Crop species and world centers of production; origin of crops, their uses and climatological requirements for growth, classification, morphology, reproduction, growth, and improvement.
Athena Title
Crop Science
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
After completing this course, students should be able to describe various cropping systems and then evaluate how they enhance productivity and sustainability under different environmental conditions.
After completing this course, students should be able to describe different soil properties (e.g., composition, structure, fertility, etc.) and then explain how these properties influence crop growth and recommend strategies to optimize yield and long-term soil health.
After completing this course, students should be able to define different concepts related to plant anatomy, physiology, and development, including energy processes such as photosynthesis and respiration, as well as meristem activity and reproductive strategies, and then be able to connect these concepts to their impact on crop yield and quality.
After completing this course, students should be able to describe the effects of abiotic factors (e.g., drought, temperature extremes, salinity) and biotic factors (e.g., weeds, pests, pathogens) have on crop production, and be able to propose integrated management strategies to improve yield, quality, and sustainability across diverse agricultural systems.
Topical Outline
Plants and People - History of Agriculture, Past Lessons Learned,
Energy and Crop Production
Agronomics of soils; Soil genesis and morphology; Chemical
properties, clay lattices, CEC, pH, nutrient availability;
Fertilizer and fertilizer management; Soil testing and plant
nutrition;
Comparisons of Natural and Agricultural Ecosystems - Structure
and Function
Origin and Classification of Plants
Plant Structure and Function (I) - Eukaryotic cells and their
living parts; Non-living tissues of plants; Living tissues of
plants; Leaf, stem, root, and seed anatomy and morphology
Fundamental Crop Processes and Cropping Principles- Seed
dormancy, germination, and quality, Seedbed preparation;
Photosynthesis and respiration; Leaf area index and duration;
Stand density, plant distribution, and crop yield
Crop Growth and Development - Hormones, plant growth;
Photoperiodism; Meiosis,
pollination, micro- and megasporogenesis; Phases and events of
crop growth and development
Crops and the Environment - Properties of water and its
significance for crop cooling; Water use efficiency; Crop
responses to drought or excess moisture; Irrigation; Heat units
2Plant Protection - Weed, insect, and pathogenic pests;
Pesticides, biocontrol, and integrated pest management;
Putting it all together - What to expect when growing peanuts and
cotton, in Georgia. Land preparation, population density,
transitions from the seedling plant to vegetative, to
reproductive, to ripening of the plant. Plant nutrition, plant pests
General Education Core
CORE II: Life Sciences
Institutional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
