4/27/2024 6:42:54 AM	SUSAG 100 Course Outline as of Fall 2004	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  SUSAG 100	Title:  INTRO ECOLOGICAL AG
Full Title:  Introduction to Ecological Agriculture
Last Reviewed:1/28/2019

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		12 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  AG 120

Catalog Description:

Introduction to the concepts and principles of ecology as applied to the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems. Includes an examination of local case studies to connect ecological principles to actual farming practices.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Introduction to the concepts and principles of ecology as applied to the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems. Includes an examination of local case studies to connect ecological principles to actual farming practices.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 2005	Inactive:
Area:	C	Natural Sciences
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	B1	Physical Science		Fall 2019
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2005	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Not Certificate/Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. Summarize the history of agroecology regionally and world wide.

2. Describe the elements of a natural agroecosystem.

3. Compare and contrast the properties of natural ecosystems, sustainable

agroecosystems, and conventional agroecosystems.

4. Evaluate the role of soil fertility in an ecological production system.

5. Analyze chemical and physical properties of soil.

6. Compare and contrast soils for their water holding capacities.

7. Optimize the use of water to promote an ecological use of resources.

8. Summarize the ecological roles of plants and their functional

relationships to an agroecosystem.

9. Assess an agroecosystem for its level of sustainability based on

indicators of a systainable system.

10. Prescribe ways of converting to a sustainable system through the

redesign of an agroecosystem.

11. Identify career opportunities and objectives in sustainable

agriculture.

Topics and Scope

I. Introduction to Agroecology

 A. History of agroecology

     1. Regionally

     2. Worldwide

 B. Ecosystem characteristics

     1. natural ecosystems

     2. sustainable agroecosytems

     3. conventional agroecosystems

 C. Benefits of a sustainable agroecosystem

     1. genetic diversity

     2. productivity

     3. resilience

     4. reliance on external input

II. Ecological Principles

 A. Niche

 B. Succession

 C. Biological diversity

III. Ecological Design Process

 A. Steps

     1. observation

     2. visioning

     3. planning

     4. development

     5. implementation

 B. Natural patterns in the garden

IV. Soil

 A. Soil minerals

     1. macro and micro nutrients

     2. signs of nutrient deficiency

 B. Soil fertility

     1. physical properties of soil

     2. building soil life

       a. humus

       b. compost

       c. mulch

       d. cover cropping for fertility

V. Water

 A. Use of water in agriculture

     1. ecology of irrigation

     2. optimizing use of the water resource

 B. Water in the soil

     1. soil moisture

     2. water holding capacities

       a. saturation

       b. field capacity

       c. wilting point

 C. Water-conserving methods

     1. high organic matter content

     2. deep mulching

     3. water-conserving plants

     4. dense planting

     5.  soil contouring

       a. swales

       b. contours

     6. water catchment

       a. harvest and storage of rainwater

       b. using greywater

VI. Plants

 A. Plant uses

     1. multipurpose plants

     2. ecological roles of plants

       a. mulch makers

       b. nutrient accumulators

       c. nitrogen fixers

       d. soil fumigants and pest repellants

       e. insecting plants

       f. spike roots

       g. wildlife nurturers

       i. shelterbelters

 B. Annuals and perennials

     1. perennial vegetables

     2. herbs

     3. greens

     4. roots and tubers

 C. Microclimates

 D. Plant communities

     1. interplanting

     2. polyculture

     3. plant guilds

VII. Ecological Pest Management

 A. Attracting beneficial insects

     1. predatory insects

     2. parasitic insects

     3. pollinators

     4. weed feeders

 B. Attracting birds

     1. food

     2. water

     3. shelter

     4. protection

     5. habitat diversity

 C. Use of other animals

     1. chickens

     2. ducks

     3. rabbits

     4. other livestock species

VIII. Achieving Sustainability

 A. Learning from existing agroecological systems

   1. Biological Agriculture

   2. Nature Farming

   3. Organic Agriculture

   4. Biodynamic Agriculture

   5. Permaculture

 B. Converting to sustainable practices

   1. Establishing criteria for agricultural sustainability

   2. Production conversion

IX. Career Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture

Assignments:

1. Specific reading and study assignments from texts and handouts (20-30

  pages per week).

2. Develop a soil fertility management plan.

3. Prepare a written evaluation of a local farm's level of sustainability,

using the indicators of a sustainable system.

PowerPoint presentation.

2. Interviews with farmers for case studies.

3. Write 2-3 case studies, 3-5 pages each.

4. Quizzes, midterm, final exam.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 30 - 40%
Field notes/journal; field trip reports.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 30%
Performance exams, PowerP
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 40%
Multiple choice, True/false, Completion
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Ecological Principles in Agriculture. Powers, Laura E. and McSorely,

Robert. Delmar, 2000.

Agroecology: Ecological Processes in Sustainable Agriculture. Gliessman,

Stephen R. Sleeping Bear Press, 1998.

Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture. Hemenway, Toby. Chelsea

Green Publishing Co., 2000.

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