Agriculture and Agricultural Machines

Know the interconnection between agriculture and the climatic factors that condition the activity.

Establish the most appropriate crop rotations and crops for each situation.

Know the main cultivation techniques used in agriculture, from land preparation to harvesting.

Recognise the advantages and disadvantages of using the main cultivation techniques in specific situations.

Classes are supported by presentations, teacher notes, and discussion of case studies. Depending on the type of content taught, questionnaires will be prepared for individual response or small working groups (up to 4 students) will be set up to perform and report on practical work, whenever justified, the practical work will be carried out in the field or in the machinery hangar .

1. Learn about agricultural production techniques and cultivation operations.
2. Understand how engines, transmissions, the agricultural tractor work and how agricultural machinery is coupled to it.
3. The cost/benefit of agricultural mechanisation.
4. Learn how the various agricultural operations are carried out, what equipment performs them, how they are regulated, how the required power, effective field capacity and field efficiency are calculated.

1. Ecophysiological bases of growth and development and production techniques from a sustainable perspective:
   1.1 Notions of growth, development and phenology;
   1.2 Crop yield formation;
   1.3 Soil mobilisation and conservation;
   1.4 Maintaining and controlling soil fertility;
   1.5. Optimising agricultural production;
   1.6. Rationale for cultivation techniques.
2. Mechanised operations and agricultural equipment:
   2.1 Transmissions: mechanical and hydraulic – hydrostatic;
   2.2 Tractor: engine and tractor transmissions;
   2.3 Efficient use of agricultural equipment;
   2.4 Selection and sizing of drive units and equipment.
3. Main plant production techniques:
   3.1 Technical routes;
   3.2 General crop operations and associated equipment.
4. Farm planning:
   4.1 Characterisation of the farm – environmental and structural;
   4.2 Operational plan.

Continuous assessment:

In accordance with the provisions of the ESAC Student Assessment Regulations and other applicable legislation in force, the assessment of the Curricular Unit (CU) consists of:

- 2 mixed written tests, with short answers and/or multiple choice (T1 - 30%; T2 - 30%);

- 4 written reports on the practical execution of cultural techniques and bibliographic research, relating to the cultural techniques performed by the students (TP1 - 10%; TP2 - 10%; TP3 - 10%; TP4 - 10%).

Final exam assessment:

Final exam assessment consists of a written test, which assesses the entire UC.

NAO