Module Provider: |
School of Agriculture, Policy and Development |
Number of credits: |
10 [5 ECTS credits] |
Level: |
H (Honours) |
Terms in which taught: |
Spring |
Module Convenor: |
Dr
PQ
Craufurd |
Pre-requisites: |
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Co-requisites: |
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Modules excluded: |
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Current from: |
2005/6 |
Aims:
To provide an understanding of the soil and plant processes which contribute to the management of water for crop production. |
Assessable learning outcomes:
Students will be able to assess, and provide advice on the use of water resources for crop production as a result of an understanding of the characteristics of water supply to crops, water used by crops, relationships between water use and crop yield, and the characteristics of different systems of irrigation.
1. Integrative examination paper to assess understanding of the processes which determine water use by crops, and water management for efficient crop production.
2. Irrigation planning exercise, using computer software, to understand and design an irrigation schedule for crop production. |
Additional outcomes:
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Outline content:
The module will cover:
Global water resource - hydrological cycle, global rainfall distribution, rainfall in the future climate.
Soil water-plant-atmosphere-continuum. Water movement in soils, field capacity, permanent wilting point and available water capacity. Availability and supply of water to roots, infiltration drainage and evaporation. Meteorological control of transpiration. Penman-Monteith equation and other estimates of potential evaporation. Actual and potential crop evapotranspiration, and calculation of soil water balances.
Plant responses to water - relationships between soil and plant water deficits. Relationships between crop growth yield and water use.
Water management for crop production - irrigation aims and methods. Irrigation systems, water use efficiency and irrigation efficiency. An exercise in the use of the CROPWAT software for calculation of crop water requirements, and irrigation planning. |
Brief description of teaching
and learning methods:
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Contact hours:
| |
Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
| Lectures |
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12 |
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| Tutorials/seminars |
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| Practicals |
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8 |
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| Other contact (eg study visits) |
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| |
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| Total hours |
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20 |
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|
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| Number of essays or assignments |
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1 |
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| Other (eg major seminar paper) |
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Assessment:
Coursework
Irrigation Scheduling Exercise
Relative percentage of coursework: 30%
Penalties for late submission:
Standard University rule applies: 10% marks deducted for work submitted up to one week late. Work submitted more than one week late will be awarded a zero mark.
Examinations:
One hour examination paper in Summer term
Relative percentage of examination:
70%
Requirements for a pass:
40% overall. |
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