Agronomy

Lesson Structure: Agronomy

Introduction to Agronomic Practices
Introduction
Crop Types
Plant structure and Function
Transpiration rate
Selection Criteria for Plants
Understanding monoculture
Row Crops
Cover Crops
Crop Operations
Planter types
Culture - What influences Crop Growth?
Soils
Problems with soils
Loss of soil problems
Erosion
Salinity
Soil sodicity
Soil acidity and alkalinity
Improving soils
Cultivation techniques
Plant nutrition
Nutrient deficiencies
Organic fertilisers
Soil life
Insect Pests
Diseases
Crop Husbandry Practices
Operations
Identifying weeds
Ways to control weeds
Spraying
Irrigation
Chemical crop protection
Preparing plant pathogens for microscopic observation
Culturing Pathogens
Natural pest and disease control
Physical controls
Organic sprays and dusts
Seed and Seed Management
Seed storage
Types of seed storage
Seed vigour testing
Dormancy factors affecting germination
Germination treatments
Types of media
Sugar cane
Ryegrass
Contract harvesting
Crop Management - Special Report
Crop management from planting to post harvest handling
Learning Goals: Agronomy BAG306

Develop your understanding and confidently describe the nature and scope of agronomic practices within your country and others.
Discuss what is grown, where it is grown and the diversity of practices used to grow a wide range of crops.
Learn how to identify factors that affect the success of a crop; including soil condition, climate factors and biological influences such as pests and diseases.
Clearly desribe significant practices used by farmers in the growing of an agronomic crop; including the management of soils, water, cultivations and crop protection.

Practicals:

Go to your local department of primary industries (or equivalent), collect cropping guides on crops grown locally in your area. Ensure your information includes broadleaf, legume and grass (cereal crops). Collect fodder crop information also and find out what the main fodder crops are in your area.
Obtain pictures of the seed and mid season crop and mature crop. Become familiar with agronomic terms and start a glossary, use library, text and internet searches to complete this task.
Having looked at what crops are grown in your region, now look at the soil types. What type of soil is common to your region. What are the main features to these soils. That is, what colour is the soil, what texture is it, does it have a high sand or clay content, does the soil drain well, or waterlog? How did this soil form? Write these down as a reference.

Introduction to Agronomic Practices
Introduction
Crop Types
Plant structure and Function
Transpiration rate
Selection Criteria for Plants
Understanding monoculture
Row Crops
Cover Crops
Crop Operations
Planter types
Culture - What influences Crop Growth?
Soils
Problems with soils
Loss of soil problems
Erosion
Salinity
Soil sodicity
Soil acidity and alkalinity
Improving soils
Cultivation techniques
Plant nutrition
Nutrient deficiencies
Organic fertilisers
Soil life
Insect Pests
Diseases
Types of media
Media derived from rock or stone
Media derived from synthetic materials
Organic media
Diseases
Salinty build up
Arable Cereal Crops
Cereal crops
Zadock scale
Wheat
Barley
Oats
Triticale
Sorghum
Maize
Rice
Millet
Sugar cane
Ryegrass
Hay and Silage
Quality control
Storage and handling
Hydroponic fodder
Arable Broadleaf Crops
Characteristics of broadleaf crops
Contract harvesting
Crop Management - Special Report
Crop management from planting to post harvest handling
Learning Goals: Agronomy BAG306

Develop your understanding and confidently describe the nature and scope of agronomic practices within your country and others.
Discuss what is grown, where it is grown and the diversity of practices used to grow a wide range of crops.
Learn how to identify factors that affect the success of a crop; including soil condition, climate factors and biological influences such as pests and diseases.
Clearly desribe significant practices used by farmers in the growing of an agronomic crop; including the management of soils, water, cultivations and crop protection.
Explain how to achieve successful seed germination for different agronomic crops under different conditions in the field.
Discuss practices used to farm cereals for harvest and sale as cash crops.
Discuss practices used to farm broadleaf crops for harvest and sale as cash crops.
Understand the use of different harvesting equipment and techniques including post harvest handling for a range of different crops.
Demonstrate your knowledge by producing a management plan for a crop from planting to post harvest handling.
Practicals:

Go to your local department of primary industries (or equivalent), collect cropping guides on crops grown locally in your area. Ensure your information includes broadleaf, legume and grass (cereal crops). Collect fodder crop information also and find out what the main fodder crops are in your area.
Obtain pictures of the seed and mid season crop and mature crop. Become familiar with agronomic terms and start a glossary, use library, text and internet searches to complete this task.

