Crop Physiology (AGRC3040)

Course overview

Crop physiology provides a framework to allow you to analyse when, where and which crops to grow and how to maximise the productivity for the environmental constraints that exist. We need to understand how crops are limited by any type of stress, and what types of plant traits (characteristics) allow adaptation to that stress through agronomy and breeding. The basis of new scientific tools like crop simulation models and automated phenotyping (using robots and drones) are taught in this course, showing how crop physiology underlies research areas ranging from managing production risk through to modelling the effect of climate change on future production.

This course will last be offered in external mode in 2025. Please contact the School if you have any questions regarding the external mode.

Crop Physiology is the study of how crops respond to environment and management, and how they utilise the resources of radiation, water and nutrients to develop, grow and produce marketable products. A good understanding of crop physiology is essential to agronomists, breeders and other crop specialists so that they can assess whether crops are being affected by limitations in their environment, and to undertake research on how to improve adaptation and quality of crop products through both agronomy and breeding.

This course provides skills in the understanding of crop physiology and the principles, methods and instrumentation which are used to understand ‘how crops grow’. Crop physiology provides the link between the basics of plant science (photosynthesis, respiration, water and nutrient uptake and transport) and its application to communities of field plants growing in agronomy and breeding. It extends the concepts of ‘growth analysis’ (crop growth rate etc) to consider how crop growth (phenology, resource capture by leaves and roots, allocation of carbon to grain) can be understood in terms of the dynamic response to environmental drivers. Crops are populations of plants that are managed together in the field, typically as monocultures (although the same principles of crop physiology also help in the study of intercropping). In the first instance, crops are limited by the environmental conditions of radiation, temperature and water supply (influenced by rainfall, soil type). These conditions constrain when and where different crops can be profitably grown. Where available, irrigation and fertiliser can augment production, but how do we best use these amendments?

This course provides students with the ability to design experiments to monitor and interpret crop growth as influenced by environment, and how to use instrumentation and models to extend that understanding in applications in agronomy careers.

At the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, we are committed to creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students. We value and respect the diverse range of experiences our students bring to their education, and we believe that this diversity is crucial for fostering a rich culture of knowledge-sharing and meaningful exploration. We hold students and staff accountable for actively contributing to establishing a respectful and supportive learning environment.

Bullying, harassment, and discrimination in any form are strictly against our principles and againstﾠUQ Policy,ﾠand will not be tolerated. If you have any concerns about your experience in this course, we encourage you to tell a member of the course teaching team. Your well-being and a positive learning atmosphere are of utmost importance to us.

Course requirements

Assumed background

Crop physiology assumes an understanding of:

• weather patterns and climate and how these influence where and how crops grow
• soil physical and chemical characteristics that interact with root systems
• plant physiology (internal processes that influence resource (light, water and nutrient) capture, photosynthesis, transpiration, translocation of sugars and nutrients)
• the functions of plant organs (leaves, stems, flowers, grains, roots etc)ﾠﾠ
• crop agronomy – the practices used in the cultivation of crops and how to apply best practice
• crop breeding - how genetics allows the development of varieties with improved adaptation

** PLEASE NOTE: You may enrol in both AGRC3002 and AGRC3040. In AGRC3040, we teach the crop physiology that underlies many of the principles of field agronomy.

Recommended companion or co-requisite courses

We recommend completing the following courses at the same time:

AGRC3002

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Course timetable details as per MyTimetable. Lectures will be recorded using Echo360, and will be available through the course Blackboard site.

This course is co-taught with AGRC7034.

If you have any concerns regarding your official timetable or course allocations, or there are no suitable class times available, contact Faculty of Science Timetable science.mytimetable@uq.edu.au for advice. 

If you have any questions about missing class activities, please contact your course coordinator. 

Aims and outcomes

The aim of this course is to provide a framework of crop physiological understanding which students can apply to research and production applications in agronomy and breeding.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Sequential Practical Assessment Tasks

• Online

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration, Quiz

Weight

50% Each tasks contributes its identified % towards the sequential practical assessment task total of 50%.

