BSc (Hons) Horticulture with specialisation in Crop Protection – A319
1.
Objectives
The programme is designed to teach students the basic principles and fundamental practices in
horticulture, with the development of greater understanding and comprehensive skills in Crop
Protection. On completion of the specialisation, the students will be able to appreciate the
importance of crop protection, understand the complexity of horticultural pests, diseases and weeds,
and their management.
On completion of this programme, learners will be able to:
 explain the scientific, economic and business principles behind horticultural crop production;
 identify technological problems encountered in current horticultural crop production systems and
advise on the adoption of modern techniques and practices to resolve these problems ;
identify the nature and extent of crop losses through pests, diseases and weeds;
demonstrate skills in the recognition and diagnosis of various pests, diseases and weeds ;
describe the different pest, disease and weed control methods;
select appropriate sustainable approaches for the management of pests, diseases and weeds;
demonstrate the ability to transfer relevant knowledge and skills of appropriate horticultural and
crop protection practices to the farming community and to other stakeholders;
 design, plan and carry out research in the various areas of crop protection;
 demonstrate skills in communication, both written and oral, and critical analysis of scientific
reports and data.
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2.
General Entry Requirements
In accordance with General Entry Requirements for admission to the University for Undergraduate
Degrees.
3.
Programme Requirements
SC: Credit in Mathematics and Chemistry.
2 GCE 'A' Level passes in related approved Science subjects (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry,
Biology, Food Studies, Botany, Zoology, Computer Science or Computing).
Preference will be given to candidates holding an 'A' Level in Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology or
Physics.
4.
Programme Duration
Degree:
5.
Normal (Years)
3
Maximum (Years)
5
Credits per Year: Minimum 18 credits, Maximum 48 credits subject to Regulation 4.
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6.
Minimum Credits Required for the Award of Undergraduate Degree: 108
Breakdown as follows:
Degree
Core Taught Modules
96
Credits from
Project
9
Elective
3
Students must complete at least one Practical Training satisfactorily for the award of the degree.
Students may exit with
(a)
(b)
7.
a Certificate after having earned 30 credits in core modules.
a Diploma after having earned 60 credits in core modules.
Assessment
Each module will be assessed over 100 marks (i.e. expressed as %) with details as follows (unless
otherwise specified):
Assessment will be based on a Written Examination of 2-3 hour duration, carrying a weighting of
70%, and Continuous Assessment carrying 30% of total marks for AGRI modules. Modules from
other Faculties/Departments/Centres will carry weighting in the Written Examination and the
Continuous Assessment as specified by the concerned Faculties/Departments/Centres. Continuous
Assessment will be based on laboratory/field works, and/or assignments, and should include at least
1 class test.
A minimum of at least 30% should be attained in each of Continuous Assessment and Written
Examination, with an overall total of 40% for a candidate to pass a module.
Modules will carry the weightings of 1, 3 or 5 depending on their status (Introductory, Intermediate
or Advanced). Weighting for a particular module is indicated within parentheses in the module code.
Modules will carry credits in the range of 3 to 6. Project will carry 9 credits.
Assessment of practical training will be based on supervisor’s report and student’s report. For
satisfactory completion of the practical training, a minimum of 40% should be attained.
Written examinations for all the modules will be carried out at the end of the year.
8.
Important Note
The rules as stipulated in this Programme Structure and Outline Syllabus will replace all other rules
and regulations.
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9.
List of Modules
CORE MODULES
Code
Module Name
COMS 1010(1)
CSE 1010e(1)
AGRI 1018Y(1)
AGRI 1019Y(1)
AGRI 1020Y(1)
AGRI 2026Y(3)
AGRI 2029Y(3)
AGRI 2030Y(3)
AGRI 3026Y(5)
AGRI 3033Y(5)
AGRI 3034Y(5)
AGRI 3035Y(5)
AGRI 1000Y
AGRI 2000Y
AGRI 3000Y(5)
Communication Skills
Introduction to Information Technology
Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science
Crop Science
Biology and Control of Plant Pests, Diseases and
Weeds
Introductory Crop Production
Crop Propagation and Micropropagation
Technology
Horticultural Crop Production
Food Science and Technology
Statistics and Agricultural Experimentation
Agricultural Engineering and Applications
Introductory Applied Systems, Economics,
Management and Extension
Biotechnology
Crop Pests and Control
Crop Diseases and Control
Crop Production Technologies
Innovative Technologies in Horticulture
Weed and Pesticide Science and Management
IPM and Emerging Issues in Crop Protection
Practical Training* (Year 1)
Practical Training* (Year 2)
Project
ELECTIVES
CHOOSE ONE FROM
AGRI 3036Y(5)
AGRI 3037Y(5)
AGRI 3038Y(5)
Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship
Organic Horticulture
Pesticide Science and Technology
AGRI 1021Y(1)
AGRI 1024Y(1)
AGRI 1025Y(1)
AGRI 2001Y(3)
AGRI 2006Y(3)
AGRI 2024Y(3)
AGRI 2025Y(3)
Hrs/Yr
L+P
D.E.
