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Practical Agronomy II

Course developer

Prior knowledge

LauZ3139, Soil Fertility and Fertilizers

LauZ4219, Crop Production I

LauZ4228, Crop Protection

Course abstract

During the practice students depending on farm specialization are able to obtain practical skills and experience in crop technologies and its evoluation.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

After completing the praxis students will have:
• Strengthen the knowledge and critical understanding in agronomic issues, theoretical conclusions will be compared with the practical experience and current issues in the farm practice – final report.
• Skills to assess crop status, identify and assess the dissemination of harmful organisms, as well to evaluate the effectiveness of applied technologies in crop production; will be able to manage and organize the agricultural labour – collection (infected plant herbarium, pests and corresponding damaged plant part herbarium, weed herbarium and weed seed collection).

• Competences- the ability independently to manage the grain crop, legume oil crop, potatoes and other field crop production; using the latest scientific findings and economic patterns to improve efficiency of the production, independently to manage farm production work and raise their qualification – practice report presentation an discussion with evaluation commission.

Course Content(Calendar)

16 weeks - practice in farm or company, during this time students must make report about following aspects:
1. Characteristics of the farm, direction/s of specialization.
2. Characteristics of the crop production, cultivated crops, seeding structure; seed cultivation, fodder production (if the farm takes place).
3. Characteristics of farm soils, characteristics of the drainage system.
4. Growing plans/scheme of two most widely cultivated crops, justification of specific agrotechnical measures, fertilization plan and justification of its choice, the most important harmful organisms, plant protection system.
5. Logistics and cooperation partners (realization of production, agricultural services, participation in cooperatives and other organizations).

6. Farm development vision, risk control measures.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Evaluation of practice – test with a Grade formed by the final report (grade) and presentation of final report (grade).

All collections (infected plant herbarium, corresponding damaged plant part herbarium, weeds herbarium and weed seed collection) must be submitted. Timely submission of interim report, final report and practice supervisor’s feedback.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

All collections (infected plant herbarium, pests and its damaged plant herbarium, weeds herbarium and weeds seed collection) should be managed according to the rules.
Interim report must be submitted on e-studies.

Final report preface at first must be submitted on e-studies and after positive assessment printed version of the final report must be handed in.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The grade of final report is affected by quality and submission time of the necessary collections and interim report (points).
If number of points not exceed 4 – the final grade cannot be higher than 7.

Distribution of points depending on the quality of the interim report and the time of submission:
3 points - submitted on time and meets the requirements;
2 points - submitted on time, but it does not meet the requirements;
1 point - not submitted within the specified time and does not meet the requirements.

Distribution of points depending on the quality of the collections and the time of submission:
3 points - submitted on time and their presentation meets the requirements;
2 points - submitted within the specified time, but their presentation does not meet the requirements;

1 point - not submitted within the specified time and their presentation does not meet the requirements.

Compulsory reading

1. Augkopība (2004). A. Ružas redakcijā. LLU: SIA JUMIS. 374 lpp.
2. Augsnes ilgtspējīga izmantošana (2008). O. Nikodemus red. O. Nikodemus, A.Kārkliņš, M. Kļaviņš u.c. Rīga: Akadēmiskais apgāds. 256 lpp.
3. Augu slimības (2003) B.Bankinas red.Jelgava: LLU, 247 lpp.
4. Bankina B., Gaile Z. (2014) Ziemāju labības un to slimības. Jelgava,: LLU 104 lpp.
5. Latvijas augšņu noteicējs (2009). A. Kārkliņa red. A. Kārkliņš, I. Gemste, H. Mežals u.c. Jelgava: LLU. 240 lpp.
6. Priedītis A. (1996) Kultūraugu kaitēkļi. Rīga, Zvaigzne ABC, 293 lpp.

7. Turka I. (2004) Pesticīdu lietošanas riski augu aizsardzībā. Rīga: Zvaigzne. 159 lpp.

Further reading

1. Bruto seguma aprēķins zemnieku saimniecībai. Ozolnieki: SIA LLKIAC.

2. Rokasgrāmata augu aizsardzības līdzekļu droša lietošana cilvēkam un videi, LAALRUTA, 2013. - 52. lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Interneta resursi - www.vaad.gov.lv