Syllabus

BI1143 Horticultural Production Systems, 15.0 Credits

Subjects

Education cycle

Advanced study in the main field

Grading scale

Language

Prior knowledge

Objectives

The objectives of the course are to provide a deeper understanding of how different horticultural production systems affect resource requirements and production results; and of different ways to monitor and modify such systems with regard to environmental impact and product quality.

On completion of the course students will be able to apply a holistic perspective in order to:

• plan and accomplish a cultivation in the field and in greenhouse on the basis of market requirements.

• evaluate and recommend working methods and technical systems using a specific situation

• prevent, diagnose and correct physiological disruptions in production and quality problems

• identify species of common weeds at the seedling stage

• identify important pests and plant damages and describe means of correction for some important plant damages.

Content

The course covers systems in horticultural businesses for the production of edible products and ornamental plants.

The course is based around legislative environmental targets and society’s demands for sustainable utilisation of natural resources. The course deals with resource utilisation of e.g. energy, water, plant nutrients and substrate, and different ways to monitor and modify the systems with regard to environmental impact.

The course also covers crop protection checks such as weed recognition and diagnosis of pests and diseases in practical cultures. In addition, the course includes planning a practically viable pilot study/orientating investigation. This relates to an aspect of how the production or product quality of a horticultural culture could be improved, which provides students with training in information gathering and critical thinking.

Excursions, laboratory practicals and cultivation projects provide training in identifying, analysing and rectifying problems in cultivation. The cultivation project also provides the opportunity for practical training in production management on the basis of planning documents and for applied work on planning and organising work.

Grading form

Formats and requirements for examination

The examination consists of submission and reporting of practical cases and assignments plus written and/or oral examination. To pass the course, pass grades in examination and assignments, approved participation in excursions, exercises, laboratory work and seminars is required.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

Responsible department

Department of Biosystems and Technology