| Code | Faculty | Department |
|---|---|---|
| 02241004 | Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences | Department: Plant Science |
| Credits | Duration | NQF level |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum duration of study: 1 year | Total credits: 135 | NQF level: 08 |
Electives can be chosen out of the modules listed or any other 700-module that is presented in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, chosen in consultation with the Head of Department of Plant and Soil Science.
Minimum credits: 135
Core credits: 60
Elective credits: 75
Module content:
The principles of experimental design as required for the selection of an appropriate research design. Identification of the design limitations and the impact thereof on the research hypotheses and the statistical methods. Identification and application of the appropriate statistical methods needed. Interpreting of statistical results and translating these results to the biological context.
Module content:
Students will design, execute and write up a research project in any one of the subdisciplines of Crop science, eg Agronomy, Horticultural science or Pasture science.
Module content:
Principles of the scientific process. Literature accessing and article assessment. Manuscript preparation and presentation of seminars. Use of visual aids.
Module content:
Integrated agronomic, climatic, soil, botanical, economic and managerial considerations in crop production systems aimed at maximum economic yield and sustainability. The use of conservation agriculture (CA) in field crop production is becoming ever increasingly important, especially since it is directly related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 (food), 6 (water), 7 (energy) 13 (climate) and 15 (soil). During the semester applicable AC and SDG examples will be highlighted in case studies of specific field crops. Practicals will consist out of a trial on the experimental farm.
Module content:
Integrating agronomic, climatic, soil, botanical, economic and managerial considerations in crop production systems aimed at maximum economic yield and sustainability. The importance of vegetables in Sustainable Development Goals 1 (poverty), 2 (food), 3 (health), 4 (education), and 12 (reduced wastage) will be highlighted in case studies of specific vegetable crops. Practicals will consist out of a trial on the experimental farm and a visit to the Tshwane fresh produce market.
Module content:
An overview of photosynthesis and respiration, with the aim of examining the physiological basis of yield in cropping systems. this includes an assessment of parameters for determining plant growth, factors governing yield, partitioning of photoassimilates within plants and opportunities for increasing yield. Crop growth and yield will be put into context of a changing global climate. Evaluation of the manner in which plants respond to various abiotic stresses and how plants sense changing environments. The various roles of plant growth regulators in plants and the importance of these compounds in agriculture.
Module content:
Introduction to Community Engagement (CE) in the South African and University of Pretoria context; plant blindness. Identification of community engagement topic and activities, field work and submission of report on these activities.
Module content:
Study of the latest trends and developments in plant nutrition, soil biology and soil fertility.
Module content:
An overview of the South African fruit industry indicating economic importance and the areas of production of the various crops. Principles governing orchard establishment and orchard management, including location and site selection, crop and cultivar choices, site preparation, orchard layout and design, irrigation, fertilisation, pruning and training, the application of plant growth regulators and disease and pest management. Harvesting practices and the post-harvest physiology of fruit which determines storage protocols and the quality of the fruit reaching the consumer. Climatic requirements, phenological models, cultivars and rootstocks, fruit manipulation, physiological disorders and pest and disease complexes of subtropical and deciduous fruit crops produced in South Africa. The important role fruit production can play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will be highlighted, with emphasis placed on the sustainable use of resources.
Module content:
Environmental variables. Quantitative description and measurements of atmospheric environmental variables and water in organisms. Mass and energy fluxes. Quantitative description of energy fluxes in organisms' environments. Energy balances of animals and plant communities will be derived.
Module content:
Weeds and their importance in Southern Africa. Properties and uses of herbicides.
Herbicides in soils and their mode of action in plants.
Module content:
Agro-ecological zones (climate and soil); trees for fruit, fodder, fuel and/or timber; intercropping or alley cropping with grains, vegetables or pastures; management (including aspects such as nursery production, establishment, fertilization, pest control) and utilization/marketing.
Module content:
The production potential and quality of pastures as influenced by botanical composition, vegetation cover, livestock grazing and browsing potential, soil chemical, physical and biological conditions in addition to other important environmental processes are addressed. Pasture selection for different purposes and the importance of pasture management requirements within a planned livestock fodder flow system are taught. Monitoring pastures (both natural and cultivated) in different biomes of Southern Africa, through different assessment techniques to understand the health, production potential and quality thereof is explained. The different utilisation methods of pastures, as influenced by the livestock factor and their effects on the pastures regrowth potential, in addition to soil quality aspects are important principles that determine the value of pastures. The evaluation of grasses and other vegetation types in terms of adaptation, acceptability and adaptability to environmental and management conditions are important to an integrated and adaptive pasture and livestock production system.
Module content:
The development of rangeland management strategies integrating ecological and physiological principles with economic and sociological constraints to achieve desired objectives whilst ensuring sustainability in different vegetation types for both livestock and wildlife systems; range evaluation and monitoring techniques for rangeland health and to guide adaptive management; rangeland restoration/rehabilitation; interactions among herbivores, including integrated livestock/wildlife systems.
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