PSC236 Pasture Production and Management (8)
CSU Discipline Area: Agricultural and Horticultural Studies (AGHOR)
Duration: One session
Abstract:
Prior to enrolling in this subject it is assumed that you would have the basic knowledge of plant science equivalent to that is taught in AGR156 Plants in Agriculture.
This subject focuses on the establishment and management of pastures across a range of ecosystems. The various components will be identified, described, analysed and integrated to develop an annual supply of forage. The suitability and role of pastures, including animal needs, nutrition and health, will be investigated and assessed for livestock and cropping systems. A series of activities have been designed to develop the ability to apply a range of skills in a practical situation.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
| Session 2 | |
|---|---|
| Internal | Orange |
| Distance * | Orange |
*This subject offering contains a residential school. Please view following information for further details.
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: PSC236
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 outline the factors that influence the productivity of plant communities across a range of pasture ecosystems
- Be able to identify, describe and apply the principles necessary for the successful establishment of pastures and forage crops in a range of situations
- Be able to analyse the influence of soil, nutrients and other factors on pasture supply
- Be able to determine and analyse patterns of supply for various pastures across a range of agro-ecosystems
- Be able to outline the methods of harvesting pasture and evaluate their impact on a range of agro-ecosystems
- Be able to identify management strategies to overcome biological competition on pasture growth
- Be able to discuss the impact of pasture systems on agricultural landscapes
- Be able to develop management plans to optimise pasture production throughout the year
- Be able to outline the role of forage crops and their contribution to the development of an annual supply of forage
- Be able to outline the factors that influence the nutritional demand of grazing animals; determine and analyse seasonal patterns of nutritional demand; and identify the entities that constitute supply in a grazing system
- Be able to identify and describe the economic and biological implications of plant and animal interactions.
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
- Adaptation and selection of biodiversity within ecosystems
- Pasture species / cultivar selection
- Principles and application of pasture establishment and early growth
- Relevance of physical, chemical and biological properties of soils to pasture production
- Dryland salinity
- Pasture nutrition
- Pasture supply and assessment
- Livestock nutritional demands
- Forage crops
- 'Feed Year' concept
- Weed, pest and disease management in pastures
- Pasture harvesting
- Pastures in cropping systems
- Health issues from livestock/plant interactions.
Residential School
This subject contains a compulsory 3 day residential school.
To provide a hands on approach to the theory taught within the subject.
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.