AGR595 Managing Agroecosystems (8)
CSU Discipline Area: Agricultural and Horticultural Studies (AGHOR)
Duration: One session
Abstract:
Agricultural systems are managed ecosystems. This core subject will enable students to develop their understanding of natural ecosystems and how that knowledge can be applied to agricultural ecosystems. This subject will explore the relationship between the environment and the ecological suitability of agricultural enterprises. A major outcome of this subject will be to impart skills in developing and applying systems models towards the understanding of management options and their implications from the perspectives of productivity, stability, social equity, economics, and natural resource management.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
| Session 2 | |
|---|---|
| Internal | Orange |
| Distance | Orange |
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: AGR595
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
Be able to demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the ecological principles that drive agriculture
Be able to characterise the principles to manage and conserve complexity in agro-ecosystems
Be able to evaluate sustainability in the broad context of disturbance and recovery
Be able to demonstrate management skills in generating sustainable technologies in crop ecosystems
Be able to analyse trials in sustainable farming practices and offer critique on them
Be able to develop eco-friendly models to preserve agricultural resources and evaluate the efficiency of such models
Be able to discuss sustainable agricultural system in the context of global food security
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
Ecological principles relevant to agriculture The natural ecosystems Energy flow and material cycles Populations and communities Human ecology and social traps Theory of sustainable yield The Agroecosystem Ecological Processes In Agro-ecosystems: Concept Of Sustainability In Agriculture Practice of conventional agriculture and why it is unsustainable Plant production systems and the environment Population processes in agriculture Agroecosystem diversity and stability Management of genetic resources in agro-ecosystems Disturbance, succession, and agroecosystem management Energetics in agro-ecosystems Efficient Management Of Sustainability: Towards Eco-Friendly Agricultural Systems Designing sustainable agro-ecosystems Alternative production systems Ecological management of pests, pathogens, and weeds Achieving sustainability Human landscape and how to set priorities From sustainable agriculture to sustainable food systems
The information contained in the 2013 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 24 April 2013. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.