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CRP513

Plant Pest And Disease Management

This course introduces students to the principles of plant pest and disease management. It covers the definition, description, and concepts of pest and pest management, including methods of pest control. The course also delves into plant disease management, exploring various strategies for preventing and mitigating plant diseases. Students will gain an understanding of integrated pest management techniques and their application in crop protection.

About this course

Difficulty
Intermediate
Study hours
156 hours
Maths
Basic
Content
Theoretical, practical
Practical work
Yes
Before you start
  • Basic Biology
  • General Agriculture
How it is assessed
  • Assignments
  • Tutor Marked Assignments
  • Final Examination

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

CRP513 · Unit 1: Introduction to Pest Management and Population Dynamics (Concepts)

This is the amount of damage done to a crop that will financially justify the cost of taking artificial control measures, and will clearly vary from crop to crop according to its basic value, the actual market value at the time and other factors.

What you should be able to do

  1. Explain the concept of pest management and population dynamics.
  2. Identify and determine the damage status and threshold of a pest.
  3. Understand the different pest management strategies available.
  4. Explain how the disease pyramid influences disease spread.
  5. Deploy the concept of pest exclusion, eradication, resistance, and prevention.
  6. Understand the concept of Integrated Pest Management (Insect and disease).

What it prepares you for

Careers
  • Agronomist
  • Crop Protection Specialist
  • Plant Health Inspector
  • Agricultural Consultant
  • Extension Officer
Where it is applied
  • Agriculture
  • Horticulture
  • Forestry
  • Environmental Management
  • Research and Development
Tools
  • Microscopes
  • Soil Testing Kits
  • Pesticide Application Equipment

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

  • Module 2: Methods of Pest Control

    Unit 6: Chemical methods

    Understanding the specific chemical compositions and application techniques for various pesticides requires memorization and practical knowledge.

  • Module 3: Plant Disease Management

    Unit 1: Introduction to Plant Diseases

    Diagnosing plant diseases requires a thorough understanding of various pathogens, their life cycles, and the environmental factors that influence disease development.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 41 hours in total. Yours will differ.

  1. Week 1Module 1: Definition, Description, Concepts of Pest and Pest Management
    • Unit 1: Introduction to Pest Management and Population Dynamics (Concepts) · 2 hours

      Read Unit 1: Introduction to Pest Management and Population Dynamics (Concepts). Define key terms: pest, economic pest, economic damage, economic threshold.. Explain Economic Injury Level (EIL) and its formula.. Differentiate between major, minor, potential, and sporadic pests..

    • Unit 2: Pest Damage · 2 hours

      Read Unit 2: Pest Damage. Differentiate between direct and indirect damage with examples.. Distinguish between incidence and severity of insect pest infestation.. Describe the four frequency scales for population size assessment.. Differentiate between injury and damage.. Explain the concept of the damage assessment scale..

  2. Week 2Module 2: Methods of Pest Control
    • Unit 1: Introduction · 1 hour

      Read Unit 1: Introduction. List the factors considered in choosing control measures.. Classify control measures based on mode of action.. List and discuss five methods of pest control..

    • Unit 2: Legislative methods · 2 hours

      Read Unit 2: Legislative methods. Discuss the concept of quarantine/phytosanitation.. Explain why pest detection is critical for effective phytosanitation.. Discuss specialized tests used to detect insects, nematodes, and microbes.. Explain the quarantine regulations that guide cross-boundary introductions..

  3. Week 3Module 2: Methods of Pest Control
    • Unit 3: Physical Methods · 2 hours

      Read Unit 3: Physical Methods. Explain the mechanical method of insect pest management, giving examples.. Explain how temperature and gases can be used in insect pest control.. Describe the use of electromagnetic energy as insect pest deterrents..

  4. Week 4Module 2: Methods of Pest Control
    • Unit 4: Cultural control · 3 hours

      Read Unit 4: Cultural control. Explain cultural control measures: optimal growing conditions, photosynthetic efficiency, avoidance, time of sowing, deep sowing, time of harvesting, close season, deep ploughing, fallow, crop rotation, secondary hosts, weeds, trap crops, intercropping, and crop sanitation..

