Course code LauZP050

Credit points 4.50

Agronomy

Total Hours in Course120

Independent study hours120

Date of course confirmation30.10.2020

Responsible UnitInstitute of Soil and Plant Science

Course developers

author Augsnes un augu zinātņu institūts

Gundega Putniece

Dr. agr.

author

Indulis Melngalvis

Mg. agr.

Prior knowledge

LauZ2046, Agricultural Resources

Course abstract

The aim of the practice is to strengthen the theoretical knowledge acquired in the study courses (Research Methodology, Plant Physiology, Animal Physiology, Soil Science or Animal Husbandry). The practice consists of five different sections (depending on the student's chosen specialization direction), which take place under the guidance of the teaching staff. Study visits - students visit various agricultural companies and a consulting center. During the Research Methodology, scientific institutions (Institute of Food safety, Animal Health and Environment “BIOR”, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics) are visited and practical tasks are performed. Plant Physiology - student work in groups (2 - 3 students) performing practical tasks according to a previously prepared program. Animal physiology - students' work in 5 working groups performing certain practical tasks. Soil Science - getting acquainted with the geological structure and processes of the specific place; practical operation - soil diagnostics, description and mapping. Or Animal Husbandry - work with documentation; sampling and evaluation of feed; feed ration calculations.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

After the study practice, the student will have:
• knowledge and understanding of the application of theoretical knowledge gained in the study courses of Soil Science, Animal Husbandry, Plant and Animal Physiology, as well as Research Methodology in practical conditions; organization of agricultural research institutions and exhibitions;
• skills to evaluate soil properties, physiological processes of animals and plants, to make observations in experiments and to choose methods of data processing, as well as to perform pedigree registration of breed animals;
• competences to perform practical activities in the fields of soil assessment, animal husbandry, animal and plant physiology, as well as to perform and evaluate the results of research work.

At the end of each internship section, the student or group of students must prepare an internship report (protocol) and perform its public defense.

Course Content(Calendar)

Study visits - 3 days.
Day 1: visit to the exhibition complex “Ramava”.
Day 2: visit to farms engaged in crop and/or livestock production and visit a Agricultural service cooperative society “LATRAPS”.
Day 3: visit a Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre. Preparation and defense of practice report.

Research Methodology - 2 days (2 teaching staff).
Day 1: visit to a specific scientific-research institution, acquaintance with its activities. Preparation of a short description of the visited institution and performance of specific tasks.
Day 2: practical work - definition and selection of research parameters; creation of a research scheme; creation of a research database; data sorting and preparation for data analysis. Preparation and defense of practice report.

Plant Physiology - 2.5 days.
Day 1: to evaluate the course of plant physiological processes, their interrelation and dependence on environmental factors.
Day 2: to evaluate the significance of changes in the analyzed parameters in crop production and to indicate the necessary agrotechnical measures to improve plant productivity.
0.5 days: preparation and defense of practice report.

Animal Physiology - 2.5 days.
Day 1: introductory lecture of the practice, work safety in contact with animals. After watching certain videos, a test must be performed.
Day 2: introductory lecture on physiological indicators. When students are divided into work groups in an inpatient examination of one animal of a certain species, they fill in the protocol of physiological indicators for the species of the specified animal.
0.5 days: when dividing into working groups, information on a certain topic should be sought and evaluated. Preparation and defense of practice report.

Soil Science - 5 days (3 teaching staff).
Day 1: getting acquainted with the geological structure of the site, geological processes and soil diversity.
Day 2: research of the geological structure of the surroundings using geological field research methods.
Day 3: research and evaluation of exogenous processes. Soil diagnostics and description.
Day 4: soil mapping.
Day 5: preparation and defense of the practice report.

Animal Husbandry - 5 days (2 teaching staff).
Day 1: work with documentation - data collection and accounting methodology; use of the obtained data in determining the quality of animals; assessment of individual development of animals; use of collected data in practical animal husbandry.
Day 2: practical work with farm animals at Research and Study farm “Vecauce”: evaluation of individual development indicators of animals; assessment of various features and their suitability for a specific type of production; the impact of the housing system on the animal selection and selection process; basic stages of animal breeding in obtaining high-quality dairy cows.
0.5 days: preparation and defense of practice report.
Day 3: sampling of on-farm fodder (hay, silage, sorrel, etc.) and organoleptic evaluation of the fodder. Completion and labeling of accompanying documents for feed samples.
Day 4: determination of effective wood fiber in maize silage, grass silage and fully mixed ration. Estimation of the amount of feed in storage. Feeding needs planning and feed ration calculation for the herd.

0.5 days: preparation and defense of practice report.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Students' practical participation in each practice day. Development and presentation of a practice report. The internship is not credited if the specific sections of the internship have not been visited, the internship protocols have not been written and defended.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

For each internship day, certain tasks are prepared, which students receive at the beginning of the internship. A protocol must be written for each topic of the internship, which must be presented to the lecturer of the relevant section of the internship. The defended protocols are combined in a practice report.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Type of examination - test. All practice topics must be worked on and credited.

Compulsory reading

1. Augsnes diagnostika un apraksts: Lauku darbu metodika. (2007). Sast. A. Kārkliņš. Jelgava: LLU.120 lpp.
2. Degola L., Trūpa A., Aplociņa E. (2016). Lopbarības ķīmiskās analīzes un sagremojamība. SIA Dardedze hologrāfija. 52 lpp. Elektroniski pieejams: http://www.vbf.llu.lv/sites/vbf/files/files/lapas/
Lopbarības%20ķīmiskās....pdf
3. Garančs A. (2006). Cilvēka un dzīvnieku fizioloģija jautājumos un atbildēs. Rīga. 340 lpp.
4. Kārkliņš A., Kreišmane Dz. (2020). Studiju darbu izpilde un noformējums: metodiskie norādījumi Lauksaimniecības fakultātes studentiem. 6. papildinātais un pārstrādātais izdevums. Jelgava: LLU. 69 lpp.
5. Rubenis J. (1987). Agronomisko izmēģinājumu metodikas praktikums. Rīga: Zvaigzne.158 lpp.
6. Siliņa A., Dreijere S., Arbidāns D., Zauers K. (2013). Lopbarības analīžu rezultātu apkopojums. SIA LLKC.
47 lpp. Elektroniski pieejams: http://www.laukutikls.lv/sites/laukutikls.lv/files

Further reading


1. Augsnes diagnostika un apraksts. (2008). Sast. A. Kārkliņš. Jelgava: LLU. 336 lpp.
2. Garančs A. (1999). Dzīvnieku fizioloģija jautājumos un atbildēs. Rēzekne: Latgales druka. 303 lpp.

3. Mauriņa H. (1987). Augu fizioloģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne. 358 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Agronomijas Vēstis: zinātnisko rakstu krājums. Latvijas Lauksaimniecības un meža zinātņu akadēmija, Latvijas Lauksaimniecības Universitāte Lauksaimniecības fakult.. ISBN 9984555895(5). ISSN 1691-3485.
2. Agro Tops. Rīga: Aģentūra Agro apgāds. ISSN 1407-5164.
3. Saimnieks LV. Rīga : TEE BIO, 2004- ISSN 1691-1598.
4. Veterinārais Žurnāls: Latvijas Veterinārārstu biedrības informatīvs biļetens. Rīga: Latvijas Veterinārārstu biedrība. ISSN 1407-0065.