassland Ecology. Oxford University Press, USA. 320 p.
5. Fageri N.K., Baligar V.C., Jones C.A. (2010). Growth and Mineral Nutrition of Field Crops. Third Edition. USA: CRC Press
6. Gaile Z., Bartuševics J. (2012). Kukurūzas audzēšana un izmantošana. Jelgava: LLU. 40 lpp.
7. Ivanovs S., Stramkale V. (2001). Linu audzēšanas un novākšanas tehnoloģija. Rīga: AS Poligrāfists. 191 lpp.
8. Kartupeļu audzēšana (1993). Gustavson N. (red), tulk. no zviedru val., Miglavs U. (red.). Umeå: Förlag. 80 lpp.
9. Keller E.R., Hanus H., Heyland K.U. (1997). Handbuch des Pflancenbaues 3. Knollen - und Wurizelfrüchte, Körner - und Futterleguminosen. Berlin: Verlag Eugen Ulmer. 828 s.
10. The Potato Crop. Second Edition (1992). Harris P. (ed.) London: Chapman & Hall. 909 p.
11. Агрономия (2001). Под редакцией В.Д. Мухи. Москва: Колос, 504 с.
12. Милащенко Н.З., Абрамов В.Ф. Технология выращивания и использования рапса и сурепицы. Москва: Агропромиздат. 223 с.
13. Петров В.А., Зубенко В.Ф. (1991). Свекловодство. Москва: Агропромиздат. 191 c.
14. Полуденный Л.В., Сотник В.Ф., Хланцев Е.Е. (1997). Эфиромасличные и лекарственные растения. Москва: Лшлос. 286 с.

15. Рапс и сурепица (2007). Шпаар Д. (ред.) Москва: ИДООО DLV Агродело. 320 c.

Periodicals and other sources

Žurnāli un zinātnisko rakstu krājumi:

Rural Sustainability Research, Research for Rural Development, Agronomy Research, Žemdirbyste=Agriculture, Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Sec. B Soil and Plant Science, Proceedings of The Latvia Academy on Sciences, section B.