# CPSC30030

**Source**: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=MODULE&MODULE=CPSC30030&TERMCODE=202500&ACYR=2026
**Parent**: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=COURSE&MAJR=CPS1&AUDIENCE=

Academic Year 2025/2026

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#### Root and Alternative Crop Production (CPSC30030)

Subject:
:   Crop Science

College:
:   Health & Agricultural Sciences

School:
:   Agriculture & Food Science

Level:
:   3 (Degree)

Credits:
:   5

Module Coordinator:
:   Dr Gary Gillespie

Trimester:
:   Spring

Mode of Delivery:
:   Blended

Internship Module:
:   No

How will I be graded?
:   Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module is designed for students who already have some knowledge of crop production techniques. It specialises in aspects of the production and utilisation of a range crops such as potatoes, oilseed rape, and faba beans. This modules also covers non-traditional crops and discusses alternative crops for production in Ireland. Aspects of grain trading and crop insurance are introduced with a specific emphasis on their importance for Irish crop production. Students are also exposed to the Microsoft Excel software and how it can be used for on-farm management practices.

## About this Module

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### What will I learn?

###### Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module the student should be able to: \
- Discuss the production of oilseed rape crops and be able to understand key economic and agronomic factors affecting the profitability of the crop.\
- Discuss the production of protein crops and be able to understand key economic and agronomic factors affecting the profitability of the crop.\
- Discuss the production of potato crops and be able to understand key economic and agronomic factors affecting the profitability of the crop.\
- Evaluate and make decisions re the future economic viability of new cropping options.\
- Discuss alternative crops for future cropping patterns in Ireland and be able to make agronomic decisions for the successful establishment of these crops. \
- Appreciate the factors underpinning the increasing interest in non-food crops at farm, industry and government level. \
- Use Microsoft Excel for aiding with on-farm decisions relating to the nutrient requirements and profitability of farms.

###### Indicative Module Content:

- Oilseed rape production\
- Faba bean and other protein crop production\
- Potato production\
-Grain trading\
- Microsoft Excel\
- Alternative, novel and niche cropping options

### How will I learn?

###### Student Effort Hours:

| Student Effort Type | Hours |
| --- | --- |
| Specified Learning Activities | 25 |
| Autonomous Student Learning | 70 |
| Lectures | 30 |
|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Total | 125 |

\

###### Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

In this module the following approaches are used:\
1. face to face lectures;\
2. active/task-based learning;\
3. case-based learning;\
4.critical writing.\
\

### Am I eligible to take this module?

###### Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

**Learning Recommendations:**\

It is recommended that students should have completed first, second and thrid year modules before enrolling in this module.

\

###### Module Requisites and Incompatibles

**Equivalents:**\
Root and Alternative Crop Prod (CPSC37030)\
\
\
 \

### How will I be assessed?

###### Assessment Strategy

| Description | Timing | Component Scale | Must Pass Component | % of Final Grade | In Module Component Repeat Offered |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Assignment(Including Essay): Written assignment where students will review the literature of a topic related to an assigned alternative/novel crop or crop use | Week 10 | Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% | No | 30 | No |
| Exam (In-person): Examination: The exam will take place in Blackrock in March - The date to be confirmed by Module Coordinator. | End of trimester  Duration:  2 hr(s) | Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% | No | 50 | Yes |
| Exam (Take-Home): Students will use the Microsoft Excel software to determine the amount of nutrients required for a farm based on agronomic information and the associated costs of providing these nutrients. | Week 12 | Alternative linear conversion grade scale 40% | No | 20 | No |

\

###### Carry forward of passed components

Yes

\

### What happens if I fail?

| Remediation Type | Remediation Timing |
| --- | --- |
| In-Module Resit | Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board |

*Please see [Student Jargon Buster](https://www.ucd.ie/students/services/ucdstudentjargonbuster/) for more information about remediation types and timing.* \

### Assessment feedback

###### Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment\
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment\

###### How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

### Associated Staff

| Name | Role |
| --- | --- |
| Mr Andrew Doyle | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
| Dr Gary Gillespie | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
| Dr Mary Harty | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
| Dr Cathal McCabe | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
| Dr Tomás McCabe | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
| Professor Kevin McDonnell | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |

### When is this module offered?

**Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.**

|  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 | Mon 09:00 - 09:50 |
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 | Wed 09:00 - 09:50 |
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 | Wed 10:00 - 10:50 |
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 | Wed 10:00 - 10:50 |

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