Course code LauZP063

Credit points 1.50

Practical Agronomy

Total Hours in Course40

Independent study hours40

Date of course confirmation14.04.2020

Responsible UnitInstitute of Soil and Plant Science

Course developers

author prof.

Gunita Bimšteine

Dr. agr.

author lect.

Irina Sivicka

Mg. agr.

author Augsnes un augu zinātņu institūts

Dzidra Kreišmane

Dr. agr.

Course abstract

Study internship that helps strengthen theoretical knowledge obtained from specialisation study courses and gain experience about practical use from specialisation theoretical courses.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge and comprehension about practical use of theoretical knowledge gained from specialisation courses.
Skills how to do assessments in field trials, to determine harmful organisms, their incidence and severity, to gather collections, to determine field and horticulture crop species, to analyse seedling and plantation conditions, and to evaluate efficiency of used crop management technologies.
The ability to adequately evaluate practical and research work results, and to analyse crop management technology compliance the with used farming model, methods and good agricultural practice.

Individual work on assigned internship tasks. Preparation and defence of internship report.

Course Content(Calendar)

Study internship with lecturers’ guidance at LLU Training and research farm “Vecauce” and “Peterlauki”, research institutions, farms, enterprises and consultation offices of agriculture and horticulture.

Day 1 – Observation and evaluation of field trials and production fields in field crop production:
1) evaluation of seedling conditions;
2) identification of weeds in crop fields;
3) diagnostics of harmful organisms, and evaluation of their incidence and severity;
4) soil sample gathering methods, and use of plant nutrition diagnostics methods;
5) evaluation of the used crop management technologies and their compliance.

Day 2 – observation and evaluation of the field and covered plot trials and production fields in horticulture:
1) evaluation of the conditions of seedling and sapling plantations;
2) diagnostics of harmful organisms, and evaluation of their incidence and severity;
3) provision of plant nutrition in covered plots;
4) collaboration and cooperation in horticulture;
5) evaluation of the used crop management technologies and their compliance.

Day 3 – observation and evaluation of the field and covered plot trials and production fields in
1) evaluation of fruit plant plantations;
2) identification of weeds occurring in orchards;
3) diagnostics of harmful organisms, and evaluation of their incidence and severity;
4) soil sample gathering methods, and use of plant nutrition diagnostics methods;
5) evaluation of the used orchard management technologies and their compliance;
6) evaluation of the presence of bees and other natural pollinators in orchards.

Day 4 – operation of multidisciplinary farms and agriculture cooperatives:
1) evaluation of forage fields (field crops and grasslands);
2) analysis and evaluation of forage preparation and applied technologies;
3) acquaintance with animal husbandry in an enterprise;
4) evaluation and analysis of the essence, operation and results of cooperation.

Day 5 – operation of unconventional production producers and agriculture advisory and training centres:
1) evaluation of the operation of an enterprise;
2) production market opportunities;
3) agricultural service organizations.
Internship dates are specified each year according to the Dean’s decrees.
Internship tasks and presentation deadlines vary each year according to situation.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Students are working independently with assignments received from lecturers responsible for each internship segment.
Students must independently make a presentation and add it to e-studies within allotted time limit.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Study internship is marked “Pass” if all required internship tasks are successfully fulfilled and defended with a presentation.

Compulsory reading

Kārkliņš A., Kreišmane Dz. (2016). Studiju darba izpilde un noformējums: metodiskie norādījumi Lauksaimniecības fakultātes studentiem. 5. papild. un pārstr. izdevums. Jelgava: LLU, 73 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

Nozares zinātniskie un profesionālie žurnāli un interneta resursi.

Notes

A mandatory study course for professional higher education Bachelor program "Agriculture" with specialization in Field Crops. The course is organised in 7th semester for full-time students and in 9th semester for part-time students.