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751-5201-10L 5 Credits MSC D-USYS , D-GESS

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Tropical Cropping Systems, Soils and Livelihoods (with Excursion)

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Johan Six, Dr. Kenza Benabderrazik

IMPORTANT: Students who enroll for this course are strongly recommended to verify with lecturers from other courses whether their absence of two weeks may affect their performance in the respective courses.

VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:00:33

Abstract

This course guides students in analyzing and comprehending tropical agroecosystems and food systems. Students gain practical knowledge of field methods, diagnostic tools and survey methods for tropical soils and agroecosystems. An integral part of the course is the two-week field project in Ethiopia, which is co-organized with Eldoret University (Kenya) andKU Leuven (Belgium).

Objective

(1) Overview of the major land use systems in Tropical agroecosystems in several contexts Africa (2) Interdisciplinary analysis of agricultural production systems (3) Knowledge on methods to assess agroecological performance of a tropical agroecosystems (4) Hands-on training on the use of field methods, diagnostic tools and survey methods. (5) Gain practical knowledge on how to assess to climate resilience and farming systems. (6) Collaboration in international students and stakeholders

Content

This course guides students in analyzing and comprehending tropical agroecosystems. Students gain theoretical knowledge of field methods, diagnostic tools for tropical soils and agroecosystems. Various experts will present their projects and perspectives on various subjects from Food security, climate mitigation, agroecology, resilience to soil physics or agricultural economics. Students will engage in readings, discussions and exchanges on the specificities of tropical agriculture. On, students gain practical knowledge on field - An integral part of the course is the two-week field project in a Tropical region, meeting several stakeholders of the agricultural and food systems and conducting various assessments related to climate resilience and farming systems. On the second module, students gain practical knowledge on field - An integral part of the course is the two-week field project in Kenya, conducting various assessments related to Food and Energy Security.

General Information

Language: English
Levels: MSC
Frequency: Yearly recurring

Examination

Type: graded semester performance

Registration & Places

Signup End: 27.09.2022

Course Components

Type	Title	Time & Place	Hours
lecture with exercise	Tropical Cropping Systems, Soils and Livelihoods This course includes an excursion to Kenya from 6th to 19th of November 2022.	Thu 08:15-10:00 (CHN D 29)	140 h semesterly

Offered In

Agricultural Sciences Master
- Major in Animal Sciences
  - Methodology Competences
    - Project Management for Scientific Research
- Major in Plant Sciences
  - Methodology Competences
    - Design, Analysis and Communication of Science
- Major in Agriculture Economics
  - Methodology Competences
    - Project Management and Communication of Science
- Minors
  - Sustainable Agricultural Development (The minor Transdisciplinarity for Sustainable Development was revised and renamed for the academic year 22/23. The course units that were previously offered are still part of the Sustainable Agricultural Development minor.)
  - Functioning of Soil Systems
  - General Crop Science (This minor will only be offered in the academic year 22/23. As of the academic year 23/24, the minor can no longer be chosen. The course units offered in the minor can still be taken as electives.)
Science, Technology, and Policy Master
- Minor in Natural Sciences and Engineering
  - Resources and Environment