O.E.
45+60
45+60
45+60
Credits
45+60
45+60
5
5
45+60
60+60
45+45
45+45
60+60
5
6
4
4
6
60+60
60+60
60+60
60+45
60+45
75+30
75+30
-
6
6
6
5
5
6
6
9
30+30
30+30
30+30
3
3
3
3
3
5
5
5
Total no. of credits: 108
* Students must complete at least one Practical Training satisfactorily for the award of the degree.
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10.
Programme Plan – BSc (Hons) Horticulture with specialisation in Crop Protection
YEAR 1
Code
Module Name
Hrs/Yr
L+P
Credits
Communication Skills
Introduction to Information Technology
Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science
Crop Science
Biology and Control of Plant Pests, Diseases and
Weeds
Introductory Crop Production
Crop Propagation and Micropropagation
Technology
Horticultural Crop Production
Practical Training*
(6-8 wks to be carried out after Year 1 exams)
D.E.
O.E.
45+60
45+60
45+60
3
3
5
5
5
45+60
45+60
5
5
45+60
-
5
-
Module Name
Hrs/Yr
L+P
Credits
Food Science and Technology
Statistics and Agricultural Experimentation
Agricultural Engineering and Applications
Introductory Applied Systems, Economics,
Management and Extension
Biotechnology
Crop Pests and Control
Crop Diseases and Control
Practical Training*
(6-8 wks to be carried out after Year 2 exams)
60+60
45+45
45+45
60+60
6
4
4
6
60+60
60+60
60+60
-
6
6
6
-
Module Name
Hrs/Yr
L+P
Credits
AGRI 3026Y(5)
AGRI 3033Y(5)
AGRI 3034Y(5)
AGRI 3035Y(5)
AGRI 3000Y(5)
Crop Production Technologies
Innovative Technologies in Horticulture
Weed and Pesticide Science and Management
IPM and Emerging Issues in Crop Protection
Project
60+45
60+45
75+30
75+30
-
5
5
6
6
9
ELECTIVES
CHOOSE ONE FROM
AGRI 3036Y(5)
AGRI 3037Y(5)
AGRI 3038Y(5)
Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship
Organic Horticulture
Pesticide Science and Technology
30+30
30+30
30+30
3
3
3
CORE
COMS 1010(1)
CSE 1010e(1)
AGRI 1018Y(1)
AGRI 1019Y(1)
AGRI 1020Y(1)
AGRI 1021Y(1)
AGRI 1024Y(1)
AGRI 1025Y(1)
AGRI 1000Y
YEAR 2
Code
CORE
AGRI 2001Y(3)
AGRI 2006Y(3)
AGRI 2024Y(3)
AGRI 2025Y(3)
AGRI 2026Y(3)
AGRI 2029Y(3)
AGRI 2030Y(3)
AGRI 2000Y
YEAR 3
Code
CORE
Total no. of credits: 108
30
* Students must complete at least one Practical Training satisfactorily for the award of the degree.
31
11.
Outline Syllabus
COMS 1010(1) - COMMUNICATION SKILLS (D.E.)
Writing skills, non-verbal communication, modes of speech delivery and presentation aids, speeches,
perception and listening skills, business and technical writing.
CSE 1010e(1) - INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (O.E.)
IT and Computers; Stepping in the Computer; Input and Output Devices; Secondary Storage; Programming;
Systems Software; Applications Software; Systems Development; Computer Networks; The internet;
Computer Security; Software Utilities; Issues and Trends in IT.
