Yield formation in arable crops (152078)
Course coordinator
Course description
Module focuses on ecological and environmental factors that affect and limit growth, development and yield formation of cultivated crops. It explains the complex relationships between agricultural practices and operations and environmental factors influencing the quality and yield build-up of arable crops under various soil and climate conditions. Topics include: Crop management changes for modern agricultural production, Dry matter accumulation activities of World crops and relation to potential productivity, Contribution of plant breeding and agricultural practices and operations to increased yields, Influence of radiation and temperature on crop growth and development, Cultivar specific growth and development, Leaf area and its relationship to maximum yields, Soil factors associated with yield formation, Influence of environmental stresses on the productivity of arable crops, Analysis of yield components in grain and forage crops, Further opportunities for increasing the yields of agricultural crops. Course content is intended to encourage student independence of thought, al well as advancement in literacy and written communication. Therefore, a comprehensive, research analysis paper on a yield formation of a selected arable crop, as agreed upon by the lecturer and the student, is required.
Type of course
- Graduate studies / MS Courses taught in English (Elective course, 2 semester, 1 year)
ECTS: 3.00
English language: L1
E-learning: L1
Teaching hours: 30
Lectures: 18
Practicum: 2
Seminar: 10
Grading
Sufficient (2):
Good (3):
Very good (4):
Excellent (5):
Types of instruction
- Lectures
- Consultations
- Laboratory practice/exercises
- Practicum
- Field work
- Seminars
Learning outcomes
| Learning outcome | Evaluation methods |
|---|---|
| Ability to understand and describe the importance of developments and issues impacting arable crop production during the past 50 years. | written exams, final examination |
| Knowledge and understanding how plant adaptations to environment affect crop selection, growth and yield, and to describe crop responses to radiation quality, quantity and photoperiod, to describe plant adaptation and acclimation to temperature, soil limiting factors, to understand crop and cultivar specific responses to environmental stresses and crop adaptation and acclimation to precipitation. | written exams, final examination and research analysis paper |
| Competence for the synthesis of knowledge in the field of crop production and their use in efficient farm management. | written exams |
| Ability to plan and recommend major cropping operations in the process of agricultural production at the level of plant species and cultivar. | written exams, final examination and research analysis paper |
| Skills and basic knowledge how to conduct yield component analysis in grain and forage crops to assess the impact of agricultural practices and operations as well as growing conditions on yield build-up and quality. | written exams, final examination |
| Ability to gather relevant information from the literature. | research analysis paper |
| Competence to present information and problems about yield formation to general audience. | final examination |
Working methods
Teachers' obligations
All Powerpoint presentations supporting the lectures will be posted to students.
Students' obligations
Field work and practicum attendance is compulsory. In class attendance is expected. The final class grade consists of two written exams (50%), final examination (25%) and research analysis paper (25%). Make-up exams will be given only if the regularly scheduled exam is missed because of an excused absence. The research analysis paper will be tested for inappropriate use of existing publications and other materials.
Methods of grading
| Evaluation elements | Maximum points or Share in evaluation | Grade rating scale | Grade | Direct teaching hours | Total number of average student workload | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two written exams | 25% |
0-59% 60-70% 71-80% 81-90% 91-100% |
Insufficient (1) Sufficient (2) Good (3) Very good (4) Excellent (5) |
|||
| Final examination | 25% |
0-59% 60-70% 71-80% 81-90% 91-100% |
Insufficient (1) Sufficient (2) Good (3) Very good (4) Excellent (5) |
|||
| Research analysis paper | 25% |
0-59% 60-70% 71-80% 81-90% 91-100% |
Insufficient (1) Sufficient (2) Good (3) Very good (4) Excellent (5) |
Weekly class schedule
- Crop management changes for modern agricultural production. A list od developments and issues impacting crop management and ecology during the past 50 years.
- Dry matter accumulation activities of world crops and relation to potential productivity. The photosynthetic mechanism and its efficiency. Potential and maximum observed productivity for field crops.
- Contribution of plant breeding and agricultural practices and operations to increased yields. Yield changes for the most important agricultural crops (wheat, rice, corn, soybean, etc.) in the world and Croatia in the past century as a result of plant breeding and improved agricultural practices and operations.
- Influence of radiation and temperature on crop growth and development. Climate, growing season and crop production. Geographic distribution of arable crops. The role of radiation (quality and quantity) and photoperiod for crop growth and development.
- The role of temperature for crop growth and development. Accumulation of heat units during the growing season. Methods for calculating heat units.
- Cultivar specific growth and development. Leaf area and its relationship to maximum yields. Cultivar effect on plant growth and development, and final crop yield. Differences in the optimum leaf area index for the specific end-use of field and forage crops.
- The effects of standing density and sowing date on the crop photosynthetic activity and yield potentials. Nitrogen impact on the development of leaf area index and final crop yield.
- Soil factors associated with yield formation. Alternation of soil by men. Loss of soil organic matter and nitrogen. Root growth, excessive bulk density and soil strength.
- Influence of environmental stresses on the productivity of arable crops. Tillage pans. Crop and cultivar specific responses to environmental stresses (soil acidity, diseases, pests, weeds, salinity, and nutrient deficiency).
- Crop and cultivar specific responses to environmental stresses (continued). Water stress and deficit in crop production. The impact of water shortage in a given developmental stages on yield and yield components of field crops.
- The impact of water shortage in a given developmental stages on yield and yield components of field crops.
- Analysis of yield components in grain and forage crops. Representative sampling for yield component analyses under field conditions.
- Yield components analysis of grain and forage crops.
- Further opportunities for increasing the yields of agricultural crops. Research analysis paper about the opportunities to further increase the yield of a given crop/cultivar.
- Further opportunities for increasing the yields of agricultural crops (continued). Research analysis paper about the opportunities to further increase the yield of a given crop/cultivar.
Obligatory literature
- Sinclair, T.R., A. Weiss. 2010. Principles of Ecology in Plant Production. 2nd Edition. CAB International
- Petr, J., V.Cerny, L. Hruska. 1988. Yield Formation in the Main Field Crops. Elsevier Sci. Publ. Co, New York, NY.
- Evans, L.T. (ed.). 1975. Crop Physiology: Some case histories. Cambridge Univ. Press. New York, N.Y.
- Satorre, E.H.,G.A. Slafer (ed.). 1999. Wheat: Ecology and physiology of yield determination. Food Products Press, New York, NY.
- Fageria, N.K. 1992. Maximizing crop yields. Marcel Dekker, New York, NY.
Recommended literature
- Hay, R.K.M., A.J. Walker. 1989. An Introduction to the Physiology of Crop Yield. Longman Scientific & Technical and John Wiley & Sons.
- Smith, D.L., C. Hamel (eds.). 1999. Crop Yield Physiology and Processes. Springer.
Similar course at related universities
- Yield Formation in the Field Crops, Mendel University in Brno
- Management of Crop Production, Yield Formation and Quality, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra