Overview
In this unit, you will be introduced to the foundations of plant science including introductory plant physiology (structure and function), and taxonomy related to agricultural cropping. You will investigate a range of crop production systems including dry-land, irrigated, intensive vegetable cropping, broad acre grain and fibre cropping, horticulture and orchard cropping. You will develop knowledge of crop nutrition, crop protection, agri-tech, environment impacts and legislation relevant to cropping, which will provide you with the foundations from which you will extend your learning in future units in this 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 2 - 2020
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).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
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 Feedback Survey
Rubric or marking sheet requested for each assessment.
A marking sheet or rubric will be provided on Moodle for each assessment.
Feedback from Feedback Survey
More detail on assessment requirements.
More detailed explanations of the assessments will be provided on Moodle.
Feedback from Feedback Survey
More detail on main crops in Australia.
Case studies will be provided for some Australian crops.
- Explain the fundamentals of plant science including plant physiology (structure and function), and taxonomy related to agricultural cropping
- Identify key technologies that improve the productivity and environmental sustainability of cropping
- Develop a crop management plan for a crop production system
- Critique and explain the environmental and legislation requirements of crop management systems.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | ||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
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 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- MS Office or similar
- Zoom Capacity (microphone required, webcam preferred if possible)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
t.trotter@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Plant Structure
Chapter
There is no prescribed text book for this unit. Readings and additional materials will be provided each week on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Plant Function
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Plant Development
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 1 Open: Week 3 Friday (31 Jul. 2020) Closed: Week 4 Wednesday (5 Aug. 2020) 5:00 pm AEST.
Module/Topic
Taxonomy
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Crop Production Systems
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Agronomic Practices
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 2 Open: Week 6 Friday (28 Aug. 2020) Closed: Week 7 Wednesday (2 Sep. 2020) 5:00 pm AEST.
Module/Topic
Nutrition
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Practicals
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Crop Protection
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Agri-tech
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Portfolio Part A Practical Book. Due: Week 10 Friday (25 Sep. 2020) 5:00 pm AEST.
Module/Topic
Environmental Impacts and Legislation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Bio-security, Harvest and Post-harvest
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Due to COVID-19 impacts at the time of preparing this unit profile, the Residential School attached to this unit for Term 2, 2020 has been postponed and will need to be completed at a later date. Further details will be made available on the Moodle site in due course.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
Quiz 1 (15%) Open: Week 3 Friday (31 Jul. 2020) Closed: Week 4 Wednesday (5 Aug. 2020) 5:00 pm AEST.
This quiz will assess your understanding of content delivered during lectures and tutorials in Weeks 1 to 3. The quiz will consist of a variety of questions which might include short answer, multiple choice, matched pairs and calculations.
Quiz 2 (15%) Open: Week 6 Friday (28 Aug. 2020) Closed: Week 7 Wednesday (2 Sep. 2020) 5:00 pm AEST.
This quiz will assess your understanding of content delivered during lectures and tutorials in Weeks 4 to 6. The quiz will consist of a variety of questions which might include short answer, multiple choice, matched pairs and calculations.
2
Online Quiz 1 Open: Week 3 Friday (31 Jul. 2020) Closed: Week 4 Wednesday (5 Aug. 2020) 5:00 pm AEST. Online Quiz 2 Open: Week 6 Friday (28 Aug. 2020) Closed: Week 7 Wednesday (2 Sep. 2020) 5:00 pm AEST.
Online Quiz 1: Week 6 Wednesday (26 Aug. 2020). Online Quiz 2: Week 9 Wednesday (16 Sep. 2020).
The quiz will consist of a variety of questions which might include short answer, multiple choice, matched pairs and calculations. The responses to these questions will be assessed according to their quality, accuracy and level of detail.
No submission method provided.
- Explain the fundamentals of plant science including plant physiology (structure and function), and taxonomy related to agricultural cropping
- Identify key technologies that improve the productivity and environmental sustainability of cropping
- Critique and explain the environmental and legislation requirements of crop management systems.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
2 Portfolio
Part A (20%) Practical Book. Due: Week 10 Friday (25 Sep. 2020).
This assessment task requires you to undertake three practical activities/experiments at home. You will access a practical book manual on the Moodle site, containing instructions and worksheets for each of the practical exercises. You will receive instructions and guidance during tutorials which will provide information on how and when to undertake each of the practical tasks. You will collate data and evidence of the activity/experiment and complete the worksheets. The practical book will be submitted as a single document containing all activities/experiments.
Part B (10%) Residential School Field Trip Report. Due: To be confirmed.
A one day Residential School will be organised for this unit at a date to be advised on the Moodle site. During the Residential School you will visit a property and will be required to complete a short report on the production system at that farm. You will report on the different components of the production system including; inputs, outputs, post-harvest management, marketing etc. that make up the entire production system. You will include your own recommendations on how the producer can improve the production system, through use of a technology, innovation, practice or resource not currently utilised at the property. You will be provided with a template for the report as a worksheet which will be available on the field trip.
Part A (20%) Practical Book. Due: Week 10 Friday (25 September. 2020). Part B (10%) Residential School Field Trip Report. Due: To be confirmed.
Part A. Week 12 Friday (9 Oct. 2020). Part B. To be confirmed (10 working days after submission).
Part A Practical Book
- Evidence of completion of practical activities/experiments (photographs, data etc.).
- Presentation of data in appropriate diagrams, tables, graphs and statistical formats.
- Detail, accuracy and quality of answers, results and discussion.
- The clarity of English expression, spelling and grammar.
- The appropriate use of appendices.
Part B Residential School Field Trip Report
- Content of report including a demonstrated understanding of the production system
- Quality and practicality of recommendations for improvement to the production system
- The clarity of English expression, spelling and grammar.
No submission method provided.
- Explain the fundamentals of plant science including plant physiology (structure and function), and taxonomy related to agricultural cropping
- Identify key technologies that improve the productivity and environmental sustainability of cropping
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
3 Written Assessment
This assessment requires you develop an agronomic growers note which would be suitable for distribution to crop producers. The agronomic growers note should be of a quality and standard suitable for distribution from a private agronomic consultant business or government advisory department.
You are required to select one crop from the set of options provided on the Moodle site. A agronomic growers note is a short communication which provides summarised information on how to grow a crop in a specific region. The agronomic growers note should present as an easy to read, instructive manual which is attractive to the reader and includes appropriate photographs and data in tables and graphs. The agronomic growers note will include the following:
- Name of crop and growing region including a map.
- Recommended varieties.
- Calendar of operations from planting to harvest presented in a visual/graphic format.
- Agronomic practices including cultivation, tillage and planting.
- Nutrition and fertiliser requirement for the crop and application recommendations.
- Crop protection - major weeds, pests and diseases with recommendations for management.
- Harvest practices and post-harvest storage.
- Environmental and legislative issues.
The agronomic growers note will be a maximum of 6 pages excluding references and appendices.
Week 12 Friday (9 Oct 2020) 5:00 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (23 Oct 2020)
The agronomic growers note will be assessed on:
- Content detail, accuracy and quality of the information outlined in the task description.
- Presentation of information, images and data in appropriate figures, tables and graphs.
- The clarity of English expression, spelling and grammar.
- The appropriate use of references.
- Page length.
No submission method provided.
- Identify key technologies that improve the productivity and environmental sustainability of cropping
- Develop a crop management plan for a crop production system
- Critique and explain the environmental and legislation requirements of crop management systems.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- 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?
