Course ID: AGRO 3513, Fiber
& Oilseed Crops, Fall 2007
Prerequisites: AGRO 1033
Text(s) and supplemental books and materials:
http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/HTML/MP197/default.asp.
Pests,
Thresholds, and the Cotton Plant. P1614. Available on-line at:
http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p1614.htm.
Numerous other
reading materials will be assigned or handed out.
Professor’s name: Paul B. Francis, AG 103, 460-1314,
Office hours: M, W, F 9-10, 1-5; T Th
10-12.
Special policies statement:
1. Any student caught
in an intentional, premeditated and blatant act of cheating on any exam will be
given the option of withdrawing from the course or receiving an ‘F’.
2. Attendance at all
class functions is highly encouraged but not required. Attendance records will be kept on file for
the occasional request from student loan representatives and potential
employers. Please notify the instructor
if you are having to miss a class meeting so that it
can be recorded as an excused absence.
Special dates of concern:
Oct. 5 – Deadline to
file for May graduation (seniors, take note!)
Nov. 7 – Last day to
drop with a ‘W’.
Goals and objectives:
This course is
designed to give the student an in-depth and up-to-date look at the history,
botany, production, and harvest of cotton and soybeans. We will study the latest methods of crop
management, current technologies, varieties, pesticides and future
developments. The course will also
include the survey of other fiber and oilseed crops grown in the world. Therefore, at the successful completion of
this course, the student will comprehend and be knowledgeable of:
1. The
history of cotton, soybean, and several other minor fiber and oilseed crops
with regard to
area of first cultivation and role in societal development.
2. The
taxonomic classification, morphology, biotypes, and physiology of upland
cotton and
soybean.
3. Currently adopted
methods of establishment, cultivars, pest management,
fertility, use of
plant growth regulators and pesticides, irrigation, crop quality
management,
harvest, storage, and a little on marketing of cotton and soybean.
Major, but not exclusive, emphasis will be
for the mid-south region of the
4. Sources of
information for all aspects of cotton and soybean crop production.
5. Future challenges
facing cotton and soybean production.
Content outline:
The semester is
divided into two units:
Each unit will
conclude with a comprehensive exam. The
tentative outline of topics for each unit are as
follows:
Part I. Oilseed Crops.
Soybeans: 1. History.
- Origin(s)
- Historical
evidence of cultivation, utilizations
- History of
cultivation in the
2. Botany.
- Taxonomy,
species, biotypes, ecotypes.
- Genetics,
physiology, reproductive characteristics
- Physiology
with regard to yield and yield components.
3.
Production.
-
Establishment: soils, planting windows, soil management.
- Cultivar
selection criteria, examples of current cultivars.
- Soil
fertility and water management. Includes
study of
N-fixing symbiotic
bacteria in soybeans.
-
>
Most economically damaging species I.D., habits
>
Monitoring methods, economic thresholds
>
Current methods of cultural, biological and chemical
control, including
pesticide resistant management
>
New technology on the horizon.
-
Harvesting, marketing, utilizations.
4.
Survey of other minor fiber and oilseed crops.
Special projects, assignments field trips:
- Two, mini-reports
on assigned contemporary topics.
- Probably one field
trip to the Southeast Branch Experiment Station to observe
cotton, soybean,
and sunflower research projects, especially cultivar evaluations.
Provisions for tests and evaluations:
If you miss an exam
for a legitimate reason, please inform the instructor within 5 days prior or
after so that a makeup exam can be scheduled.
In some situations, the missed points or make up exam may be added to
the final exam. Legitimate reasons are
things like official University functions, illness, trauma, or other reasons
such as a job interview.
Grading policy: Please inform the instructor within five days
if you miss, or are going to miss, an exam for any legitimate reason so that a
makeup exam can be given. Legitimate
reasons include official University functions, illness, personal trauma or
other things such as job interviews.
Grading: Soybean
test I. 100
pts
Soybean/oilseed crops
mid-term exam: 150 pts
Oilseed crop
paper report: 50 pts
Cotton test I. 100
pts
Cotton/fiber crops final
exam: 150 pts
Fiber crop
paper report: 50 pts
Total pts. 600
pts
Letter grade
assignment: A: 540 + B: 480-539 C: 420-479 D: 360-419
NOTICES:
“It is the policy of the
“UAM will no longer mail grade reports to all
students. You may access your grades
through Campus Connect on the UAM Homepage, www.uamont.edu. To have your grades mailed to you, complete
the grade request form available in the Registrar’s Office in
“The following action is prohibited under the Student
Conduct Code: Disorderly Conduct: Any behavior which disrupts the regular or
normal functions of the University community, including behavior which breaches
the peace or violates the rights of others.”