Overview
This unit covers the fundamentals of crop production systems and is underpinned by the VET unit 'Manage agricultural crop production'. You will be introduced to a range of crop production systems including dry-land, irrigated, horticultural and orchard crops. The unit will use specific crop examples to demonstrate the fundamental factors that lead to growing a successful crop. You will be provided with an overview of crop physiology, crop nutrition and crop protection. The content of this unit will provide you with the necessary foundation for future units in the course.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2017
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from CQU staff and students
The students and CQU staff indicated that the assessments were poorly explained.
The Portfolio and other assessments will be broken into smaller parts, with their own due dates, throughout the term: 1) so that students can receive feedback as term progresses; and 2) to ensure submission and marking occur in a timely manner distributed throughout the term. Staff will consider a more manageable written assessment as the task this term was very large and required a lot of time to complete.
The Portfolio components were broken in small parts.
Feedback from Students
The students indicated that better communication and organization is needed across the three campuses.
All portfolio tasks and assessments need to have clear and unambiguous due dates posted in the course profile and on moodle. Assessment names, due dates and terminology must be aligned between the course profile and the moodle site. Both CQU and QATC staff will be more rigid in following the posted schedule and timetable forlectures, pracs, labs and field trips. We will still need to remain flexible for unforeseen circumstances. Resources need to reserved and in place well ahead of schedule.
All the portfolio tasks were clear for the students. Only the last assessment was not clear.
Feedback from CQU staff and students
The students and CQU staff indicated repetitive content in practicals and lectures (e.g. some content overlap with AGRI11001)
CQU and QATC staff will work to reduce unintentional repetition and instead scaffold learning outcomes across the Agriculture program. This may include project based learning assessments that supplement or replace the current assessments.
Unintentional repetition was avoided. Project based learning activities were implemented.
- Determine management options and production targets for a cropping enterprise.
- Select, test and implement appropriate crop innovations into farm activities.
- Develop a whole of farm cropping management and risk mitigation plan.
- Critique the environmental and legal requirements of crop management systems.
This unit will contribute to a Diploma of Agriculture upon successful completion of year 1.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 40% | ||||
| 3 - Practical and Written Assessment - 20% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 40% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Practical and Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Google Earth Pro
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Power Point
- Microsoft Word
- R
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
d.cozzolino@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to the Unit and to the systems theory
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
,
Module/Topic
Crop and plant nutrition. Crop fertilization
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Part A - QUIZ 1, due Friday 24th March
Module/Topic
Crop breeding and plant reproduction
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The whole enterprise, crop management and budgeting
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topics in crop biosecurity (diseases, pest and weeds)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Crop management and the whole enterprise
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Forecasting uncertain futures (climate change, sustainability)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Commodities, products and markets
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Part B - QUIZ 2, due Friday 12th May
Module/Topic
Product quality, harvest and post-harvest
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Whole farm plan
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Whole farm plan
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%
Assessment Description: Written report. You will prepare a Crop Production Plan for a nominated property in your region including information related with:
- crop production plan aims / targets or goals (e.g. grain production, forage production),
- brief description of soil characteristics and types relevant to the crop (e.g. pH, organic matter, nitrogen, soil types according to Australian Soil Classification, etc.) and location,
- climate characteristics and crop adaptation (e.g. rainfall, temperature),
- crop type and variety, including plant density (e.g. kg of seeds/ha, etc.),
- fertilization requirements, type of fertilizer and rates (e.g. kg of urea / ha),
- brief description of some key potential diseases, pests and weeds and control measures.
The Crop Production Plan will be in the format of a report (1500-2000 words) and includes an introduction, aims, main body addressing point listed above, conclusions and references.
Week 6 Friday (21 Apr 2017) 8:00 pm AEST
Grades will be returned within 10 days of submission
Marking rubric and exemplar will be provided in week 1 and posted in Moodle.
Marks are awarded for:
1. introduction
2. the quality of the background review
3. the discussion of this information in context of the task asked
4. and the clarity of English expression, spelling, grammar, accuracy of referencing, use of figures and tables, appropriate length.
- Determine management options and production targets for a cropping enterprise.
- Select, test and implement appropriate crop innovations into farm activities.
- Critique the environmental and legal requirements of crop management systems.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
2 Portfolio
Assessment Description
The portfolio is made up of a series of tasks related to the different activities of this Unit (e.g. lectures, field trips, pracs, tutorials).
Tasks include:
PART A (15%). Due date Week 3 (Friday, 24/3/2017). Task: QUIZ. Assessment of content delivered during lectures, field trips, pracs and tutorials from week 1 through to week 3. Topics include Theory of Systems, Crop and Plant Physiology, Crop and Plant Nutrition, and Crop Fertilization.
PART B (15%). Due date Week 9 (Friday, 12/5/2017). Task: QUIZ. Assessment of content delivered during lectures, field trips, pracs and tutorials from week 5 through to week 8. Topics include Natural Resources Management, Budgeting, Legislation, and Environment.
PART C (10%). Due date after each Prac and Field Trip. Task: After each practical session and field trip, you will be required to complete a short report or presentation. Reports will be no more than 300 words. Specific details of each task will be available on the Moodle site.
PART A. Friday Week 3 (24/3/2017); Part B Friday Week 9 (12/5/2017), PART C due weekly when prac and field trips are scheduled.
10 days after submission
Part C rubric will be available in Moodle.
- Determine management options and production targets for a cropping enterprise.
- Develop a whole of farm cropping management and risk mitigation plan.
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Practical and Written Assessment
Weighting 20%
Assessment: Natural Resources Management Plan
This assessment will consist of a written Natural Resources Management Plan and includes information related with:
- business objectives and goals
- SWOT analysis
- assessment of natural resources (including flora and fauna)
- a plan for reviewing and assessing the success of the Natural Resources Management Plan
The information provided in the plan must be supported by the use of references. The Natural Resources Management Plan will be in the format of report (1200-1500 words) and include an introduction, aims, main body of the plan, conclusions and references.
Week 12 Friday (2 June 2017) 5:00 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (7 June 2017)
Marks are awarded for:
1. introduction and addressing the topic
2. the quality of the background review
3. the discussion of this information in context of the task asked
4. and the clarity of English expression, spelling, grammar, accuracy of referencing, use of figures and tables, appropriate length
- Select, test and implement appropriate crop innovations into farm activities.
- Develop a whole of farm cropping management and risk mitigation plan.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
