CWE-21306 Technology and Ecology of Crop Production

Vak

Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

YLS-13306, YLS-13903, YLS-14003, HPC-21306, CWE-20306

Contents:

This course treats new developments in agriculture and horticulture that incorporate recent knowledge and new technologies into modern, sustainable, market-oriented crop production systems. Students learn to integrate and combine basic knowledge on crop production with new possibilities offered by technological developments.
The first part of the course provides a solid, theoretical basis for characterising and quantifying the crop environment and for regulating this environment by technological means. It covers processes in the below- and the above-ground environment of the crop and technological means to quantify crop characteristics and crop responses. In additioning important high-tech systems will be treated that are or could be used in agri- and horticulture. Finally, the treated subject matter will be elaborated in cases on crop production systems in the open and in greenhouses.

Aims:

After successful completion of the course the student:
- knows how to integrate agronomic knowledge into a crop production system;
- is able to analyse the basic physical processes taking place in a crop;
- knows the general principles of the innovative developments treated in this course;
- knows the 'state of the art' in the application of 'high-tech' (e.g. GIS and remote sensing, model-based implementation of plant sensors in crop production systems ) for high-quality, sustainable production in agri- and horticulture with minimal resources;
- masters the (bio)-physical principles of systems for measuring and controlling environmental factors and related external and internal crop characteristics;
- knows how to quantify the crop environment and the related crop response, and how to use that information for controlling production processes, especially through controlling the environment (soil, above-ground climate, biotic stress) of the crop.

Activities:

Studying literature, attending lectures, practicals and demonstrations, assignments.

Examination:

Written exam.

Literature:

A detailed study guide and literature are provided at the start of the course.