AGRI 1018Y(1) - AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY AND SOIL SCIENCE
Agrochemicals, their properties, metabolism, and mode of action. Chemistry of fertilisers: straight, complex,
compound mixed, blended fertilisers. Fertiliser solutions. Foliar fertilisers. Manures, municipal sewage,
compost. Chemistry of pesticides: Organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids,
dinitrophenols, phthalimides, substituted ureas, triazines, inorganics, botanical pesticides, biopesticides.
Analysis of pesticides and fertilisers.
Soil as a natural body. Weathering. Factors and processes in soil formation. Physical, physio-chemical,
biological and mineralogical properties of soil. Soil profile. Soil air, water, temperature, soil organic matter
and soil organisms. Concepts of soil fertility and land suitability. Soil taxonomy. Soil biology. Soil
amendments. Soil pollution. Heavy metals, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), persistent organic pollutants
(POP) in soils. Soil bioremediation.
AGRI 1019Y(1) - CROP SCIENCE
Classification, identification, morphology, ecology and uses of economically important crops. Mendelian
Inheritance. Linkage and chromosome mapping. Sex linked and extra-nuclear inheritance. Quantitative and
population genetics.
Objectives of plant breeding. Selection techniques. Methods of crop improvement. Genetic variation and
manipulation of variability. Breeding of selected crops. Legislative framework.
Environmental influences on crop growth and development. Vegetative and reproductive plant physiology.
Plant water relations. Plant growth substances. Plant growth analysis. Yield determination and crop
productivity.
AGRI 1020Y(1) - BIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF PLANT PESTS, DISEASES AND WEEDS
Taxonomy, systematics, biology, ecology and economic importance of pests, plant pathogens and weeds
affecting crops. Control and management of pests, diseases and weeds of crop plants. Concept and principles
of integrated pest management (IPM). Biological, physical, chemical, cultural and biology-based methods of
pest control. Economics of crop protection.
AGRI 1021Y(1) - INTRODUCTORY CROP PRODUCTION
Principles of agronomy. Crop-environment interactions. Cropping systems. Introduction to crop propagation.
Plant nutrition. Nutrient deficiency symptoms and their correction. Nutrient requirements and fertiliser
recommendations for specific crops/cropping systems. Commercial fertilisers. Green manuring. Organic
manures.
Field crop agronomy. Husbandry and production of economically important crops. Field operations and
techniques in crop production.
AGRI 1024Y(1) - CROP PROPAGATION AND MICROPROPAGATION TECHNOLOGY
Principles and practices in seed production. Seed harvesting. Seed postharvest handling and storage. Crop
macro-propagation. Cutting propagation: stem, leaf and root cuttings. Air layering. Grafting techniques.
Graft incompatibility. Other crop propagation techniques. Commercial nursery stock propagation.
Principles of plant micropropagation. The totipotency concept. Laboratory requirements and set up for tissue
culture. Role and composition of tissue culture media. Pathways of plant regeneration by tissue culture.
Characteristics of callus & suspension cultures. Somatic embryogenesis and artificial seeds. Organogenesis.
Meristem culture. Genetic stability and somaclonal variation. Case studies on successful micropropagation
of horticultural crops.
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AGRI 1025Y(1) - HORTICULTURAL CROP PRODUCTION
Principles of production and husbandry practices of selected speciality vegetable crops, mushrooms, herbs
and greens. Principles of production and husbandry practices of economically important ornamental crops.
General culture of: cut-flowers; Cut-foliage; Bedding plants; Containerised ornamental plants; and
Ornamental bulbs and corms. Nursery stock production techniques. Landscape plant production.
Diversity of fruit species in the tropics and subtropics. Advanced orcharding techniques & practices.
Principles of production and husbandry practices of economically important tropical and subtropical fruits.
Introductory temperate fruit production.
AGRI 2001Y(3) - FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Classification, chemical structure and properties of food constituents and food additives. Chemical
composition, properties and nutritional value of food commodities. Primary sensory attributes of foods and
perception of food quality. Microbial food spoilage. Useful micro-organisms. Incidence and causes of food
borne disease. Characteristics of major food-borne disease micro-organisms. Physical, chemical, sensory
and microbiological analysis of foods. Types of nutrients and their role in the human body. Planning a
balanced diet.
