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Unit of study_
BIOL3019: Plant Protection
2025 unit information
Plants are fundamentally important to human food, fibre and energy requirements, but global productivity is reduced by an estimated 40% by pest (disease, insect and weed) pressures. The impact of these production losses is increasing as demand grows for greater food, fibre and energy production. This unit on Plant Protection focuses on the development and adoption of integrated crop management processes to control plant pathogens, insects and weeds. The advantages and disadvantages of biological, cultural, physical and chemical control methods are explored using examples from agro-ecosystems. You will develop a comparative case study of integrated pest management (IPM) for a particular crop that considers all three pest groups and present a seminar about this case study. You will learn the principles of healthy plant production, the ecology of diseases, insects and weeds and integrated approaches to manage these pests. Completing this unit of study will provide you with the skills required to identify important pest management issues and critically assess requirements for optimum intervention plans.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Science
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
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6 credit points of BIOL2X23 or BIOL2X30 or BIOL2X31 or AGEN2001 or AGEN2005 |
|---|---|
|
Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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PPAT3003 |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. explain the rationale for, and key concepts in, plant protection
- LO2. assess the cost, and extent, of pest, disease and weed impact on plant production
- LO3. identify key weed, disease and pest agents
- LO4. analyse the developmental pathways for weed, disease and pest agents
- LO5. assess the importance of integrated methodologies for weed, disease and pest management in cropping systems
- LO6. develop and articulate weed, disease and pest management options that will minimise impact on plant productivity and production profit
Unit availability
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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