Arable Crops Production
- Agricultural Sciences
- 300 level
- 2 credit units
- 46 pages
- 5 units
This course provides an overview of arable crop production, focusing on key families like Gramineae and Leguminosae. It covers the cultivation, harvesting, storage, and pest management of major crops such as maize, rice, guinea corn, cowpea, cassava, yam, sweet potato, and cotton. The course also explores the botany, climatic requirements, and varieties of these crops, equipping students with practical knowledge for successful crop production.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 200 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical, practical
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of CRP309, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
CRP309 · MODULE 1: GRAMINEAE (POACEAE) (10,000 SP.)
The quality of maize determines its uses. If the grain is to be used as seed, it should be pure, alive, have a good yield and be free from disease and insect pests. If the grain is to be eaten by man or livestock, a high protein content is desirable and it must taste good.
What you should be able to do
- Identify and classify major arable crops and their families.
- Describe the climatic and soil requirements for various crops.
- Explain the cultivation practices for different arable crops.
- Recognize and manage common pests and diseases affecting arable crops.
- Evaluate the yield and storage methods for various crops.
- Discuss the processing techniques for crops like cotton and cassava.
What it prepares you for
- Agronomist
- Farm Manager
- Crop Production Specialist
- Agricultural Extension Officer
- Agricultural Consultant
- Agriculture
- Food Production
- Agribusiness
- Crop Science
- Farming
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1: Gramineae (Poaceae)
Unit 1: Rice (Oryza sativa)
Requires understanding of complex irrigation techniques and water management strategies.
- Module 2: Family Leguminosae
Unit 2: Pulses (Grain Legumes)
Involves detailed knowledge of various insect pests and their specific control measures, requiring careful identification and application of appropriate insecticides.
- Module 3: Root and Tuber Crops
Unit 3: Yam (Dioscorea spp.)
Requires understanding of the complex interactions between soil fertility, fertilizer application, and crop yield, as well as the ability to diagnose and manage common diseases.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 50 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Gramineae (Poaceae)
Unit 1: Introduction to Gramineae · 3 hours
Read the introduction to Gramineae family.. Study the botany of Gramineae, including habit, leaves, and inflorescence.. Understand the floral formula and examples of Gramineae..
- Week 2Module 1: Gramineae (Poaceae)
Unit 1: Maize or Corn · 4 hours
Study the climatic and soil requirements for maize.. Learn about different maize types: Dent, Floury, Flint, Popcorn, and Sweet maize.. Understand the cultivation practices for maize, including land preparation and sowing..
- Week 3Module 1: Gramineae (Poaceae)
Unit 1: Maize or Corn · 4 hours
Learn about weeding methods and chemical weeding using Atrazine and Primextra.. Understand the harvesting and storage methods for maize.. Study the common diseases and pests of maize and their control measures..
- Week 4Module 1: Gramineae (Poaceae)
Unit 1: Rice (Oryza sativa) · 4 hours
Study the climatic requirements for rice cultivation.. Learn about different types of rice: swamp, upland, and floating rice.. Understand the cultivation practices for upland rice..
- Week 5Module 1: Gramineae (Poaceae)
Unit 1: Rice (Oryza sativa) · 4 hours
Understand the process of converting inland swamps for rice cultivation.. Learn about terrestrial or earth work, including land leveling and construction of irrigation canals.. Study the construction of infrastructure for swamp rice cultivation..
- Week 6Module 1: Gramineae (Poaceae)
Unit 1: Rice (Oryza sativa) · 4 hours
Study nursery practices for swamp rice.. Learn about the method of planting rice, including spacing and transplanting.. Understand the pests of rice and their control measures..
- Week 7Module 1: Gramineae (Poaceae)
Unit 1: Guinea Corn · 4 hours
Study the varieties of guinea corn grown in West Africa.. Learn about the cultivation practices for guinea corn, including sowing and intercropping.. Understand the yield, storage, diseases, and pests of guinea corn..
- Week 8Module 2: Family Leguminosae
Unit 2: Introduction to Leguminosae · 3 hours
Read the introduction to the Leguminosae family.. Study the botany of Leguminosae, including habit, leaves, and flowers.. Understand the different sub-families: Papilionaceae, Caesalpinieae, and Mimoseae..
- Week 9Module 2: Family Leguminosae
Unit 2: Pulses (Grain Legumes) · 4 hours
Study the cultivation practices for cowpea, including sowing and weeding.. Learn about the yield of cowpea and methods to increase it.. Understand the pests of cowpea and their control measures..
- Week 10Module 3: Root and Tuber Crops
Unit 3: Cassava (Manihot utilissima) · 4 hours
Study the climatic and soil requirements for cassava.. Learn about the varieties of cassava grown in West Africa.. Understand the cultivation practices for cassava, including planting and weeding..
- Week 11Module 3: Root and Tuber Crops
Unit 3: Yam (Dioscorea spp.) · 4 hours
Study the climatic and soil requirements for yam.. Learn about the varieties of yam grown in West Africa.. Understand the cultivation practices for yam, including planting and staking..
- Week 12Module 3: Root and Tuber Crops
Unit 3: Sweet Potato (Ipomea batatas) · 4 hours
Study the climatic and soil requirements for sweet potato.. Learn about the varieties of sweet potato grown in West Africa.. Understand the cultivation practices for sweet potato, including planting and weeding..
- Week 13Module 4: Family Malvaceae
Unit 4: Cotton (Gossypium spp.) · 4 hours
Study the climatic and soil requirements for cotton.. Learn about the varieties of cotton grown in West Africa.. Understand the cultivation practices for cotton, including sowing and thinning.. Study the processing of cotton, including ginning.. Understand the diseases and pests of cotton..
Preparing for the exam
- Create detailed notes for each crop, focusing on their specific climatic and soil requirements.
- Develop diagrams illustrating the cultivation processes for maize, rice, and cassava.
- Practice identifying common pests and diseases from images and describe their control measures.
- Review the botany of Gramineae and Leguminosae families, focusing on key characteristics.
- Prepare a comparative table outlining the advantages and disadvantages of different storage methods.
- Solve practice questions related to yield calculations and fertilizer application rates.
- Focus on understanding the processing techniques for cotton, including ginning and baling.
Questions students ask about this course
What is CRP309 about?
This course provides an overview of arable crop production, focusing on key families like Gramineae and Leguminosae. It covers the cultivation, harvesting, storage, and pest management of major crops such as maize, rice, guinea corn, cowpea, cassava, yam, sweet potato, and cotton. The course also explores the botany, climatic requirements, and varieties of these crops, equipping students with practical knowledge for successful crop production.
How many units does CRP309 have?
CRP309, Arable Crops Production, has 5 units across 4 modules, over 46 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is CRP309?
CRP309 carries 2 credit units, at 300 level in Agricultural Sciences.
Is CRP309 hard?
CRP309 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and practical work, and it has a practical component.
How long does CRP309 take to study?
About 200 hours of study, spread across its 5 units.
How is CRP309 assessed?
CRP309 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with CRP309?
Agronomist, Farm Manager, Crop Production Specialist, Agricultural Extension Officer and Agricultural Consultant.