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AGR304 Agricultural Ecology (8)

Abstract

Agricultural Ecology considers agriculture and agricultural practice from an ecological point of view and ecological principles in the context of agriculture. The first two modules provide insights into the basic ecological principles and how agricultural systems work in accordance with them. The third module builds on the system-level interactions and identifies pathways towards sustainability in production systems. This subject focuses on the knowledge of how natural ecosystems work and on how that knowledge can be applied to agricultural ecosystems especially in achieving sustainability.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Location

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details prior to contacting their course coordinator: AGR304
Where differences exist between the handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject information

Duration Grading System School:
One sessionHD/FLSchool of Agricultural and Wine Sciences

Assumed Knowledge

BIO140 and BIO271 and AGR271

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
- Be able to accurately explain the concept of agroecosystems and the ecological principles on which natural and managed ecosystems are understood
- be able to outline some basic differences between a natural ecosystem and a managed agroecosystem
- be able to apply the theory and principles of agricultural ecology in a review of the management of a farm
- be able to identify their own needs, biases and emerging position on appropriate directions for agriculture.

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics:
- Characteristics of an agroecosystem - Sustainability of an agroecosystem - The interacting factors - Nutrient cycles and agroecosystems - Factors and processes of agroecosystems - Regulatory mechanisms - Ecology and sustainability of agroecosystems - Management of arthropod pests, fungal and bacterial pathogens, and weeds in agroecosystems - Succession - Application of agroecological principles in achieving sustainability - Design of sustainable agroecosystems

Residential School

This subject contains a compulsory 2 day residential school. Explanation of the purpose and scope of the subject Explanation and analysing topics and relating them to contemporary issues Discussion of assessment tasks Invited lecturers

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The information contained in the 2015 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 01 October 2015. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.