Integrating agronomic principles with management experience in introductory agronomy

Abstract

Many graduates of agronomy programs lack an ability to relate classroom experiences to career-related activities. Training of future agronomists can be enhanced by relating and using agronomic principles in real-life situations. In an introductory agronomy course, a cropping systems project was designed to train students to use agronomic principles in making actual cropping system management decisions and to improve their communication and organization skills. Groups of students were assigned separate farms and were asked to find and assimilate information to solve agronomic problems they encountered. When possible they used their home farms. The project was subdivided into sections and a written report was submitted at the completion of each section. A final report was also submitted. The project was effective in relating agronomic principles to real-world situations, and students felt it helped them learn and apply valuable information.