COURSE DETAIL
This course is a study of grasslands and rangelands, which can be defined as the type of vegetation in which grasses and forbs are dominant. This course covers the importance of grassland as natural vegetation but also addresses the prevalence of semi-natural and agricultural grasslands, which are often managed by humans to provide food for domestic animals. This course explores a range of topics including the taxonomy and morphology of grassland species; the growth, development, and physiology of grassland species; grassland management, including aspects of grazing methods, botanical composition, soil quality, carbon sequestration, and the water and nutrient supply of soil; nutrition of ruminants, forage quality, forage conservation, and feeding systems; grass breeding, variety selection, and seed production; plant species diversity and productivity of semi-natural grasslands; and sports field turfgrass. Selected topics are highlighted for students through case studies and excursions. Amongst other skills, students learn to identify the most important grassland species using a classification key, understand grassland plant growth, production, and reproduction, and analyze societal, agronomic, and scientific problems related to grassland management and use.