APMA98-Experimental Horticulture

Module Provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites: APMA103 Rethinking Agricultural Development (including Horticulture): Implementing Solutions
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Alexey Mikaberidze
Email: a.mikaberidze@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Become familiar with crop experimentation, gain experience in experimental design, and carry out an experiment and analyse the results. Visit a range of sites to see experiments and horticultural research in the field and consider applications to agricultural / horticultural research and extension in developing countries.Ìý

Aims:

For the student to become familiar with crop experimentation, to gain experience in experimental design, carry out an experiment and analyse results and to visit a range of sites to see experiments and horticultural research in the field. To consider applications to agricultural/ horticultural research and extension in developing countries.Ìý

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will:-

• Understand the principles of experimental design for crops;


• Carry out laboratory and glasshouse experiments and analyse the results statistically;


• Know how to write a scientific paper to report on the findings of experiments

Additional outcomes:

• Principles and practice of statistical analysis of designed experiments


• Use of modern open-source tools for reproducible data analysis


• Criteria governing plot size, blocking and replication for field experimentation


• Learn about experimentation and dissemination of results in different contexts through outside visitsÌý

Outline content:

The content will start with an introduction to design of experiments involving crops. Laboratory and glasshouse experiments will be designed, carried out and analysed statistically. Experimental approaches to horticultural research will be examined.

Pesticide research will be explored by visiting a major Agro-chemical research facility. Crop research will be explored visiting an Agricultural Research Centre. Links between research and extension will be discussed.



Visits could include:

• Commercial vegetable grower in the East of England


• The National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, Kent


• Crops Research Unit, Sonning Farm (ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø University)


• Rothamsted Research (long-term experiments)

Possible optional visit to:

• Cereals Event (June)


• CEDAR (Centre for Dairy Research, ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø University )

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures, practicals, outside visits. There is also the possibility for students to take 14 additional optional hours of outside visits (2 hours in the Spring term and 12 in the Summer term).Ìý