TEACHING PHYSIOTECHNICS IN SCHOOL AGRICULTURAL SUPERIOR OF THE STATE OF GUERRERO

Abstract

The theoretical and practical course in Physiotechnics has been taught optionally at the undergraduate level in the 8th year. semester of the Specialty of Phytotechnics on three occasions: 1986, 1987 and 1989. The number of students who took the course was approximately 15 on each occasion. The professor responsible has been the author of this work, who has a doctorate in Physiotechnics from the University of Guelph, Canada. The content of the course has undergone several modifications, especially due to the lack of instrumentation and facilities in the laboratory. This has been partially corrected by visiting the Corn Physiology program from CIMMYT, in Tlaltizapán, Mor. The availability of bibliography is a limitation since specialized journals are not received, in addition to the fact that there is no book in Spanish. Providing the undergraduate student with articles in English does not really solve the problem, so it is urgent to prepare printed notes for this course. There are many field facilities to carry out the practices, since the experimental field is next to the classrooms; In addition, there is gravity irrigation and since there is no risk of frost, it is possible to have two growing cycles, or establish studies of sowing dates at any time of the year. On the other hand, because we have a dry winter, it is possible to establish drought tests in the November-March cycle. These conditions allow the establishment of different crops without major problems. The main limitation is the lack of instruments, and although a greenhouse is almost finished, laboratory equipment is needed. During this year, the Curriculum at the CSAEG is being reviewed, and fortunately it has been contemplated that Physiotechnics will go from an optional course to a mandatory curricular course for the Phytotechnics specialty in the ninth semester. Its implementation is expected from 1992.