MSc PPP Courses

BL62A - PLANT PRODUCTION & PROPAGATION SYSTEMS

  • 4-credits
  • Semester I

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

  • recognise the biological features of agroecosystems and their varying levels of productivity and sustainability,
  • describe the range and importance of cultivated plants,
  • differentiate between the various types of plant production systems,
  • evaluate techniques of plant propagation,
  • outline means of improving cultivated plants and their roles in increasing productivity.

BL62B - PLANTS AND SOILS

  • 4-credits
  • Semester I

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

  • describe the basic characteristics of cultivated soil and their measurement,
  • explain the influence of soil type on the availability of water and nutrients to plants,
  • explain the concept of soil fertility, how it is assessed and how it can be improved by fertilization and other management practices,
  • identify soil factors that are constraints to plant production,
  • describe types of soil erosion and means of soil conservation in plant production systems,
  • describe types of weeds, their significance in plant production systems and methods of control in weed management programmes.

BL62C - PLANTS AND CLIMATE

  • 4-credits
  • Semester II

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

  • explain how the energy balance in plants in different situations determines productivity,
  • describe the various means by which light, temperature and rainfall determine plant growth and development, and how production systems can be managed to make best use of climate and microclimate conditions,
  • describe the effects on plant production by extremes of climatic conditions and the means to mitigate them.

BL62D - HARVESTING AND POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT

  • 4-credits
  • Semester II

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

  • determine readiness for harvesting and describe harvesting practices for a range of plant produce,
  • explain changes occurring after harvesting for the main types of plant produce,
  • evaluate methods of storage and transport for these types of plant produce.

BL62E - PRINCIPLES OF PLANT

  • 4-credits
  • Semester I Year II

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

  • explain how plant diseases are initiated,
  • explain how plant, pathogen and environmental factors determine the extent of disease development,
  • explain the principles governing plant disease management.

BL62F - PLANT DISEASES AND THEIR CONTROL

  • 4-credits
  • Semester I Year II

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

  • identify the symptoms of various plant diseases,
  • manipulate the causal agents,
  • select appropriate disease management strategies.

BL62G - THE BIOLOGY & ECOLOGY OF INSECT PESTS OF PLANTS

  • 4-credits
  • Semester II Year II

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

  • the evolution and development of insect pests of plants,
  • the taxonomy, biology and identification of insect pests of plants,
  • the factors that regulate the population of insect pests.

BL62H - THE MANAGEMENT OF INSECT PESTS OF PLANTS

  • 4-credits
  • Semester II Year II

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

  • identify insect pests and related plant damage,
  • assess damage and determine the economic status of insect pests affecting plants,
  • select and integrate appropriate insect control strategies,
  • develop an integrated pest management programme for various cultivated plants.