LPLK10367U Tropical Crop Production

Volume 2022/2023
Education

MSc Programme in Agriculture
MSc Programme in Environment and Development

Content

The course focuses on developing capacities for sustainable production of tropical crops. The students will be exposed to major crop science elements that are instrumental for a sustainable crop production. Main focus is on optimizing the use of agrobiodiversity and management practices considering the socio-economic characteristics and climate change challenges.

Main disciplines are:

i. Agronomy with reference to tropical conditions.
Tropical crop physiology; crop genetic resources, agrobiodiversity and breeding; crop management; crop protection; soil fertility. Cultivation of crops under challenging conditions of climate change (e.g drought, salinity).

ii. Tropical Crops
An overview of major tropical crops with emphasis on resilient crops that include underutilized and protein crops, their intrinsic properties, uses and their cultivation with special emphasis on small-holder conditions.

iii. Cropping systems
Crop production optimization trategies for sustainable production (intercropping, use of legumes for mitigation/adaptation). Innovations to optimize sustainable production systems (crop: phenotyping, breeding, protection). The use of agrobiodiversity for diversification and value chain enhancement; sustainable intensification.

Learning Outcome

Provide students, having a BSc-level background in agricultural, social sciences or sciences involved with development of the tropical region, with a comprehensive understanding of the properties of selected tropical environments, crop species and their management facing climate change. Focus is on climate related production constraints; that is abiotic and biotic stresses, and human endeavor to optimize crop production in small-scale farming, within the context of poverty alleviation and sustainable crop production.

When students have completed the course they should have attained:

Knowledge

  • Manage key elements to characterize production systems in the tropics
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of tropical crop production
  • Understand the characteristics of major tropical crops
  • Demonstrate overview of tropical cropping systems in relation to agro-ecological and socio-economic conditions.
  • Demonstrate knowledge on different strategies to optimize production systems in the tropics.

 

Skills

  • Characterize production systems of tropical areas of the globe
  • Analyze and synthesize diverse types of information and data on tropical crop production
  • Apply a relevant analytical software for statistics
  • Design cropping calendars for selected major crops species
  • Develop tropical crop production plans in relation to given agro-ecological and socioeconomic conditions
  • Design, implement and analyze research projects in a tropical crop production environment

 

Competences

  • Data management, analysis and critical approach
  • Assess and formulate agronomic components of development support programmes
  • Advice extension and research institutions in tropical countries
  • Perform and interpret statistical information to analyze scenarios of crop production and innovation.
  • Propose innovative optimization strategies.
Literature

Papers uploaded on Absalon

Tropical Crop Production I - Selected papers

Tropical Crop Production II – Manual for practical and theoretical exercises

Basic courses in biology, statistics, social sciences and sciences related to sustainable development

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
The course combines lectures and theoretical and practical exercises. Lectures will outline the background and support the exercises.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 30
  • Preparation
  • 68
  • Theory exercises
  • 70
  • Practical exercises
  • 24
  • Guidance
  • 10
  • Exam
  • 4
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Continuous feedback during the course
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 30 min
Type of assessment details
During the course the student are participating in group work in which they write a group report (approximate 10 pages). The students are individual examined in the content of the group report and are further examined in the rest of course curriculum. Examination in the report weight 35 % and examination in curriculum weight 65 %. No preparation time before the oral examination.
Exam registration requirements

Theoretical and practical exercise report submission

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners.
Re-exam

As the ordinary exam.

If the student has not participated in the group report, an assignment is given three weeks before the exam. The student has to hand in an individual report based on the assignment (approximate 5 pages). At the oral examination the students will then be examined in the report and in the rest of the curriculum. Examination in the rapport weight 35 % and examination in curriculum weight 65 %.

Criteria for exam assesment

see learning outcome