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SCHOOL |
OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES |
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ACADEMIC UNIT |
AGRICULTURE |
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LEVEL OF STUDIES |
UNDERGRADUATE |
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COURSE CODE |
GEB0506-2 |
SEMESTER |
5 | ||
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COURSE TITLE |
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS - GRASSLANDS | ||||
| INDEPENDENT TEACHING ACTIVITIES |
WEEKLY TEACHING HOURS |
CREDITS | |||
| Lectures | 4 | ||||
| Lab / Op. Exercises | 0 | ||||
| Exercises | 0 | ||||
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TOTAL HOURS |
4 | 5 | |||
| COURSE TYPE | Special Background | ||||
| PREREQUISITE COURSES | |||||
| LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION and EXAMINATIONS | Greek | ||||
| IS THE COURSE OFFERED TO ERASMUS STUDENTS | YES (in English) | ||||
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COURSE WEBSITE (URL) |
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2. LEARNING OUTCOMES
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Learning Outcomes |
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The course is the main introductory course concerning pastures and grasslands concepts. Basic aims of the learning course is that students will acquire the appropriate knowledge about - pasture ecosystems classification of and the distinction of grasslands - the evaluation of the current grassland’s condition - mechanisms related to the improvement and management of pasture ecosystems - the identification of the main grassland plants - the role of grasslands in grazing animal’s nutrition and understanding the ecological impacts of grazing - the grazing systems used and the spatio-temporal spatial-temporal grazing distribution - the estimation of grazing capacity and grazing density as well as the determination of the use of pasture plants by the grazing animals - the feed consumption estimation and the evaluation of anti-grazing quality factors - new perspectives about grazing in order to maintain grassland ecosystems and environmental protection |
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General Competences |
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Graduated students will be able to evaluate grassland condition and estimating grazing capacity and density as well as they could utilize their scientific knowledge in grassland development They will also obtain skills such as: • Adapting to new situations • Decision making • Independent Work • Teamwork • Working in an international environment • Work in an interdisciplinary environment • Generate new research ideas • Respect the natural environment • Promotion of free, creative and inductive thought • Application of knowledge in practice • Project design and management |
3. SYLLABUS
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• Grassland and animal production relationships – Grassland utilization • Structure and function of the grassland ecosystem. Grassland classification. Flora and vegetation of grassland. Artificial pastures. Concepts, definitions, classification. • Grassland management and improvement and integration into livestock production systems. • The role of grazing in livestock production • Grazing impacts on the morphogenesis and physiology of grassland plants. • Grazing systems and spatial-temporal grazing. Selection of suitable grazing animals. • Main species of grassland plants and grassland vegetation types. • Creation and establishment of artificial pastures. • Grassland production improvement and grassland management. • Temporal variation of vegetation, succession and balance stage. Nutritive value. • Grazing systems • Livestock value of grassland plants. • Stocking capacity and density estimation • Grazing behavior and environmental impacts • Nutritive value and feed intake • Grassland technical equipment. |
4. TEACHING and LEARNING METHODS - EVALUATION
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DELIVERY |
In classroom (Lectures-Workshops) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY |
Use of ICT with support of learning process through the e-class platform in teaching, laboratory education and communication with students | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TEACHING METHODS |
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STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION |
1. Official written final theory examination (50%) at the end of the semester Final theory examination (50%) comprising: - Multiple-choice questions or - Short Answer Questions or - Comparative evaluation of theoretical data 2. Laboratory Assignments (25%) Laboratory work consists of writing small scientific articles on the subject of each laboratory and is sent by students electronically through the e-class platform within a week for evaluation by the teacher. 3. Laboratory final written examination (25%) Laboratory final written examination comprising: - Multiple-choice questions or - Short Answer Questions or - Comparative evaluation of experimental data Evaluation criteria are defined in the course guide that is distributed by the teacher at the beginning of the semester to the students and is also available in electronic form on the e-class asynchronous distance learning platform. |
5. SUGGESTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
| -Suggested bibliography : |
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- Sarlis G. «Improvement & Management of Natural grazing lands», Vol. A’. Stamoulis, Athens. 1998 - Sarlis G. «Improvement & Management of Natural grazing lands», Vol. B’. Stamoulis, Athens. 1998 - Papanastasis. V.P. and V.I. Noitsakis. 1992. Range ecology. Giahoudi-Giapouli, Thessaloniki. 224 p. - Koukoura Z., 2008. Identification keys of the most important grasses in vegetative stage of development. Scientific Annals, Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. |
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-Related academic journals: |