| CODE | RFS5004 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Crop Management and Health | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Rural Sciences and Food Systems | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This interdisciplinary study-unit seeks to provide knowledge on biology and ecology of plant crops and their pathogens, insect pests and weeds. The unit focuses on the principles of field crops cultivation, and abiotic/biotic factors that affect crop production. The study-unit will also deal with integrated crop management production (IPPM), and emphasizes pathogen, insect and weed identification and the knowledge of their life cycle in order to use the most suitable control strategies. This study-unit consists of the following topics: Field Crops. An introduction to the principles of field crops cultivation; a review of field crop cultivation in the Mediterranean Region; seasonal crop patterns and classification of field crops to include potatoes and tomatoes; agronomic aspects of field crop cultivation, land preparation, fertilisers, irrigation and pest control; visits to various farms growing different field crops at different stages. Protected Cropping and Fruit Production. Development of protected crop production. Establishing a greenhouse nursery; selection of greenhouses; mechanisation and buildings. Choice of cultivation media; soil sterilisation; use of organic materials and base fertilisers. Crop establishment and crop management. Protected production of tomatoes and cucumbers. A comprehensive introduction to Mediterranean fruit production. Anatomy, physiology, morphology and ecology of fruit trees. Citrus, stone fruits, grapevines and other fruit cultivated in the Maltese Islands. Propagation and Micropropagation. A comprehensive introduction to various forms of traditional propagation methods. Propagation by seed, bulbs, tubers, corms, rhizomes; propagation by division, runners or offsets, suckers or stolons, cuttings, layering and by grafting and budding. Programming of plant development in meristematic centres and cell totipotency. In vitro micropropagation; an overview of tissue culture techniques. Clonal propagation and influencing factors. Applications of tissue culture to aromatic and medicinal plants and in fruit production; factors affecting production of secondary metabolites in callus cultures. Fertilisers and Plant Water Relationships. Composition of straight and compound fertilisers; the application of fertilisers and crop responses; fertilisers requirements; fertiliser experimentation; NPK experiments and other types of fertiliser experiments. Plant water requirements; water stress and its effect on resistance to disease. Plant Pests and Diseases. A study of the plant pests and pathogenic diseases (viruses, bacteria, fungi and fungi-like organisms) of the main agricultural crops, their identification and economic importance. The biology and life cycles of the parasitic/pathogenic organisms and their effects on their hosts. Field studies. Crop Protection Strategies and Methods. An introduction to the study of pathogenic and parasitic organisms; epidemology. Economic damage caused by living organisms; the general theory of crop protection; physical, cultural, chemical, biological and genetic methods. Integrated Pest Management. Host, pathogen or parasite interactions; effects of pathogens on the physiological functions of the plant; parasitic adaptations; mechanisms of host resistance to attack. Study-unit Aims: The aim of this study-unit is to provide the student with a good understanding of the biotic and abiotic factors that affect the cultivation of crops. Crop production and quality is dependent on several factors including plant pests and diseases, weeds and abiotic stresses. The crop growth cycle and the corresponding pest/disease cycle/s will constitute the main topics of this unit. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - explain the requirements for good quality crop production. - determine how pathogenic bacteria, fungi, viruses and arthropods affect crop production. - distinguish the effects of abiotic factors on the dis/favouring of pests and diseases. - evaluate the interactions of pathogens, arthropods and weeds with crop plants. - explain the use of proper controls, biological/chemical, in integrated production. - evaluate the impact of harmful treatments on ecosystems beyond the target pest/disease. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - use acquired knowledge to find the best time of the year to cultivate crops and obtain a good quality produce. - recognize the most important plant pathogens, arthropod pests and weeds. - provide advice on the best conditions to harvest a particular crop in question. - diagnose plant disease and insect damage in field and laboratory. - provide advice on diagnostic techniques for pest and diseases. - devise a contingency plan in case of the accidental introduction of plant diseases, insects and weeds. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: Agrios, G.N. (2005) Plant Pathology, London: Academic Press. Razdan, M.K. (2003) Introduction to plant tissue culture. Science Publishers. Knauft, David.(2007) Principles of Field Crop Production. Elzinga R.J. (2004) Fundamentals of Applied Entomology, 6th Edition, Pearson Education Incorporated. Supplementary Readings: Pratley, J.E. (1992) Principles of Field Crop Production, University Press: Sydney. Radcliffe, Hutchison, Cancelado (2009) Integrated Pest Management: Concepts, Tactics, Strategies and Case Studies. Cambridge University Press. Mehrotra (2005) Plant Pathology, Tata McGraw-Hill Education. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Fieldwork | ||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | David Mifsud |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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