CRSC-CROP SCIENCE -- 2001-03 Catalog
Horticulture and Crop Science Department

CRSC 101 Orientation to Crop Science (1) (CR/NC)

Understanding the depth and breadth of field crops, fruit and vegetable production and plant protection. Examination of the potential career opportunities and introduction to both student and professional organizations and affiliations. Required of all Crop Science Department students. Credit/No Credit grading only. 1 activity.

CRSC 123 Forage Crops (4)

Forages as a world resource in food and animal production, soil and water conservation and sustainable agricultural systems. Forage use systems: pasture and range, green chop, silage, hay and cubes. Identification and management of limiting factors of forage plant growth. Botany of legumes and grasses. Grass, legume and weed identification. Forage crop improvement. Forage composition and quality. Antiquality factors. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.

CRSC 131 Introduction to Crop Science (4)

Production principles for field and vegetable crops. Fundamental botany, taxonomy and cultural practices. Soil tillage, fertilization, seed selection, planting and harvesting methods, irrigation, weed control, pest control, and crop rotation. Production practices for cotton. A field trip to a major California production area is required. Not open to students with credit in CRSC 230. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.

CRSC 132 Cereal Grain Production (4)

Production, adaptation, distribution, and utilization of major grain crops harvested by combine, including wheat, barley, oats, corn, rice, sorghum, rye, triticale, and millets. Field trips to major California cereal production areas. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: CRSC 131 or CRSC 230.

CRSC 133 Row Crop Production (4)

Adaptation, distribution, production, processing, and utilization of major row crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, dry beans, and sugar beets. Special emphasis on working with beds and furrows. Field trip to a major California row crop production area required. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: CRSC 131 or VGSC 230.

CRSC 200 Special Problems for Undergraduates (2–4)

Individual investigation, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units, with a maximum of 2 units per quarter. Prerequisite: Consent of department head.

CRSC 201 Agricultural Chemical and Equipment
Safety (1) (CR/NC)

Principles and applications of agricultural chemical and equipment safety for enterprise project participants primarily. Pesticide toxicology, poisoning symptoms, medical treatment, safe handling and application techniques. Pesticide laws and regulations. Safe operation of tractors, implements, and processing equipment. Equipment demonstrations. Repeatable, but not for credit. Credit/No Credit grading only. 1 lecture.

CRSC 202 Enterprise Project (2–4) (CR/NC)

Beginning field experience in production and marketing of an agronomic crop, under faculty supervision. Project participation is subject to approval by the department head and the Cal Poly Foundation. Degree credit limited to 4 units. Credit/No Credit grading only. 1 lecture, variable practicum. Prerequisite: CRSC 201, or consent of instructor.

CRSC 230 Agronomic Crop Production (4)

Production, harvest, and use of important cereal and field crops in California. Production areas, crop rotations, disease and pest control. Field trip required. Not open to students with credit in CRSC 131. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory.

CRSC 244 Precision Farming (4)

Precision agriculture applications. Integrating GIS, GPS, and remote sensing technologies with site-specific farming practices to optimize agricultural productivity. Field trip required. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: CRSC 230 or other plant production course.

CRSC 304 Plant Improvement (4)

Principles and techniques used to develop new plant varieties. Sexual reproduction, inheritance, selection and biotechnology methods useful in breeding of plants. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: CRSC 131 and BIO 303.

CRSC 330 Advanced Forage Crop Production (4)

Three methods of producing, harvesting and utilizing forage species; grazing, haying and ensiling plant materials. Forage identification, hay grades and quality; preservatives to enhance quality. Grazing systems; forage mixtures versus single species; problems in pasturing, fencing, the silage-making process and silo structures. Field trip to a production area required. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: CRSC 123, CRSC 131 or CRSC 230 or consent of instructor.

CRSC 331 Commercial Seed Production and Conditioning (4)

Production and conditioning of field and vegetable seed. Seed technology, germination, quality control, seed enhancement, storage and handling of seed, and seed laws. Field trip to a seed conditioning/seed enhancement facility required. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: CRSC 131, CRSC 230 or VGSC 230, EHS 121 or consent of instructor.

CRSC 333 Greenhouse Vegetable Production (4)

Development, practices, history, and future of crop production in greenhouses. Research applications, commercial applications, production problems, marketing, and economics. Special emphasis on growing transplants in greenhouses and use of nutrient solutions. Field trips to a commercial greenhouse operation and/or analysis lab required. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: CHEM 111, CRSC 133, SS 221 or consent of instructor.

