CPSC10010 Introduction to Crop Science

Academic Year 2024/2025

Successful crop production underpins successful agriculture and human nutrition in a global context, with an increased awareness developing locally in Ireland of the importance of a diverse, native crop production sector and the role it plays in meeting EU sustainability targets.

This module provides the student with an overview of the key components of successful crop and plant-based agriculture in Ireland, Europe and internationally.

These topics are framed to address sustainability concerns as they apply to climate change, crop protection methods and plant nutrition/fertilization

Opportunities are provided to see how sustainability concerns are being addressed through ongoing research and up to date material.

It will describe how crop production is influenced by biotic factors such as pests and diseases, and abiotic factors such as light and water availability.

An introduction to crop genetics and biotechnology will be provided.

Each student will be assigned a project designed to illustrate basic principles in crop science.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to: fully understand the development of crop production in Ireland and appreciate the factors that have influenced it in the past and may do in the future. Students should also be able to explain and demonstrate the relevance of the basic sciences in crop science including:
1. Describe and explain the importance of crops for world food production.
2. Identify and describe the basic principles of plant growth.
3. Evaluate the theoretical and practical aspects of agronomic principles

Indicative Module Content:

History of Agriculture: Crop Domestication
Crop classification
Crop Taxonomy
Biology of plant reproductive systems.
Chemistry of food plants
Genetic improvement of crops
GMO and gene editing
Photosynthesis
Sustainable agriculture
Crop Development
Cropping systems
Weeds
Biotic stress: crop pathogens
Crop - microbe interactions
Resistance to crop pathogens
Abiotic Stress

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

46
Total

110
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The approaches to teaching and learning include:

An active/task-based learning project.
Lectures
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Exclusions:

This module is not suitable for 2nd year Agriculture students.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Exam (In-person): End of Semester MCQ Exam n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

40
Individual Project: Individual project outlined in class n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

20
Exam (In-person): In class exam

20 MCQ Questions
10 Short answer questions		 n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

40

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback is done individually post-assessment via Brightspace for the project. Throughout the module MCQ questions examples are discussed after each lecture.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Angela Feechan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Gary Gillespie Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sujit Jung Karki Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Cathal McCabe Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Zoe McKay Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Eoghan Curran Tutor
Nikolaos Mastrodimos Tutor