CATALOGUE  OF  STUDY  UNITS
 

CROP PROTECTION SCIENCE (6 credits)
 

AGR5007	Plant Protection Strategies & Methods	2	Dr A. Vella
AGR5008	Plant Pests and Diseases	2	Dr A. Vella
AGR5009	Pesticides and Agrochemicals	2	Dr A. Vella     Dr. E. Attard

 

ANIMAL HEALTH SCIENCE (6 credits)
 

AGR5013	Animal Hygiene, Helminthology and Entomology	2	Dr T. Zammit
AGR5014	Cattle, Sheep and Goat Diseases	2	Dr T. Zammit Dr. M. Buttigieg
AGR5015	Swine, Poultry and Horse Diseases	2	Dr T. Zammit  Dr J. Mallia

 

AROMATIC AND MEDICINAL PLANTS (4 credits)
 

AGR5010	Propagation and Micropropagation	2	Dr. M. Gatt
AGR5011	Maltese Aromatic & Medicinal Plants	2	Dr. E. Attard

 

 PLANT NUTRITION (4 credits)
 

AGR5023	Principles of Plant Nutrition	2	Dr. E. Attard
AGR5006	Fertilisers & Plant Water Relationships	2	Ms. S. Sammut Ing. M. Grech

  
 
  ANIMAL NUTRITION (4 credits)
 

AGR5005

Animal Nutrition

4

Dr. G. Attard

 

CREDIT DESCRIPTION
 
AGR5005  Principles of Plant Nutrition

2 credits

A comprehensive introduction to the study of plant nutrients, their   availability and the mineral content of plants; Nitrogen, Sulphur, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium as major plant nutrients.  The role of minor elements iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum and boron in plant nutrition.  Non-essential plant nutrients and elements with toxic effects.

Mengel, K. and Kirkby, E.A.(1990)
Principles of Plant Nutrition, Bern, Switzerland: International Potash Institute.
 
Test
E. Attard
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AGR5006  Fertilisers and Plant Water Relationships    2 credits

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.

assignment
S. Sammut/ M. Grech
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AGR5007  Plant Protection Strategies and Methods 

2 credits

An introduction to the study of pathogenic and parasitic organisms; epidemiology.  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.
Smith, E.H. and Oimentel, D. (1988)

Pest Control Strategies, London: Academic Press.
Wheeler, H. (1975)
Plant Pathogenesis, Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
Flint, M.L. and Van Den Bosch, R. (1983)
Introduction to Integrated Pest Management, Penum Press.

Assignment
A. Vella
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AGR5008  Plant Pests and Diseases                 

2 credits

A study of the pests and diseases 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.

Agrios, G.N. (1988)
Plant Pathology, London: Academic Press.
Pfadt, R.E. (1971)
Fundamentals of Applied Entomology, London: Macmillan.
Davies, R.G. (1988)
Outlines of Entomology, New York: Chapman and Hall.
Smith I.M.,Dunez J.,Lelliott R.A.,Phillips D.H. & Archer S.A. (1988)
European Handbook of Plant Diseases, Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications.
Whitney, P.J. (1976)
Microbial Plant Pathology, Hutchinson.

Test
A. Vella
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AGR5009  Pesticides and Agrochemicals   

2 credits

A brief practical introduction to the study of pesticides and other Agrochemicals.  Formulations of pesticides and agrochemicals; their chemistry and general properties.  Effects of pesticides and other  agrochemicals on the environment.
Hassall, K.A. (1982)
The Chemistry of Pesticides, Verlag Chemie.
Matthew, G.A. (1992)
Pesticide Application Methods, New York: Longman Scientific & Technical.
Watson, D.L. and Brown, A.W. (1977)
Pesticide Management and Scientific Resistance, London: Academic Press.
Gruzdyev, G.S. (1977)
Biochemical Insect Control, John Wiley & Sons.
Green, M.B. (1987)
Chemicals for Crop Improvement and Pest Management, Pergamon Press.
Scnoor, J.L. (1991)
Fate of Pesticides and Chemicals in the Environment, John Wiley & Sons.
Agrochemicals Handbook (1991) London: Royal Society of Chemistry.

Test
A. Vella/E. Attard
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AGR5010  Propagation and Micropropagation  

2 credits

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.

Dodds, J.H. and Roberts, L.W. (1985)
Experiments in Plant Tissue Culture, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kyte, L. (1987)
Plants from Test Tubes, An Introduction to Micropropagation,
Bajaj, Y.P.S. (1988)(1993)
Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry, Vols I -V, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Berlin: Springer Verlag.

Test
M. Gatt
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AGR5011  Maltese Aromatic and Medicinal Plants 

2 credits

The cultivation and therapeutic value of Maltese aromatic and medicinal plants which have a commercial potential including Aloe, Borage, Chamomile, Castor Bean, Ivy, Melissa, Pennyroyal,  Rosemary, Sage, Spakkapjetra, Squill, Verbena and Squirting Cucumber. A brief introduction to  poisonous plants found in Malta.

Assignment
E. Attard
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AGR5013   Animal Hygiene, Helminthology & Entomology

2 credits

Fundamentals of farm animal environmental requirements including the essential criteria for good health, the basic housing types and the importance of farm construction in disease prevention and in control of vermin and waste management.  Milking hygiene and the types of milking machines and methods of cleaning and disinfection.  A broad classification of ecto- and endo-parasites; methods of control and prophylaxis in food animals and pet species.

Sainsbury, D. and Sainsbury, P. (1979)
Livestock Health and Housing, London: Baillere Tindall.

Test
T. Zammit
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AGR5014  Cattle, sheep and Goat Diseases  

2 credits

A brief study of the comparative anatomy and physiology of farm animals with special emphasis on the functioning of the ruminant digestive system and the physiology of milk production.  The principles of treatment and prevention of reproductive diseases in ruminants, including hormone and antibiotic therapeutic methods.  Basic knowledge of the more common bacterial, viral and metabolic diseases, their treatment and prevention.

Howard, J.L. (1986)
Current Veterinary Therapy, London: W.B.Saunders.
The Merck Veterinary Manual sixth edition (!986)
Rahway, N.J., USA: Merck & Co, Inc.

Assignment
T. Zammit/M. Buttigieg
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AGR5015  Swine, Poultry and Horse Diseases  

2 credits

A brief study of the comparative anatomy and physiology of pigs, poultry, horses and pets.  The principles of treatment and prevention of reproductive diseases including hormone and antibiotic therapeutic methods.  Basic knowledge of the more common bacterial, viral and metabolic diseases, their treatment and prevention.

Howard, J.L. (1986)
Current Veterinary Therapy, London: W.B.Saunders.
The Merck Veterinary Manual sixth edition (!986)
Rahway, N.J., USA: Merck & Co, Inc.

Assignment
T. Zammit/J. Mallia
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AGR5023 Animal Nutrition      4 credits

Application of the principles of nutrition and digestion to the development of diets and feeding programmes for various species of animals of agricultural importance; composition of animal feeds, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and growth promoting substances.

Church, D.C. (1986)
Livestock Feeds and Feeding, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey:Prentice-Hall,Inc.
Swenson, M.J. and Reece, W.O. (1993)
Duke's Physiology of Domestic Animals, Ithaca: Comstock Publishing Associates.

Test & Assignment
G. Attard
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