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Agronomy Experiment Design

Course developers

Prior knowledge

Biol1015, Biometry

Course abstract

Students acquire the experimental designe (single and two or three factor experiments, design of field observations, planning of funds for research work), the statistical processing of obtained research data and profesional evaluation of obtained results. In addition, students acquire skills, how and where to study scientific literature, and how to draw up course and bachelor papers.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

After completing the study course students will have:
• knowledge and understanding of theoretical and empirical research in agriculture and its basic concepts; Test 1
• skills to formulate, critically evaluate and coordinate key issues, according to goals and objectives of the study work, choose research and data processing methods, to interpret the obtained data, to formulate conclusions appropriate for results; Test 2, practical works

• competences in cooperation with advisor to carry out final research paper, to use other research results for discussion. Test 3, practical works

Course Content(Calendar)

1. The concept of science, the breakdown of science, the state of science in Latvia. Rules for the development of course work.
2. General study methods. Calculation, use of statistical indicators for quantitative sample totals.
Test 1. Concept of science and research; general and specific research methods in agriculture.
3. The specific research methods in agriculture. Evaluation of pilot data, methods of culling and recovery.
4. The concept of research themes: hypothesis, job aim and objectives.
5. Studies of scientific literature.
6. Design of research works, checking the consistency of text.
Test 2. Literature studies and research documentation. Statistical methods for evaluating test results.
7. The conditions and methods of the study.
8. Experiments and their planning.
9. Placement and execution of tests; single and multi-factor testing.
10. Preliminary processing of test data and data interpretation.
11. Documentation, design and storage of tests.
12. Special features of research methods in rural farming, horticulture or husbandry.

Test 3. Specificity of different research directions in the sub-branches of Agricultural Sciences.

Requirements for awarding credit points

An exam consisting of test issues. Practical jobs and quizzes must be successfully completed. Prior to the examination, a course job must be submitted and successfully defended.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Independent studies of scientific literature and other sources of information, depending on the tasks assigned.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The assessment of the study course examination depends on the assessment of the examination task and the cumulative assessment of the study course tests.
The student will be awarded a pass mark on the exam if at least 50% of the test questions are answered correctly and 3 tests have been passed successfully.

The exam grade is calculated as the arithmetic mean of two, the exam grade and the average grade on tests, which is calculated as the arithmetic mean of the grade marks in the course.

Compulsory reading

1. Gustavii B. How to write and illustrate scientific paper. Cambridge University Press, 2008. 168p.
2. Datu statistiskā apstrāde ar MS Excel: mācību līdzeklis studentiem. Sast. I. Arhipova, L. Ramute, L. Paura. Jelgava: LLU, 1999. 159 lpp.
3. Petersen R. G. Agricultural Field Experiments Designe and Analysis. Oregone State Universit, 1994. 432 p.
4. Singh Y.K. Fundamental of research and methodology and statistics. Published by New Age International (P) Ltd., Publishers, 2006. 310 p.
5. Rubenis J., Liepa I. Agronomisko izmēģinājumu metodikas pamati. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1976. 180 lpp.

6. Rubenis J. Agronomisko izmēģinājumu metodikas praktikums. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1987. 157 lpp.

Further reading

1. Neparametriskās metodes, SPSS datorprogramma. Mācību līdzeklis studentiem, LLU: sast. L. Paura, I. Arhipova. Jelgava: LKC, 2002.148 lpp.
2. Krastiņš O. Statistika un ekonometrija. Mācību līdzeklis augstskolām. Rīga: LR CSP, 1998. 336 lpp.
3. Kārkliņš A., Kreišmane Dz. Studiju darbu izpilde un noformējums: metodiskie norādījumi Lauksaimniecības fakultātes studentiem. Jelgava: LLU, 2016. 73 lpp.
4. Доспехов Б. А. Методика полевого опыта (с основами статистической обработки результатов исследований). Москва: Агропромиздат, 1985. 351 с.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Latvijas Lauksaimniecības Universitātes Raksti. Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte. ISSN 1407-4427.
2. Journal of Agricultural Research. Hosted by U.S. Department of Agriculture. ISSN: 0095-9758.
3. Agronomijas vēstis: zinātnisko rakstu krājums. Latvijas Lauksaimniecības un meža zinātņu akadēmija, Latvijas Lauksaimniecības Universitāte Lauksaimniecības fakultāte. ISBN 9984555895(5). ISSN 1691-3485.
4. Līdzsvarota lauksaimniecība : Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitātes Lauksaimniecības fakultātes, Latvijas Agronomu biedrības un Latvijas Lauksaimniecības un meža zinātņu akadēmijas organizētās zinātniski praktiskās konferences "Līdzsvarota lauksaimniecība" raksti.

5. AgroTops. Rīga: Aģentūra Agro apgāds. ISSN 1407-5164.

Notes

The course is compulsory for students of all specialties of the professional bachelor study program "Agriculture" of the Faculty of Agriculture.