Due date

Assessment 1:
APSIM 1 (5%) 5/08/2025 - 11/08/2025

Assessment 2:
APSIM 2 (5%) 12/08/2025 - 18/08/2025

Assessment 3:
RUE Quiz (5%) 26/08/2025 - 1/09/2025

Assessment 4:
Report 1 (15%) 15/09/2025

Assessment 5: APSIM 3 (5%) 14/10/2025 - 20/10/2025

Assessment 6: Report 2 (15%) 27/10/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07

Task description

Submission guidelines

• Assessment 1, 2, 3 & 5: Computer-based assessments must be accessed and completed via Blackboard. Assessments must be completed within specified time frame. 
• Assessment 4 & 6: Submission due 2:00pm - Students must submit their assessment task individually, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline.

You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit. When marks and feedback are available for this assessment item you will be notified via a blackboard announcement.

Legal Declaration

By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy / Document / Policy and Procedure Library and understand its implications. 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard, in accordance with the University's Assessment Procedure (located in the Policies and Procedures section of this course profile) which outlines the requirements for requesting extensions to assessment due dates. Extensions require the correct evidence/documentation to support the requested length of time of the extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks.

Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL). 

Course concepts

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

10%

Due date

7/10/2025 - 13/10/2025

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Task description

Submission guidelines

The online assessment is completed within Blackboard under the appropriate assessment title on your course Blackboard site. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.

Legal Declaration

By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy / Document / Policy and Procedure Library and understand its implications. 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard, in accordance with the University's Assessment Procedure (located in the Policies and Procedures section of this course profile) which outlines the requirements for requesting extensions to assessment due dates. Extensions require the correct evidence/documentation to support the requested length of time of the extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks.

Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL). 

Final exam

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

40%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

Other conditions

Secure.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L08

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Course Grading Rules and Assessment Hurdles:

• Students are required to achieve a passing mark in the Final exam in order to pass the course.ﾠ

If a student obtains an overall percentage greater than the cut-offs set to achieve a 4 or higher for the course based on marks from a combination of progressive assessment and the final exam and the student does NOT score a passing mark for the Final exam, they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (failing grade) for the course.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply. 

Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.  

If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.  

Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes. 

To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment. 

Additional assessment information

Please note the following when writing assignments

You must not re-use past work from previous assessments in your assignments.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism 

All reported work must be done by the individual student. Assignments that look and sound alike will be reported as plagiarism – a serious offence at UQ. Please note the university’s policy on academic integrity and plagiarism which can be accessed at Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy. 

Turnitin

Assignments that are required to be submitted through TurnItIn, must only be uploaded to the assessment specific Turnitin link on the relevant course Blackboard site. If you submit any version of your assessment item to any alternative Turnitin link, this is considered cheating and you will be held liable for this action.

Release of marks

Unless specifically indicated by the lecturer involved, every attempt will be made to have the results for progressive assessment tasks available within 3 weeks of submission. For items of assessment submitted in the last 2 weeks of the semester, the results will be available before the day of your end of semester examination in the course, unless otherwise indicated by the Course Coordinator. Results and feedback availability will be advised to you by email or announced via the course Blackboard site.ﾠ

Feedback in this course

Feedback is welcome (positive or negative) on this course as any information on how students find this learning experience is constructive.

Please use the evaluation form provided to you at the end of semester - or if you are enrolled in person, a course evaluation process will occur in the last few weeks of semester.

Re-mark Applications – refer to the University's Re-mark Policy to check your eligibility

Before applying for a remark, students should consider the following:

• You have consulted the course coordinator for feedback
• Yourﾠacademic grounds for remark have been discussed and are valid
• Wanting a higher grade is not grounds for a remark. A remark can decrease your grade.
• Remark applications will not be considered without first having contacted your course Co-ordinator.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Other course materials

Additional learning resources information

As this course has field-based experiments, it is essential that students comply with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements and therefore have covered footwear in field and labs as well as using hats and sunscreen in the field. During the months of July and August, the crops will frequently have heavy dew until about 10 am, so for comfort it may be preferable to wear waterproof pants and shoes, as well as warm clothing on colder days.

Students will need to complete all relevant inductions for UQ.

As AGRC3040 and AGRC7034 are co-taught, they will share a course Blackboard site.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.