PPS-30806 Analysing Sustainability of Farming Systems
Course
Credits 6.00
Teaching method | Contact hours |
Lecture | 20 |
Tutorial | 32 |
Practical | 19 |
Independent study | 0 |
Course coordinator(s) | prof. dr. KE Giller |
Lecturer(s) | ing. MTMH Lubbers |
ir. MJ Zijlstra | |
prof. dr. KE Giller | |
dr. R Hijbeek | |
dr. ir. L Bastiaans | |
ing. HCA Rijk | |
dr. ir. KKE Descheemaeker | |
W Marinus MSc | |
Examiner(s) | prof. dr. KE Giller |
Language of instruction:
English
Assumed knowledge on:
PPS-20306 Systems Analysis, Simulation and Systems Management; PAME: Plant, Animal, Man and Environment. http://www.pame.wur.nl/ module 2: plant production; CSA-20306 Plant-Soil Interactions.
Contents:
The course presents a sustainability analysis of relevant processes in crops, cropping systems and grasslands. The time horizon extends from days to several growing seasons; analyses include the soil balances of water, nutrients and carbon. Emissions and external effects of emissions are treated. Insight is gained into: natural agro-ecological and socio-economic determinants of cropping systems; multiple cropping systems including intercropping, crop rotations and agroforestry; long-term carbon and nutrient balances of agro-ecosystems; soil degradation and its determinants. The student will use relevant dynamic models and tools for spatial analysis including GIS.
Learning outcomes:
After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- demonstrate insight into the agro-ecological and socio-economic determinants of cropping and grassland systems;
- describe and explain the benefits and disadvantages of multiple cropping systems including intercropping, crop rotations and agroforestry;
- interpret long-term carbon and nutrient balances of agro-ecosystems;
- illustrate soil degradation and its determinants;
- evaluate cropping systems and grassland management systems with respect to sustainability indices e.g. (soil quality, water and nutrient productivity) and external effects;
- apply relevant dynamic models and tools for spatial analysis including GIS;
- quantify the major interactions that occur between different components (soils, crops, fodder, livestock) of production systems in time and space.
Activities:
- actively attending lectures;
- analyses of case studies;
- preparing and discussing oral presentations;
- computer practicals on relevant models.
Examination:
Written 3 hours exam with open questions (65%). The remaining 35% of the mark for the continual assessment of presentations and assignments (oral presentations and/or reports on agroecological characterization, nutrient budgets, carbon stocks, water and FARMSIM will be assessed). The minimum mark of 5.5 is applied separately for the examination and the continual assessment.
Literature:
Study guide and syllabus.
Programme | Phase | Specialization | Period | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Restricted Optional for: | MOA | Organic Agriculture | MSc | A: Agroecology | 5AF |
MPS | Plant Sciences | MSc | A: Crop Science | 5AF | |
MPS | Plant Sciences | MSc | C: Natural Resource Management | 5AF |