CRSC 339 Internship in Crop Science (1–12) (CR/NC)

Selected Crop Science students will spend up to 12 weeks with an approved agricultural firm engaged in production or related business. Time will be spent applying and developing production and managerial skills and abilities. One unit of credit may be allowed for each full week of completed and reported internship. Degree credit limited to 6 units. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite: Consent of internship instructor.

CRSC 400 Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates (1–2)

Individual investigation, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units, with a maximum of 2 units per quarter. Prerequisite: Any CRSC 100- or 200-level course or consent of department head.

CRSC 402 Enterprise Project Management (2–4) (CR/NC)

Advanced experience in production of an agronomic crop. Development of a plan for field operations, a marketing plan, and a budget. Management decision-making. Project participation is subject to approval by the department head and the Cal Poly Foundation. Degree credit limited to 4 units. Credit/No Credit grading only. 1 lecture, variable practicum. Prerequisite: CRSC 202, and consent of instructor.

CRSC 410 Crop Physiology (4)

Environmental, chemical, and biological interrelationships associated with the physiology of crop production. Field trip is required. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: CRSC 131, CRSC 230, FRSC 131, FRSC 230 or VGSC 230; and CHEM 212/312.

CRSC 411 Experimental Techniques and Analysis (4)

Principal experimental designs used in agriculture and methods of statistical analysis of data collected from each. Practice with statistical software. Field practice in planning and layout of typical experiments. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: Junior standing and MATH 117 or equivalent, and STAT 218 or consent of instructor.

CRSC 421 Oil and Fiber Crops (4)

Culture, harvest, grading, and marketing of cotton, soybean, sunflower, safflower, and other oil and fiber crops. Field trips to major centers of production and marketing required. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: CRSC 133, PPSC 221 and BOT 121.

CRSC 422 Tropical and Subtropical Crop and Fruit Production (4) (Also listed as FRSC 422)

Production, distribution and utilization of major agronomic, vegetable, fruit and nut crops of economic importance in tropical and subtropical areas. Weather systems, climates, soils, and cropping systems of tropical and subtropical areas. Field trip required. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: CRSC, VGSC or FRSC 100/200-level course, or consent of instructor.

CRSC 445 Cropping Systems (4)

Classification and description of agricultural systems of the world. Crop rotations, multiple cropping, and other advances in farming practices. Sustainable agriculture and systems approaches to improvement of complex agricultural situations. Field trip required. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: SS 121 and BOT 121, or CRSC 131, or BOT 326, or consent of instructor.

CRSC 461, 462 Senior Project (3) (3)

Selection and completion of a project under faculty supervision. Projects typical of problems which graduates must solve in their fields of employment. Project results are presented in a formal report. Minimum 180 hours total time. Prerequisite: CRSC 411.

CRSC 463 Undergraduate Seminar (2)

Oral presentation and leadership of group study on recent developments in the major field. 2 seminars. Prerequisite: Senior standing.

CRSC 470 Selected Advanced Topics (2–4)

Directed group study of selected topics for advanced undergraduate students. Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. 2–4 lectures. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

CRSC 500 Individual Study in Crop Science (1–6)

Advanced independent study planned and completed under the direction of a member of the Crop Science faculty. Total credit limited to 6 units. Prerequisite: Consent of department head, graduate adviser and supervising faculty member.

CRSC 521 Advanced Crop Production (4)
(Also listed as VGSC 521)

Production and management of crops under intensive and extensive cultural systems and low-input agriculture. Interaction between the various growth factors at various levels of production and interaction of cultural practices and plant requirements. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 laboratory. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

CRSC 539 Graduate Internship in Crop Science (1–9)

Application of theory to the solution of problems of agricultural production or related business in the field of Crop Science. Analyze specific management problems and perform general management assignments detailed in a contract between the student, the firm or organization, and the faculty adviser before the internship commences. Degree credit limited to 6 units. Prerequisite: Consent of internship instructor.

CRSC 570 Selected Topics in Crop Science (1–4)

Directed group study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 12 units. 1–4 seminars. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.

CRSC 571 Selected Advanced Laboratory in Crop Science (1–4)

Directed group laboratory study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. 1–4 laboratories. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

CRSC 581 Graduate Seminar in Crop/Fruit Production (3)
(Also listed as FRSC 581)

Group study of current problems, trends and research results pertaining to production or marketing of field, vegetable or fruit crops. 3 seminars. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

CRSC 599 Thesis in Crop Science (1–9)

Systematic research of a significant problem in Crop Science. Thesis will include problem identification, significance, methods, data analysis, and conclusion. Students must enroll every quarter in which facilities are used or advisement is received. Degree credit limited to 6 units. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.