NPLK14010U Tropical Botany A
MSc Programme in Agricultural Development
The various genera will be reviewed in groups according to
use/type: Timbers, cereals, pseudo-cereals, root and tuber crops,
pulses, oil plants, sugar plants, vegetables, stimulant (incl.
medicinal)plants, spices, fruits, technical plants, forages, and
the most common pantropical weeds. Also commonly used ornamentals
will be studied.
The course will be a necessary prerequisite to all who expect to be
working with tropical agriculture, forestry, agro-forestry,
horticulture, animal husbandry in the tropics and food and
nutritional technology. Students contemplating a career within
agencies or institutions in the developing countries will find the
course to be of relevance.
The final three-week field course to Guatemala conducted in
collaboration with the assistance of local colleagues from Univ.
San Carlos de Guatemala cover a wide variation of ecological
environments, agricultural systems, natural vegetation types as
well as urban parks.
Learning outcome
The overall learning outcome is to provide students with the
necessary skills and competences through both theoretical as well
as in-situ practical experiences to study tropical agriculture,
forestry, horticulture, crop protection in the tropics, tropical
plant pathology, animal husbandry, tropical landscape architecture
or other tropical and Third World subjects.
Knowledge:
- of tropical plants of agronomic, forestry and horticultural
importance, and the specific utilised parts of each plant
- of selected tropical plant families and their origin and ecology
- of the correct scientific and English names of tropical plants
Skills
Comprehends the causal connections of abiotic/biotic ecological
factors in tropical regions
Comprehends adequate botanical/ecological knowledge of tropical
plants as a prerequisite to study and/or work with economic botany
within the fields of cultivation, breeding and technological
problems within the fields of agriculture, forestry, horticulture
incl. crop protection, and animal husbandry in the tropics
Competences
Is aware of:
- tropical plants as a genetic resource and the importance of
maintaining tropical biodiversity
- can reflect on problems and risks in relation to development of
tropical regions
- can identify problems in sustainable tropical plant production,
can respond, reflect, and is able to discuss the choice of
preferable crops
Heywood, V.H., Brummitt, R.K., Culham, A. & Seberg, O. 2007.
Flowering Plant Families of the World. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Holm, L., Doll, J., Holm, E., Pancho, J., & Herberger, J.
(1997): World Weeds - Natural Histories & Distrubution. John
Wiley & Sons, New York
Kricher, J. 1997. A neotropical companion. Princeton University
Press; and literature from the relevant prerequisite courses.
Rehm, S. & Espig, G. (1991): The Cultivated Plants of the
Tropics and Subtropics. Verlag Josef Margraf.
Skerman, PI, Cameron, D.G. & Riveros, F. (1990): Tropical
forage legumes. 2nd ed. FAO Plant Production Series No. 2. Fao,
Rome.
Skerman, PI. & Reveros, F. (1990): Tropical grasses. FAO Plant
Production Series No. 23. Fao, Rome.
Soerianegara, I. & Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (1993): Timber trees:
Major commercial timbers. PROSEA vol. 5(1). Pudoc, Wageningen.
During the initial two thirds of the course lectures reviewing the syllabus and one weekly tutorial will be conducted. During the final third of the course the participants will be expected to work in groups with subjects/problems of their own choice resulting in the presentation of a report. The course will be concluded by an oral examination in the most important genera. The course aims to provide a thorough knowledge of an individually chosen number of plant families equal to approx. 60 textbook pages. The relevant families may be identified according to agricultural, forestry or horticultural interest. During the course time allotted for lectures and tutorial will be used for a combination of group work with supervision/instruction within the chosen number of plant families and in preparation of the course report. In the group work dried/live plant material, textbooks, floras, reference books as well as internet site and other illustrative material will be used. For the oral exam both the individually chosen plant families as well as the course report will be included in the examination requirements. A single mark for the combined evaluation of oral examination and the course report will be given. Field trips to the Botanical Garden will be included. During the introductory field course to Guatemala (1/3 of the course) excursions in combination with on-site lectures reviewing the multidisciplinary aspects of the different soils, crops and production systems will be conducted. In addition, field exercises with supervision/instruction in study groups – according to common research field - will form an integrated part of the daily work. During the last third of the course the participants will be expected to work in groups with subjects/problems prepared by the lecturers resulting in the presentation of a report which will conclude this element of the course.
- Category
- Hours
- Exam
- 2
- Excursions
- 195
- Guidance
- 20
- Lectures
- 20
- Practical exercises
- 37
- Preparation
- 108
- Project work
- 30
- Total
- 412
As
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Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 30 minWritten assignmentOral exam accounts for 33,3%, the course assignment for 33,3% and the field course assignement 33,3% towards to the total mark
- Exam registration requirements
Student oral presentation of chosen 'crop(s)' + submission of course assignement + field course assignment (Project report completed and Field course report completed)
- Aid
- Without aids
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
If the requirements is not met - submission of course assignment and field course assignment (project report completed and field course report completed 2 weeks before signing up for re-exam)
Criteria for exam assesment
Knowledge
- of tropical plants of agronomic, forestry and horticultural
importance, and the specific utilised parts of each plant, e.g.
seed(s), legumes/pods, roots/tubers, grains, etc.
- of selected tropical plant families and their origin and ecology
- of the correct scientific and English names of tropical plants
Comprehends the causal connections of abiotic/biotic ecological
factors in tropical regions
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NPLK14010U
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
Field trip to Guatemala, 3 weeks in January
- Placement
- Block 2
The course is offered every second year only (last time offered was January 2014) - next time will be for the 2015-16 academic year with the field course in January 2016
- Schedule
- B And CThe B slot will be used for field course preparations until departure for Guatemala
- Course capacity
- 30
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources and Environment
Contracting department
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Course responsibles
- Marten Sørensen (2-71774474706972326f7932686f)
Lecturers
Sven-Erik Jacobsen