AD1APS: Agricultural Production Systems

Module code: AD1APS

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: 4

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Sokratis Stergiadis, email: s.stergiadis@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Gillian Rose, email: g.rose@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 18 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Primary food production is a complex and exciting process. In this module you’ll be introduced to key biological principles in crop and livestock science along with an international perspective on crop and livestock production. 

Crop Production 

You will be introduced to the factors that influence crop choice for different environments and the practicalities of preparing the soil and sowing the seeds. You’ll learn the principles of resource capture and utilisation by crops and the components of yield, quality and nutrition, understanding how these can be manipulated by farmers to maximise yield. You’ll also be introduced to crop protection using chemical and non-chemical methods to control pests and diseases. 

Livestock Production 

You’ll be introduced to the key biological principles in livestock science and an international perspective on livestock production, including the contribution livestock makes to human health and livelihoods, and the major principles and problems associated with intensive and extensive livestock production.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Critically analyse crop production in a global context, taking into consideration the principles of resource capture by crops and how crop production can be manipulated by farmers with reference to sowing density, irrigation, drainage, crop nutrition and crop protection.  
2. Describe and discuss a range of biological and environmentalfactors which affect animal performance, including the contribution made by livestock and livestock products to human livelihoods 
3. Search for, find and critically analyse a range of relevant sources with emphasis on peer reviewed literature 
4. Demonstrate a range of employability skills including group work, verbal presentation and scientific writing skills 

Module content

This module introduces you to a global overview of crop and livestock production. 

Crop Production 

The course will begin with a review of factors influencing crop choice and cropping system. Subsequently, the relationships between canopy size, light interception, water use and dry matter production will be introduced. The concepts of dry matter partitioning, sources and sinks, and harvest index and crop quality will be covered alongside how to control weeds and diseases utilising chemical and non-chemical methods.   

Livestock Production 

The module provides a wide-ranging background in domestic livestock science, for example the lactation, growth and development of animals and their responses to the environment, alongside an overview of some key livestock production systems and their products. Due consideration is given to both the benefits of livestock production as well as its debits related to environmental footprint and animal welfare.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

You will be taught using a range of teaching and learning methods, including 

• Lectures 
• Seminars 
• Group work 
• Pre-recorded material 
• Guided independent study 
• Supplementary reading material 

Study hours

At least 44 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative online test part-way through the semester. 

Reassessment

Additional costs