CROP PHYSIOLOGY

Credit 1: Introduction to crop physiology, development and phenology, crop senescence, yield components; crop growth and yield simulation models.

Credit 2: The influence of environment and agricultural management on crop development and phenology (germination, emergence, growth/development, flowering and grain filling stages, maturity). Interception of solar radiation by the canopy. CO2 leaf exchanges (C3 and C4 plants) and relationship with the environment (including climate changes). Dry matter partitioning to harvested organs. The life history of a leaf (leaf formation and expansion, senescence), stem branching and termination.

Credit 3: Indices of growth analysis (plant area index, leaf area index, leaf area duration, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate) in winter and summer cereals.

Credit 4: Growth analysis applied to various species (soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, maize, sugar beet, etc.).

Credit 5: Limits to crop yield; limitation by water and nitrogen supply. Root architecture and dynamics over cycle of various species; observation and measurements of fibrous roots. Biological nitrogen fixation and methods of determination.

Credit 6: Plant and crop responses to abiotic stress: deficit/excess of water and nutrients, soil compaction, temperature. Interaction with pollutants (metals/organics) and principles of phytoremediation / biofortification.