Collect samples of your own seed (for 4 different crops), from a local farmer or produce store.
Perform your own germination test using the cotton wool method.
Take photos on day 2, and the final day.
Record the number of seed germinating per day, and then the total number on the final day.
Develop a management plan for a crop from planting through to post harvest handling.Lesson Structure: Agronomy

Introduction to Agronomic Practices
Introduction
Crop Types
Plant structure and Function
Transpiration rate
Selection Criteria for Plants
Understanding monoculture
Row Crops
Cover Crops
Crop Operations
Planter types
Culture - What influences Crop Growth?
Soils
Problems with soils
Loss of soil problems
Erosion
Salinity
Soil sodicity
Soil acidity and alkalinity
Improving soils
Cultivation techniques
Plant nutrition
Nutrient deficiencies
Organic fertilisers
Soil life
Insect Pests
Diseases
Crop Husbandry Practices
Operations
Identifying weeds
Ways to control weeds
Spraying
Irrigation
Chemical crop protection
Preparing plant pathogens for microscopic observation
Culturing Pathogens
Natural pest and disease control
Physical controls
Organic sprays and dusts
Seed and Seed Management
Seed storage
Types of seed storage
Seed vigour testing
Dormancy factors affecting germination
Germination treatments
Types of media
Media derived from rock or stone
Media derived from synthetic materials
Organic media
Diseases
Salinty build up
Arable Cereal Crops
Cereal crops
Zadock scale
Wheat
Barley
Oats
Triticale
Sorghum
Maize
Rice
Millet
Sugar cane
Ryegrass
Hay and Silage
Quality control
Storage and handling
Hydroponic fodder
Arable Broadleaf Crops
Characteristics of broadleaf crops
Oil crops
Chickpeas
Narrow-leafed lupins
Canola
Faba beans
Cover crops
Common legumes
Harvesting
Crop preparation for harvest
Crop harvest equipment
Forage harvesting equipment
Cereal harvesting equipment
Root crop harvesting equipment
Grain storage
Contract harvesting
Crop Management - Special Report
Crop management from planting to post harvest handling
Learning Goals: Agronomy BAG306

Develop your understanding and confidently describe the nature and scope of agronomic practices within your country and others.
Discuss what is grown, where it is grown and the diversity of practices used to grow a wide range of crops.
Learn how to identify factors that affect the success of a crop; including soil condition, climate factors and biological influences such as pests and diseases.
Clearly desribe significant practices used by farmers in the growing of an agronomic crop; including the management of soils, water, cultivations and crop protection.
Explain how to achieve successful seed germination for different agronomic crops under different conditions in the field.
Discuss practices used to farm cereals for harvest and sale as cash crops.
Discuss practices used to farm broadleaf crops for harvest and sale as cash crops.
Understand the use of different harvesting equipment and techniques including post harvest handling for a range of different crops.
Demonstrate your knowledge by producing a management plan for a crop from planting to post harvest handling.
Practicals:

Go to your local department of primary industries (or equivalent), collect cropping guides on crops grown locally in your area. Ensure your information includes broadleaf, legume and grass (cereal crops). Collect fodder crop information also and find out what the main fodder crops are in your area.
Obtain pictures of the seed and mid season crop and mature crop. Become familiar with agronomic terms and start a glossary, use library, text and internet searches to complete this task.
Having looked at what crops are grown in your region, now look at the soil types. What type of soil is common to your region. What are the main features to these soils. That is, what colour is the soil, what texture is it, does it have a high sand or clay content, does the soil drain well, or waterlog? How did this soil form? Write these down as a reference.
Collect photos of the various planting, cultivating and harvesting equipment used in your country and write brief notes on when and where you would use which machine and for which crop. Do this for a maximum of 5 pieces of equipment.
Collect samples of your own seed (for 4 different crops), from a local farmer or produce store.
Perform your own germination test using the cotton wool method.
Take photos on day 2, and the final day.
Record the number of seed germinating per day, and then the total number on the final day.
Develop a management plan for a crop from planting through to post harvest handling.Lesson Structure: Agronomy

