An introduction to the importance of pastoral farming to New Zealand agriculture and the role of legumes in pastures. The identification, selection, and establishment of pasture species and crops, including weed control. The seasonality of pasture growth and matching pasture growth with animal requirements, through monitoring of grazing systems, supplementary feeding, and crop management.
An introduction to the pasture, arable crop and tree species that are important to New Zealand's agriculture. The growth and development of agricultural plants, their responses to the environment, and how these responses affect both vegetative and reproductive yield. Identification of agricultural plants. Introduction to the identification and biology of weeds, pest and pathogens important to agricultural plant production.
The husbandry of agricultural plants and the management of plant communities at the farm level. Topics include balancing pasture growth and animal demand, pasture assessment, pasture establishment, cash crops, growth and utilisation of forage crops and control of weeds and pests.
The practical application of pasture production and grazing management principles to grazing systems. An introduction to sward dynamics and the herbage factors influencing both the productivity and utilisation of grazed pastures.
Production of arable and seed crops. Emphasis will be on achieving production objectives associated with yield and quality as well as the scheduling of key operations such as planting and harvesting. The physiological aspects of yield in arable and seed crops.
Aspects of weed biology will be studied to help understand how to obtain efficient and effective weed control. The full range of control techniques, both chemical and non-chemical, will be discussed. Students will learn how to develop integrated weed control programmes for their specific area of interest in agriculture, horticulture, forestry or conservation.
A study of aspects of the biology and ecology of trees which influence their use on farms and in farming systems. Woodlots and wood products; biomass production and effluent disposal; agroforestry systems and forage production. The value of trees for soil stabilisation, shelter, amenity and landscape management.
Consideration of plant and environmental factors affecting establishment of plants by informal means in the landscape; techniques for establishment of species - rich herbaceous and woody vegetation; maintenance factors affecting vegetation structure and species composition; links between ecological aspects of plant science and management of created landscapes.
283.701 Advanced Pasture Production and Practice15 credits
An advanced course in the understanding and application of the principles of pasture production and pasture management to grazing systems. Each student will have an approved course of study designed to meet their individual requirements.
An overview of methods used in plant breeding. Special emphasis is given to molecular breeding and breeding for tolerance to abiotic stress with topics including mapping, markers and QTL, transgenics, metabolomics, polyploidy, cytogenetics, tissue culture, IP and ethics. A block course allows students to see application of these techniques to plant breeding programmes in industry, and encourages discussion and networking.
A career development course on the application of quantitative genetics and plant breeding. Topics include objective setting, plant genetic resources, base population development, quantitative genetic variation, selection efficiency, selection of multiple traits, GXE interactions, line development, backcross breeding, recurrent selection and variety development. Two block courses allow students to visit plant breeders, and encourage discussion and networking.
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Last updated on Friday 20 September 2019