Tropical Crop Production
Course content
The course focuses on developing capacities for sustainable production of tropical crops. The students will be exposed to major crop science elements that are instrumental for a sustainable crop production. Main focus is on optimizing the use of agrobiodiversity and management practices considering the socio-economic characteristics and climate change challenges.
Main disciplines are:
i. Agronomy with reference to tropical conditions.
Tropical crop physiology; crop genetic resources, agrobiodiversity
and breeding; crop management; crop protection; soil
fertility. Cultivation of crops under challenging conditions
of climate change (e.g drought, salinity).
ii. Tropical Crops
An overview of major tropical crops with emphasis on resilient
crops that include underutilized and protein crops, their
intrinsic properties, uses and their cultivation with special
emphasis on small-holder conditions.
iii. Cropping systems
Crop production optimization trategies for sustainable production
(intercropping, use of legumes for mitigation/adaptation).
Innovations to optimize sustainable production systems (crop:
phenotyping, breeding, protection). The use of agrobiodiversity for
diversification and value chain enhancement;
sustainable intensification.
MSc Programme in Agriculture
MSc Programme in Environment and Development
Provide students, having a BSc-level background in agricultural,
social sciences or sciences involved with development of the
tropical region, with a comprehensive understanding of the
properties of selected tropical environments, crop species and
their management facing climate change. Focus is on climate related
production constraints; that is abiotic and biotic stresses, and
human endeavor to optimize crop production in small-scale farming,
within the context of poverty alleviation and sustainable crop
production.
When students have completed the course they should have
attained:
Knowledge
- Manage key elements to characterize production systems in the tropics
- Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of tropical crop production
- Understand the characteristics of major tropical crops
- Demonstrate overview of tropical cropping systems in relation to agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions.
- Demonstrate knowledge on different strategies to optimize production systems in the tropics.
Skills
- Characterize production systems of tropical areas of the globe
- Analyze and synthesize diverse types of information and data on tropical crop production
- Apply a relevant analytical software for statistics
- Design cropping calendars for selected major crops species
- Develop tropical crop production plans in relation to given agro-ecological and socioeconomic conditions
- Design, implement and analyze research projects in a tropical crop production environment
Competences
- Data management, analysis and critical approach
- Assess and formulate agronomic components of development support programmes
- Advice extension and research institutions in tropical countries
- Perform and interpret statistical information to analyze scenarios of crop production and innovation.
- Propose innovative optimization strategies.
The course combines lectures and theoretical and practical exercises. Lectures will outline the background and support the exercises.
Papers uploaded on Absalon
Tropical Crop Production I - Selected papers
Tropical Crop Production II – Manual for practical and theoretical exercises
Basic courses in biology, statistics, social sciences and
sciences related to sustainable development
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is
recommended.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Oral examination, 30 min
- Type of assessment details
- During the course the student are participating in group work in which they write a group report (approximate 10 pages). The students are individual examined in the content of the group report and are further examined in the rest of course curriculum. Examination in the report weight 35 % and examination in curriculum weight 65 %. No preparation time before the oral examination.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners.
Criteria for exam assessment
see learning outcome
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 30
- Preparation
- 68
- Theory exercises
- 70
- Practical exercises
- 24
- Guidance
- 10
- Exam
- 4
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- LPLK10367U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedulegroup
-
A
- Capacity
- No limitations
The number of seats may be reduced in the late registration period - Studyboard
- Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinator
- Gabriela Renee Alandia Robles (3-6b65764474706972326f7932686f)
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Courseinformation of students