Agriculture I

Code:

AGR1001

Acronym:

AGR1001

Level:

100

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Agronomy

Instance: 2017/2018 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://webpages.icav.up.pt/pessoas/mccunha/
Responsible unit:	Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Biology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:B	0	Official Study Plan	3	-	6	49	162
L:CC	0	Plano de estudos a partir de 2014	2	-	6	49	162
			3
L:F	0	Official Study Plan	2	-	6	49	162
L:G	0	study plan from 2017/18	3	-	6	49	162
L:M	0	Official Study Plan	2	-	6	49	162
			3
L:Q	0	study plan from 2016/17	3	-	6	49	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The main course's objectives are:

- To use the technical vocabulary used on agriculture activities and agronomy practices.

- To acquire an integrated view of agriculture and its multifunctionality 

- To know the economic and social relevance of agriculture

- To support the integration of the general crop practices with the physical, ecological, social and economic constrains in different production systems.

- To understand that agriculture, because of the value it generates, by the space it occupies, by the labour it requires and by its implicit tradition, performs a diverse set of functions with a great impact on the use of natural resources, landscape construction and environment and, therefore, the design of agro-systems should be based on processes ecologically sustainables, socially responsibles but also economically efficients.

Learning outcomes and competences

After attending the course, students should:

- Acquire an integrated view of agriculture

- Know the relevance of the agriculture on the: economy, environment and landscape building.

- systematize the knowledge of the basic disciplines to fundament the agronomic practices.

- Support the integration of the general crop practices with the physical, ecological, social and economic constrains in different production systems (e.g. Organic farming, integrated production).

- Be able to integrate a multidisciplinary team to study complex problems at the agricultural system level

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

n.a.

Program

- Basic concepts of Agronomy and Agriculture

- Multifunctional and systemic approach to agriculture as a man's activity in a society.

- Historical evolution and organization of agriculture.

- Agriculture production systems (e.g. organic farming, integrate production, precision systems).

- Crop growth and development.

- Environment of agriculture production:  edaphic-climatic, ecological and socio-economic.

- Crop rotations and consociations.

- Main agricultural practices: preparation andmaintenanceof soil; sowing and planting; basics ofsoil fertilization; basics ofcrop protection; basics of irrigation and drainage; harvesting operation. (see also Agriculture II).

- Main crop productions and agricultural systems in Portugal (cont .Agricultura II).

Mandatory literature

Loomis, R.S e Connor, D.J. ; Ecología de cultivos: productividad y manejo agrarios, Mundi Prensa,, 2002
Terrón, P; Fitotecnia: ingeniería de la producción vegetal, Mundi Prensa, 2002
Caldas, C.; A agricultura portuguesa através dos tempos, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Científica, 1991
Mazoyer, M. e Roudart, L; Histoires des Agricultures du Monde, Editions du Seuil, França, 1997
Speding, R; An introduction to agricultural systems, Elsevier, Londres, 1988
Porta, J., Acevedo, M., Roquero, C; Edafología para la agricultura y el medio ambiente, Mundi Prensa, 1999

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures:presentation and discussion of the themes.

Practical classes:
1) Fieldwork to allow students a first contact with plants, agricultural practices and crop systems. Some of these works consist in the installation and monitoring of the growth and development of diverse cultures

2) Case studies and exercises. Use of computers for: i) simulations of decision-making at the level of culture system. ii) consulting specialized databases.

3) Part of the agricultural machinery lessons are taught in co-operative farms (agreement with the FCUP).

4) Field trips are planned.

keywords

Natural sciences > Agrarian Sciences > Agronomics

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	64,00
Trabalho de campo	19,00
Trabalho escrito	17,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

- Attending a minimum of 75% of the classes in the course(FCUP rules:https://sigarra.up.pt/up/LEGISLACAO_GERAL.ver_legislacao?p_nr=4025)

- Delivery and acceptance of practical assignments within the deadline. - The students with practical work approval in previous years will be admitted to the final exam, without having to carry out the practical work again.

- Students exempt from attendance are not dispensed from taking the practical works that require a presential component.

 

Calculation formula of final grade

Course evaluation is based in 3 components:

1 - Written exam (WE). Throughout the semester will be proposed two short- tests optatives. If the student opte for the short tests, the value of WE will be obtained by averaging the short-tests, but none of which may be less than eight values. Obtaining a rating equal to or greater than 8 values in a given short-test, releases the student evaluation of the correspondent part of program in their final examination. In the final exam is only possible to repeat one of the short-tests.

2 - Practical work (TP1, TP2 and TP3) (see dossier UC)

3-Continuous assessment (CA) (see dossier UC)

The final grade (CF) is calculated by the algorithm:

 CF = (EEx64 + TP1x12 + TP2x12 + TP3x9 + ACx3)/100

To pass the course the CF> = 10 and minimum score of 8 points in all tests. In the case of some of the tests provided does not hold its value in percentage assigned in CF will be added to the written examination (WE).

In the resource examination it is not possible to carry out partial evaluations of the WE component.

Examinations or Special Assignments

n.a.

Internship work/project

n.a.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

n.a.

Classification improvement

Improving theclassification can bedone only on the component: WE (64%)

Observations

- Selected papers will provided depending on the subjects taught and a course specific practical manual.

- To facilitate communication with students, I prepared a web site to support the course: http://webpages.icav.up.pt/pessoas/mccunha. Attendance of students outside the teaching periods: Tuesdays 13:30 to 15 pm.