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Unit of study_

AFNR5210: Sustainable Horticultural Cropping

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit builds on knowledge gained in undergraduate plant or crop science units to develop an understanding of horticultural cropping systems management. The unit covers topics on the production of high-quality food from perennial fruit crops, wine grapes, vegetables and key aspects of the postharvest handling and quality assurance. Particular focus will be on intensive production systems and will provide students with a broad overview of current issues affecting the horticultural industries. Emphasis is on minimising the environmental impact of horticultural enterprises and introduces students to current themes and thinking in sustainable practices in horticultural science. The unit runs alongside lectures and practicals in Production Horticulture HORT3005.

Unit details and rules

Unit code AFNR5210
Academic unit Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
HORT3005
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Brian Jones, brian.jones@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Daniel Tan, daniel.tan@sydney.edu.au
Brian Jones, brian.jones@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam Final exam
Final exam encompassing: fruit crops; vegetable crops and postharvest.
55% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Essay on Sustainable Horticulture
Critical review of published literature.
25% Week 10
Due date: 06 May 2022 at 23:00
1500 words (+ references)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4
Presentation group assignment Case study analysis
Group presentation
20% Week 13
Due date: 27 May 2022 at 13:00
15 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Assessment 1: An essay defining and describing the principles of a sustainable horticultural practice and why this practice is (potentially) useful in developing sustainable production systems.
  • Assessment 2: This assessment is a group oral presentation on the principles of sustainable horticulture. You are required to explain why sustainability initiatives are (potentially) important to horticultural production systems.
  • Assessment 3: The final exam will consist of a mix of short answer and multiple choice questions and will encompass material from all lectures throughout the semester. 
  • Final exam: This assessment is compulsory and failure to attend, attempt, or submit will result in the award of an AF grade. If a second replacement exam is required, this exam may be delivered via an alternative assessment method, such as a viva voce (oral exam). The alternative assessment will meet the same learning outcomes as the original exam. The format of the alternative assessment will be determined by the unit coordinator.

 

  • Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Written assignments submitted late without permission (see Special Considerations: http://sydney.edu.au/students/special-consideration-and-arrangements.html) will incur a late penalty equal to 5% of the maximum awardable mark per day. These deductions will continue for 10 calendar days or until a solution for the assignment is released or marked assignments are returned to other students. At that point the mark awarded will be zero. For example, on an assignment given a mark of 70/100, the penalty would be 5 marks if submitted up to 24 hours late, resulting in a final mark of 65/100. If the assignment is submitted 6 days late, the penalty would be 30 marks and the final mark would be 40/100. If the assignment is more than 10 days late, the final mark will be zero.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Weekly Lectures on fruit and vegetable production as part of the combined HORT3005 - AFNR5210 unit. Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Online practical demonstration classes associated with fruit and vegetable production. Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Understand principles and practices that underpin modern horticultural systems.
  • LO2. Integrate knowledge of plant sciences to understand issues in horticultural sustainability.
  • LO3. Optimise and manipulate crop scheduling, yield and quality to achieve sustainability objectives in horticultural systems.
  • LO4. Identify and implement best practice decision-making in a range of horticultural sectors.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9
LO1         
LO2         
LO3         
LO4         

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.