Food laws and standards. Concepts of food quality and safety. Factors which affect quality and safety. Food
hazards. Food preservation by heating, chilling, freezing, dehydration, chemicals and ionizing radiation.
Packaging materials. Processing of selected food products. Process control, application of principles of food
hygiene and relevant codes of practice/guidelines to ensure quality and safety. Traceability. Importance of
food safety management throughout the food chain. Comprehensive food safety management systems.
AGRI 2006Y(3) - STATISTICS AND AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTATION
Introducing statistics in agriculture. Descriptive statistics – displaying and summarising data. Probability
distributions. Point and interval estimation. Hypothesis testing. Analysis of categorical data. Correlation and
regression analysis. Design and analysis of experiments: Principles of agricultural experimentation. Analysis
of variance. Completely randomized design, Randomized block design, Latin square design. Factorial
treatment structure. Non-parametric methods. Data entry and analysis using EXCEL and MINITAB.
Introduction to research methodology. Qualitative and quantitative research. Sampling methods.
Questionnaire development, design and administration. Data coding and processing using SPSS. Elements of
scientific and technical writing.
AGRI 2024Y(3) - AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AND APPLICATIONS
Basic engineering science relevant to agriculture, soil systems and water.
Soil tillage. Agricultural machinery: tractors, rotovators, mechanical planters and harvesters, and fertigators.
Tractor Technology. Field mechanization. Pesticide sprayers and fertiliser applicators. Farm roads. Water
logging and drainage. Precision agriculture and GIS.
Irrigation systems: Equipment and operation. Soil moisture and soil moisture characteristic curves. Soil
water movement. Infiltration rate. Hydraulic conductivity of soils. Nuclear methods of soil water
measurements. Irrigation Systems: surface, Overhead Irrigation and drip Irrigation. Planning and design of
various irrigation systems based on soil-water plant climate relationships. Use and maintenance of irrigation
systems.
Farm structures and farm buildings. Waste management technology. Agro-meteorology. Controlled
environment technology.
AGRI 2025Y(3) - INTRODUCTORY APPLIED SYSTEMS, ECONOMICS, MANAGEMENT AND
EXTENSION
Introduction to agricultural systems concepts: holistic approach to agriculture; an overview of farming
systems in the World with particular reference to the SADC region.
Applied Economics in Agriculture: Introducing microeconomics and macroeconomics theories.
Agriculture and Economic Development: Evolution of the Mauritian agricultural sector from beginnings to
present days; challenges facing the Mauritian agricultural sector.
Agricultural management: The framework of farm management; introductory farm budgeting.
Agricultural Marketing: from commodity marketing to value-addition in agricultural products; marketing
functions; marketing channels and costs.
Agricultural Extension: introductory concepts and principles; Participatory approach in agricultural research,
production & extension.
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AGRI 2026Y(3) - BIOTECHNOLOGY
Structure and functions of cells and organelles; Biomolecules: Polysaccharides, sugars; storage
polysaccharides; Lipids, classification and properties, biological membranes; Proteins, amino acids, covalent
and three-D structure of proteins; Enzymes, properties and mechanism of actions, enzyme kinetics.
Glycolysis.
Organisation of genetic material, gene structure, expression and transmission. Control of gene expression.
Structure and properties of DNA. DNA replication. Protein synthesis. Principles of gene cloning.
Recombinant DNA technology.
Concept and basis of biotechnology. Tissue culture techniques and applications. Application of
biotechnology in agriculture and crop improvement.
AGRI 2029Y(5) - CROP PESTS AND CONTROL
Identification and nature of pest damage. Diagnosis and symptomatology. Techniques of sampling. Study of
pest morphology, physiology and behaviour. Pest growth and development. Insect vectors of plant
pathogens. Postharvest pests. Principles and practice of different methods of pest control: physical /
mechanical, chemical, semiochemical, physiological, botanical, cultural, biological, and genetic methods of
control / management.
AGRI 2030Y(5) - CROP DISEASES AND CONTROL
Identification and nature of plant damage caused by plant pathogens. Symptomatology and Epidemiology.
Modes of pathogen and disease transmission. Principles and methods of plant disease control. Post harvest
diseases. Disease management. Disease forecasting. Plant Quarantine. Seed certification. Economics of
phytopathology. Development and management of plant disease epidemics.
