General Agriculture and Mechanisation I

Code:

CAGR2002

Acronym:

CAGR2002

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Agrarian Sciences

Instance: 2022/2023 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://www.fc.up.pt/pessoas/mccunha/
Responsible unit:	Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Agricultural Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
A:A	3	PE_Agronomia	1	-	6	49	162
L:EA	3	The study plan from 2019	2	-	6	49	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

- To know the technical and scientific terminology used in agriculture and agronomy.

- To systematize the knowledge of the basic disciplines to optimize or conceive crop systems in function of objectives and restrictions defined by the agricultural entrepreneur and / or society.

- To integrate the general crop practices with the characteristics of the biophysical, economic and social environment of the agricultural farm and the nature of the activities (plant and animal production), combining rationally the resources available in different production systems (e.g. organic farming, precision agriculture, integrated production) andthe appropriated agricultural mechanization system.

- To develop an integrated view of agriculture and its multifunctionality.

- To impute the economic and social relevance of agriculture in different geographic scales, with emphasis on the relevance of agricultural products in the agrarian economy and in the food balance, the services produced and the value incorporated in the factors of production.

Learning outcomes and competences

 After attending the course, students should:

- Acquire an integrated view of agriculture,

- Know the economic and social relevance of agriculture

- Systematize the knowledge of basic science to fundament the general agronomic pratices.

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

- Select the most suitable mechanization system, from the agronomic and economic point of view, according to restrictions in the system of culture and production.

- Be able to design a crop and farm system.

Working method

Presencial

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

n.a.

Program

1.Historical evolution and organization of agriculture
1.1.Generic concepts about agriculture and agronomy
1.2. Multifunctionalityof agriculture
1.3. Historical perspectiveof agriculture
1.4. Operationalization the notion of ‘system ‘ in agriculture.
1.5. Basic descriptors for characterization of farming systems
1.6. Agronomic  classifications: plants, crops and Phytotechny.
1.7. Major agricultural systems in Portugal

2. Structural, economic andsocial indicators of agriculture

2.1.Agriculture at National, European and World levels
2.2.Main sources of information about agriculture
2.3.Importance of commodities in the agrarian economy, external trade and balance feed

3. Environment of agricultural production

3.1.Notions of edaphology
3.2.Climatology and agrimeteorology

4. Ecophysiological bases of growth and development

5. Mechanized operationsand equipment

5.1.Topicsonfarm machinery
5.2.Efficient use ofagricultural equipment

6. Main techniquesof crop production

6.1. crop rotations and consociationsspecies
6.3. General operationsofculture
6.3.1Preparation andmaintenanceof soil
6.3.2. Sowing and planting
6.3.3. Basics of soil fertilization
6.3.4. Basics of crop protection
6.3.5. Basics of irrigation and drainage
6.3.6. Harvesting operation

7. Seminars on topical issues related to the course

 Short program: Agronomy and Agriculture concepts. Society agriculture products and services needs. Agriculture production systems. Crop growth and development. Resources and agriculture: physical, ecological and economical constrains. Main practices, planning and optimization of agriculture production.

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
Porta, J., Acevedo, M., Roquero, C; Edafología para la agricultura y el medio ambiente, Mundi Prensa, 1999
Mazoyer, M. e Roudart, L; Histoires des Agricultures du Monde, Editions du Seuil, França, 1997
Caldas, C.; A agricultura portuguesa através dos tempos, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Científica, 1991
Speding, R; An introduction to agricultural systems, Elsevier, Londres, 1988

Complementary Bibliography

Moreira, N.; Agronomia das Forragens e Pastagens, Sector editorial da UTAD, 2002. ISBN: 972-669-487-6

Comments from the literature

The operationality of the teaching and evaluation of some of the themes foreseen is conditioned to the availability of means for their realization.

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	36,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	64,00
Trabalho de campo	18,00
Trabalho escrito	18,00
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 tests optatives. If the student opte for the short tests, the value of WE will be obtained by averaging the tests, but none of which may be less than eight values. Obtaining a rating equal to or greater than 8 values in a given 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 classification is:
CF = (WEx64 + TP1x12 + TP2x10 + TP3 x 10 + ACx4)/100
For course approval: CF> = 10 and none of the components may be less than 8.
If some of the evaluation component (TP1, TP2 or TP3) can not be carried out, their specific weight in the evaluation algorithm will be added to the WE test.

- For the "exame de recurso" (or other type of extraordinary exame), only students with classification equal or superior to 8 values in all the predicted practical works can be admitted.

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

- Part of the practical classes will be taught in collaborative agricultural farms, according to protocol previously established with FCUP.

- 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: https://www.fc.up.pt/pessoas/mccunha/.
Attendance of students outside the teaching periods: Tuesday 13:30 to 15.