Unit 2: Introduction to Crop Husbandry

Learning unit outline/content

Historical development of crop production, constraints to productivity of crops cultivated in Africa, measures of improving crop production in Africa, classification of plants by life cycle, reproduction in plants and cropping systems, differences between sexual and asexual reproduction, Some concepts used in vegetative propagation, natural methods of asexual reproduction, artificial methods of asexual reproduction, cropping systems, fertilizers and their uses, fertilizer principles, addition of plant nutrients to the soil, chemical fertilizers, time and method of fertilizer application, how to determine fertilizer needs, sowing and planting, seed quality, seed germination, factors affecting seed emergence and seed germination, seed dormancy, crop development, time of sowing/planting for new  establishment, methods of seed sowing and spacing/planting population.

Learning outcome

Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

- Define the principles of crop husbandry,

- Differentiate the processes of crop production,

- Identify the hunger signs of plant nutrition and fertilization and different cropping systems,

_ Apply agricultural practices to the respective practical under field condition

intellectual skills/Application of Knowledge

Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:

-Use and apply different basics knowledge of crop husbandry in crop production. Start by reading course notes

 Teaching strategies:

    - Lectures

     -Laboratory classes

     -Group works /Seminars

     - Assignments / E-tivities

     - Directed exercises

     - Field visit

Good luck