AGRI 3000Y(5) - PROJECT
Every student will be allocated a research topic related to crop protection. The research work will be carried
out under academic supervision. Students should demonstrate good practice in using skills and knowledge
acquired during the programme and follow dissertation guidelines as laid down by the Faculty of
Agriculture.
AGRI 3026Y(5) - CROP PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
Mechanised vegetable crop production. Plant characteristics for mechanised crop production. Soil
conditioning for vegetable production. Seed priming and enhancement. Fluid drilling. Direct sowing for crop
establishment. Plug production. Mechanical transplanting. Plastic mulching in horticulture. New trends in
vegetable crop production. Good agricultural practices in crop production. Tissue Culture technologies for
crop improvement.
Cropping and production of high value horticultural crops in plastic tunnels, shade houses and greenhouses.
Types of structures for protected cultivation and their characteristics. Greenhouse design and site
considerations. Greenhouses and their operation.
Plant culture in hydroponics. Plant Nutrition in Soilless Culture. Hydroponics media. Hydroponics systems.
Cropping and production of selected vegetables, fruits and ornamentals in soilless culture systems: water
culture systems and substrate culture systems. Aeroponics.
AGRI 3033Y(5) - INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN HORTICULTURE
Controlled environment technology in horticulture. Concepts and systems of environmental control. Concept
of plant factory. Commercial applications. Relative merits and demerits of controlled environment
production systems. Automation in controlled environment cultivation.
Genetic improvement of crops. Molecular pathology. Transgenic plant production, evaluation and risks.
Legislative Framework. Ethical issues in genetic engineering.
Innovative crop protection technologies for existing and new crops. Biotechnological techniques for pest
control. New paradigms in IPM.
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AGRI 3034Y(5) - WEED AND PESTICIDE SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT
Characteristics of weeds of local importance. Principles and methods of weed control in horticultural crops.
Herbicide characteristics and mode of action.
Types of crop protection chemicals. History of pesticides. Chemistry of pesticides. Pesticide formulations.
Mode of action and pesticide resistance. Pesticide mixing and application. Methods of application. Sprayer
calibration. Pesticide transport, storage and disposal. Pesticides in the environment. Pesticide persistence and
biotoxicity.
AGRI 3035Y(5) - IPM AND EMERGING ISSUES IN CROP PROTECTION
Perception and practice of IPM in developed, developing and least developed countries. Decision making in
IPM. Economic aspects. Pest prediction and forecasting. Concept and importance of pesticide free quality
produce. Pesticide residue analysis in horticultural produce, in soil, water and air. Standards and Codes of
practice. Pesticide Legislation.
National, regional and global environmental, socio-economic, political and ethical issues with respect to
crop protection. Review of important current developments and trends in horticultural crop protection
worldwide and in Mauritius. Research & development in crop protection approaches and technologies
nationally and globally.
AGRI 3036Y(5) - AGRIBUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Types of business organisations. Management of agribusinesses: Agribusiness finance. Investment appraisal.
Business environment. Characteristics of small and medium agribusinesses. Public and private organisations
facilitating the setting up of an agribusiness in Mauritius. Setting up of an agribusiness and development of a
business plan. Marketing strategies for an agribusiness. Case studies. Entrepreneurship: generation of
business ideas and innovation. Clustering. Business Incubators. Regional opportunities for agribusiness.
AGRI 3037Y(5) - ORGANIC HORTICULTURE
Concept, principles and practice of organic horticulture. Concepts and definitions: organic, sustainable and
conventional horticulture. Regulatory and legal aspects of organic produce. Environmental and health
implications of organic practices. Eco-friendly techniques. Composting and organic fertiliser. Soil health
amendments. Organic approaches and methods for crop protection. Husbandry and production of selected
organic horticultural crops. Integrated crop management.
AGRI 3038Y(5) - PESTICIDE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Structure and chemistry of different groups of pesticides. Structure-activity relationships. Pesticide
formulation and development. Bioassay techniques. ED50 and LD50 determinations. Mode of action and
pesticide resistance. Application technology. Pesticides in the environment. Pesticides and human health.
Pesticide use in developed and developing countries. Socioeconomic aspects. Pesticide legislation.
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