[{"Course code":"P000073","Version":1,"English name":"Cropping Systems Diversification","Higher education credits":5.0,"Syllabus":"Finalized by: FUN-LTV, 2024-01-30","Valid from":"2024V","Syllabus approved":"2024-01-30","Level within study regulation":"Third cycle","Subject":[{"Subject":"Agricultural Science"}],"Grading scale":"Pass \/ Failed","Language":"Swedish","Entry requirements":"Admitted to a PhD programme in agricultural sciences, environmental science, ecology, or related fields. Also postdocs with similar educational background.","Objectives":"On completion of the course, the students will be able to:<br>\n\\- Understand different concepts of cropping systems diversification, including its implications on agronomic, ecological, economic, technological and social aspects.<br>\n\\- Describe how crop diversification is related to ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services and how it contributes to sustainable development of agricultural systems.<br>\n\\- Design experimental methods for crop diversification studies, including the involvement and role of different stakeholders.<br>\n\\- Reflect and hypothesise how cropping systems diversification relates to the current PhD project, including identifying key mechanisms to crop diversification in student’s own projects.<br>\n\\- Exchange disciplinary experiences and knowledge among participants.","Content":"The aim of the course is for the students to acquire knowledge on the topic of cropping systems diversification. Through the course, the students will develop a deeper understanding on crop diversification and be able to relate it to their individual research project. In particular, the course will provide a knowledge platform for understanding crop diversification in agriculture, with emphasis on agronomic and ecological aspects, and outlooks on economic, technological and social perspectives. Students will encounter and use different scientific methods to assess the outcomes of crop diversification. The course also offers an opportunity to further exercise student’s writing and reflection skills.\n\nDuring the course, crop diversification approaches such as intercropping, crop rotations, multiple cropping will be presented together with theories on ecological interactions including how crop diversification can enhance the provision of multiple ecosystem services and a transition to more sustainable agricultural systems. The teacher team will include researchers from the hosting Department as well as invited researchers, advisors and practitioners from other national and international organisations.\n\nDifferent crop diversification experiments at the field research facilities at SLU Campus, Alnarp will be presented to demonstrate recent experimental designs of crop diversification studies. The experiments will be utilised for practical exercises targeting hypothesis testing in relation to crop diversification theory and designing.\n\nFurthermore, the demonstration of experiments will provide inspiration for discussions on key processes and mechanisms of performance of diversified systems and provide examples on the involvement and role of different actors\/stakeholders in research projects. The course will also offer the opportunity to exchange experiences and knowledge among the participants, and assist in identifying key mechanisms of crop diversification in students’ own projects.","Examination formats":"Pass or Fail. To pass the course, students are required to submit and get the examiners approval on the preparatory and final assignment reports. In addition, full physical presence and participation during the on-site course activities are mandatory. \r\n- If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.\r\n\r\n- The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.\r\n\r\n- If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.\r\n\r\n- For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.\r\n","Organisation":[{"code":"643","Organisation":"Department of Biosystems and Technology"}],"Other information":"\r\n- The right to participate in teaching and\/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.\r\n\r\n- If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.\r\n"}]