Unit Outline

In this unit you will learn the principles of agricultural crop production, which include planning, establishment and management of crops to achieve optimal crop growth and yield. You will learn how different crop plants have specific growing requirements such as environment, nutrients and water. You will also explore different management approaches and how they impact on crop health and agricultural productivity.

This unit incorporates learning through practice by exposing you to authentic learning experiences. These experiences are placed at the centre of learning and assessment to provide you with opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours necessary to respond to industry, community and/or global needs.

Through a range of learning experiences, you will be introduced to:

approaches and practices relative to sustainable crop production;

comparative analysis of crop management approaches;

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Explain key factors of agricultural crop production systems
2.	Formulate and communicate agricultural crop establishment and management strategies
3.	Evaluate and communicate management approaches to crop health and productivity
4.	Reflect on crop production knowledge and practices

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	ZAB204

Alterations as a result of student feedback

To Be Determined.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Mind Map	Week 4	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Crop Production Plan	Week 9	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Crop And Trial Report	Week 13	45 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Mind Map

Task Description:

You will develop a mind map to illustrate key factors involved in crop establishment practices. In addition to the mind map, you will provide written explanatory notes. Your notes will explain the importance of crop establishment to crop production and provide a reflection on your experience of crop production.

Task Length:

Mind map + supporting explanatory notes (500 – 700 words)

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Illustrate key factors of crop production systems	LO1
2	Explain the importance of crop establishment to crop production	LO2
3	Reflect on crop production knowledge and practices	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Crop Production Plan

Task Description:

You will develop a crop production plan for a crop of your choice. The plan will include aspects of crop production planning and management including (but not limited to) the following:

􀁸 Initial planning details
􀁸 Crop establishment
􀁸 Crop maintenance and monitoring
􀁸 Timeline from planting to harvest
You will provide a written report that communicates the details of your plan

Task Length:

1500 words

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain key factors of crop production systems	LO1
2	Formulate and communicate agricultural crop establishment and management strategies	LO2
3	Evaluate management approaches to crop production	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Crop And Trial Report

Task Description:

You will evaluate crop development by establishing and conducting a small pot-based trial with seedling plants. The trial will commence in Week 3 and finish in Week 11.

The plants will be maintained and monitored by you throughout the trial period. You will make observations and collect data during the trial period. A crop trial manual will be provided to assist you with collection and recording of data.
At the conclusion of the trial, you will collate the information, undertake simple data analyses and make inferences about the results. You will submit a written report with details of your crop trial.

Task Length:

1800 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

45 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain key factors of crop production systems	LO1
2	Apply agricultural crop establishment and management strategies	LO2
3	Evaluate management approaches to crop production	LO3
4	Reflect on crop production knowledge and practices	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.