Coursework Assessment: Practical Agricultural Investigations
Domain focus
Coursework assessment: practical agricultural investigations tests your ability to plan, carry out, record, analyse and evaluate a real agricultural investigation.
Core rules
- Start with a clear aim and testable hypothesis linked to agricultural science.
- Define the independent variable, dependent variable, controls, replication and randomisation before collecting data.
- Choose a safe site and method; complete risk assessment, permission and ethics checks.
- Record raw data in a table with units, dates and conditions; keep backups.
- Analyse with suitable means, ranges or graphs; evaluate sources of error and suggest improvements.
- Structure the report with introduction, method, results, discussion, conclusion and references.
Worked example
A student investigates slurry application rate and grass dry-matter yield. Treatments are 0, 20 and 40 m³/ha, each replicated three times in randomised plots. Plot size, grass variety, soil type, cutting height and harvest date are controlled. Yield is cut, dried and weighed, then converted to t dry matter/ha. The 0 rate is the control. The conclusion should state that under the trial conditions the higher rate produced more dry matter, while noting that weather, soil variability and a single site limit generalisation.
Traps
Do not confuse a controlled variable with a control group. Do not use one plot per treatment and call it replication. Avoid subjective scoring without a rubric, missing units, selective data reporting or unsafe handling of slurry, chemicals or animals.