LV EN RU DE FR

Soil Tillage Systems in Crop Production and Horticulture

Course developer

Prior knowledge

Biol3014, Plant Physiology I

Course abstract

Students familiarize themselves with soil tillage theoretical basic, tillage tasks, agrophysical properties, technological tillage actions, tillage operations and techniques, tillage practice, main tillage practice to field crops and vegetables and after treatment system execution. Weeds and their control options. In laboratory works students get practical skills determination of soil packing density, soil moisture and penetrometric resistance, soil tillage and weed control plan compilation.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

1. Students are able to determine and evaluate packing density: laboratory works.
2. Students are able to plan soil tillage to field crops and vegetables: laboratory works.
3. Students are able to make weed control plan for bred crops: laboratory works.
4. Students know the field cultivation laws, plant life factors and their regulation options and biological classification of weeds: Test No 1.
5. Students know the soil tillage tasks, technological tillage actions, ways, systems and techniques: Test 2 and Test 3.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Introduction to the study course. Field cultivation laws.
2. Plant life factors. The possibility of regulating plant life factors in field cultivation.
3. Weed control. Weed biological features and classification. Characterization of the main weed species and biological groups in Latvia. 3 hours
4. Theoretical foundations and tasks of soil tillage.
Test No 1. Test on previously acquired topics (point 1 to 4).
5. Soil agrophysical properties.
6. Technological operations of soil tillage.
7. Soil tillage operations and techniques.
8. Forms of soil primary tillage (ploughing, subsoiling and others).
9. Forms of soil secondary tillage (stubble ploughing, dragging and others).
Test No 2. Test on previously acquired topics (point 5 to 9).
10. Minimization of soil tillage.
11. Soil tillage practice. Classification of soil tillage practice and differentiating factors.
12. Soil tillage practice for main crops (cereals, rape and others). 2 hours
13. Soil tillage practice for vegetables.
Test No 3. Test on previously acquired topics (point 10 to 13).

List of laboratory works. 16 hours
1. Biological classification of weeds and their learning. 2 hours
2. Weed control methods and techniques (provocation, suffocation, mildew). 2 hours
3. Soil structure.
4. Determination of packing density and calculation. 2 hours
5. Determination of soil penetration resistance.
6. Determination of soil moisture. Augsnes mitruma noteikšana.
7. Mechanical weed control measures. Control of weeds during soil primary tillage and secondary tillage. 2 hours
8. Importance of tillage practice after post-mortem in the regulation of plant life factors.
9. Preparation of soil tillage and weed control plan for cereals, rape, etc. 2 hours

10. Preparation of soil tillage and weed control plan for vegetables. 2 hours

Requirements for awarding credit points

Test type: written exam.
Credits are counted if the 3 tests papers are written successfully and individual homework is presented.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Literature studies.
Home work - developing individual soil tillage and weed control plan for individual crop. Home work presentation till 10 sliders.
Processing and presentation of results of laboratory works.
Group work during practical classes.
Preparation for tests.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Students who have successfully written 3 tests are admitted to the exam. Rating of each control test is 4 balls and executed and presented home work too.
Laboratory works must be carried out in accordance with the instructions; assessment - credited/uncredited.
All tests and laboratory works must be successfully completed.

Compulsory reading

1. Brady N. C., Weil R. R. The Nature and Properties of Soils. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall 2008. 975 p. ISBN 0-13-227938-X
Weil R. R., Brady N. C. The nature and properties of soils. 15th edition. Global edition. Harlow: Pearson Education, 2016. 1104 p. ISBN 9781292162232
2. Dirksen C. Soil Physics Measurements. Reiskirchen, Germany: Catena Verlag, 1999. 154 p. ISBN 3-923381-43-3
3.Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices. H. T. Hartmann, D. E. Kester, F. T. Davies a.o. Upper Saddle River, (NJ): Prentice Hall,, 1997. 770 p. ISBN 0-13-206103-1
4. Horn R., Fleige H., Peth S., Peng X. Soil Management for Sustainability. Reiskirchen, Germany: Catena Verlag, 2006. 497 p. Advances in Geoecology 38. ISBN 3-923381-52-2
5. Reeder R. Conservation Tillage Systems and Management. Second edition. Iowa: Iowa State University, 2000. 270 p. ISBN 0-089373-088-2
6. Scott H.D. Soil Physics. Agricultural and Environmental Applications. Ames: Iowa State University Press, 2000. 421 p. ISBN 0-8138-2087-1

Further reading

1. Latvian Journal of Agronomy. ISSN 1691-3485
2. Proceedings of the Latvia University of Agriculture. ISSN 1407-4427
3. Research for Rural Development. Online ISSN 2255-923X ISSN 1691-4031 http://www2.llu.lv/research_conf/proceedings.htm
4. Soil  Tillage Research. ISSN: 0167-1987 www.journals.elsevier.co

Notes

In academic bachelor's program Sustainable Agriculture with specialization direction Sustainable Plant Sciences.