Introduction to Agronomic Practices
Introduction
Crop Types
Plant structure and Function
Transpiration rate
Selection Criteria for Plants
Understanding monoculture
Row Crops
Cover Crops
Crop Operations
Planter types
Culture - What influences Crop Growth?
Soils
Problems with soils
Loss of soil problems
Erosion
Salinity
Soil sodicity
Soil acidity and alkalinity
Improving soils
Cultivation techniques
Plant nutrition
Nutrient deficiencies
Organic fertilisers
Soil life
Insect Pests
Diseases
Crop Husbandry Practices
Operations
Identifying weeds
Ways to control weeds
Spraying
Irrigation
Chemical crop protection
Preparing plant pathogens for microscopic observation
Culturing Pathogens
Natural pest and disease control
Physical controls
Organic sprays and dusts
Seed and Seed Management
Seed storage
Types of seed storage
Seed vigour testing
Dormancy factors affecting germination
Germination treatments
Types of media
Media derived from rock or stone
Media derived from synthetic materials
Organic media
Diseases
Salinty build up
Arable Cereal Crops
Cereal crops
Zadock scale
Wheat
Barley
Oats
Triticale
Sorghum
Maize
Rice
Millet
Sugar cane
Ryegrass
Hay and Silage
Quality control
Storage and handling
Hydroponic fodder
Arable Broadleaf Crops
Characteristics of broadleaf crops
Oil crops
Chickpeas
Narrow-leafed lupins
Canola
Faba beans
Cover crops
Common legumes
Harvesting
Crop preparation for harvest
Crop harvest equipment
Forage harvesting equipment
Cereal harvesting equipment
Root crop harvesting equipment
Grain storage
Contract harvesting
Crop Management - Special Report
Crop management from planting to post harvest handling
Learning Goals: Agronomy BAG306

Develop your understanding and confidently describe the nature and scope of agronomic practices within your country and others.
Discuss what is grown, where it is grown and the diversity of practices used to grow a wide range of crops.
Learn how to identify factors that affect the success of a crop; including soil condition, climate factors and biological influences such as pests and diseases.
Clearly desribe significant practices used by farmers in the growing of an agronomic crop; including the management of soils, water, cultivations and crop protection.
Explain how to achieve successful seed germination for different agronomic crops under different conditions in the field.
Discuss practices used to farm cereals for harvest and sale as cash crops.
Discuss practices used to farm broadleaf crops for harvest and sale as cash crops.
Understand the use of different harvesting equipment and techniques including post harvest handling for a range of different crops.
Demonstrate your knowledge by producing a management plan for a crop from planting to post harvest handling.
Practicals:

Go to your local department of primary industries (or equivalent), collect cropping guides on crops grown locally in your area. Ensure your information includes broadleaf, legume and grass (cereal crops). Collect fodder crop information also and find out what the main fodder crops are in your area.
Obtain pictures of the seed and mid season crop and mature crop. Become familiar with agronomic terms and start a glossary, use library, text and internet searches to complete this task.
Having looked at what crops are grown in your region, now look at the soil types. What type of soil is common to your region. What are the main features to these soils. That is, what colour is the soil, what texture is it, does it have a high sand or clay content, does the soil drain well, or waterlog? How did this soil form? Write these down as a reference.
Collect photos of the various planting, cultivating and harvesting equipment used in your country and write brief notes on when and where you would use which machine and for which crop. Do this for a maximum of 5 pieces of equipment.
Collect samples of your own seed (for 4 different crops), from a local farmer or produce store.
Perform your own germination test using the cotton wool method.
Take photos on day 2, and the final day.
Record the number of seed germinating per day, and then the total number on the final day.
Develop a management plan for a crop from planting through to post harvest handling.Lesson Structure: Agronomy

Introduction to Agronomic Practices
Introduction
Crop Types
Plant structure and Function
Transpiration rate
Selection Criteria for Plants
Understanding monoculture
Row Crops
Cover Crops
Crop Operations
Planter types
Culture -...