APMA105-Horticultural Crop Technology

Module Provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Email: p.hadley@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Crop technologists in the horticulture industry are required to be innovative and to design new technologies to improve production efficiency. You’ll gain an advanced understanding of a number of technical and scientific aspects of horticultural production systems in temperate areas, including the relationship between plant physiology and genetics, and how new technologies can be developed to assist production. You’ll learn through interactive lectures, allowing you to gain experience in evaluating scientific research critically.

Aims:

This module provides students with an understanding and knowledge of specific aspects of horticultural crop technology. A number of advanced technical and scientific aspects of horticultural production systems in temperate areas are also covered to illustrate the relationship between plant physiology and genetics and the development of new horticultural technologies. Crop technologists in the horticulture industry are required to be innovative and to design new technologies to improve production efficiency. This module will enable students to research technologies and appraise their potential critically. The course builds on previous modules by studying a limited number of subjects in greater detail. Seminars prepared during this course will allow the students to gain experience in evaluating scientific research critically.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module the student will be able to demonstrate and understanding and knowledge of specific aspects of horticultural crop technology. He/she will be able to appraise and criticise the scientific information that supports this knowledge. He/she will be able to appraise and criticise advanced technical and scientific aspects of horticultural production systems and to understand the relationships between crop physiology and genetics and the development of horticultural technolog ies. He/she will be able to summarise and explain specific aspects of horticultural crop technology and production systems from assembled scientific information.

Additional outcomes:

Students will enhance their presentation and communication skills through assessed summaries of seminar topics and explanations to the other students. Self learning will be encouraged through preparation of seminar topics

Outline content:

Responses of vegetable crops to fertiliser inputs 

• Effects of temperature and light on crop growth, development and yield 

• Dormancy in deciduous fruit trees 

• Technology of strawberry production 

• Control of flowering in fruit crops: apple, strawberry and grapevine 

• Improvements in vegetable seed technology 

• Biotechnology of fruit crops

• Principles of protected cropping; greenhouse construction and design; methods of climate control; factors affecting light transmission

• Carbon dioxide responses of greenhouse crops; methods of CO2 enrichment of the greenhouse atmosphere; winter and summer enrichment. 

• The potential of spectral filters for protected cropping

• Nutrient responses of greenhouse crops; hydroponic growing systems; nutrient film culture; rockwool sy stems; control of nutrient supply.

• Protected crop production in tropical and sub-tropical areas

• Controlled environments in research

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Lectures, seminars and a visit.

Summative assessment- Examinations:
A two hour examination.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 50% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:
By re-examination in August/September

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 27 July 2020