  5. Week 5Module 2: Methods of Pest Control
    • Unit 5: Biological control · 3 hours

      Read Unit 5: Biological control. Discuss natural control, predators, pathogens, sterilization, genetic manipulation, potential uses for pheromones in pest control, and insect population monitoring..

  6. Week 6Module 2: Methods of Pest Control
    • Unit 6: Chemical methods · 2 hours

      Read Unit 6: Chemical methods. Discuss chemical insecticides based on their mode of action.. Explain the post-application effects of synthetic insecticides..

  7. Week 7Module 2: Methods of Pest Control
    • Unit 7: Integrated pest management (IPM) · 2 hours

      Read Unit 7: Integrated pest management (IPM). Discuss the components of deploying an effective integrated pest management program..

  8. Week 8Module 3: Plant Disease Management
    • Unit 1: Introduction to Plant Diseases · 3 hours

      Read Unit 1: Introduction to Plant Diseases. Define disease, symptoms, signs, causal agents, inoculum, and factors affecting disease occurrence.. Discuss the effects of temperature, soil moisture, light intensity, oxygen supply, nutrient deficiencies, unfavorable soil pH, and pesticide toxicity on plant diseases.. Explain the importance of plant disease diagnosis and the basic steps in reaching a diagnosis.. Explain the Disease Triangle and Disease Pyramid in the establishment of a disease..

  9. Week 9Module 3: Plant Disease Management
    • Unit 2: Disease Management · 3 hours

      Read Unit 2: Disease Management. Explain the principles of disease management: exclusion, eradication, protection, and resistance.. Define key terms related to plant diseases..

  10. Week 10Module 1: Definition, Description, Concepts of Pest and Pest Management
    • Unit 1: Review of Module 1 · 4 hours

      Review Module 1. Revise all units in Module 1: Definition, Description, Concepts of Pest and Pest Management.

  11. Week 11Module 2: Methods of Pest Control
    • Unit 1: Review of Module 2 · 4 hours

      Review Module 2. Revise all units in Module 2: Methods of Pest Control.

  12. Week 12Module 3: Plant Disease Management
    • Unit 1: Review of Module 3 · 4 hours

      Review Module 3. Revise all units in Module 3: Plant Disease Management.

  13. Week 13Final Revision
    • Unit 1: Final Revision · 4 hours

      Complete all outstanding assignments and TMAs. Prepare for final examinations.

Preparing for the exam

What to do
  • Create detailed summaries of each pest and disease covered, focusing on their life cycle and control methods.
  • Develop flashcards for key terms such as 'economic threshold,' 'inoculum potential,' and 'systemic resistance.'
  • Practice identifying common pests and diseases from images and descriptions.
  • Review the different pest control methods (legislative, physical, cultural, biological, chemical) and their advantages/disadvantages.
  • Focus on understanding the Disease Triangle and Disease Pyramid and how they relate to disease management.
  • Work through past TMA questions to familiarize yourself with the exam format and question types.

Questions students ask about this course

What is CRP513 about?

This course introduces students to the principles of plant pest and disease management. It covers the definition, description, and concepts of pest and pest management, including methods of pest control. The course also delves into plant disease management, exploring various strategies for preventing and mitigating plant diseases. Students will gain an understanding of integrated pest management techniques and their application in crop protection.

How many units does CRP513 have?

CRP513, Plant Pest And Disease Management, has 11 units across 3 modules, over 70 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is CRP513?

CRP513 carries 3 credit units, at 500 level in Agricultural Sciences.

Is CRP513 hard?

CRP513 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and practical work, and it has a practical component.

How long does CRP513 take to study?

About 156 hours of study, spread across its 11 units.

How is CRP513 assessed?

CRP513 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments and Final Examination.

What do I need before starting CRP513?

Basic Biology General Agriculture

What can I do with CRP513?

Agronomist, Crop Protection Specialist, Plant Health Inspector, Agricultural Consultant and Extension Officer.

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