DEPARTMENT OF CROP SCIENCE

 UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA

REVISED UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC

PROGRAMME FOR B. AGRIC IN CROP SCIENCE
Revised Academic Programme of the Department of Crop Science

Brief History of the Department

The Cardoso College of Agriculture was established as an academic unit in the Faculty of Science when the University was founded in October 1960. It assumed a full faculty status in 1961 with Department of Plant /Soil Sciences as one of the six departments in the faculty.

In 1974, Department of Crop Science was carved out of the Department of Plant /Soil Sciences. Since then the Department of Crop Science has been offering a five-year B. Agric degree with three sub-disciplines (options); Crop Production, Crop protection and Horticulture

Philosophy

Crop Science is concerned with the selection, improvement and production of crops useful to man. It addresses the planting, maintenance, protection, harvesting, storage and aspects of post harvest handling of produce.

Objectives

  1. To equip the graduates with sufficient training and production technology that will enable them engage meaningfully in full-time crop production enterprise.
  2. To prepare the graduates with adequate knowledge and skill to work in Research and Development Institutions at both na tional and international levels.

Scope

The B. Agric (Crop Science) programme is designed to provide a broad practical and theoretical training in the basic agricultural sciences for the first three years. During the fourth year (farm year), practical training is provided in approved farms and agro-based establishments. During the fifth (final) year, the students are given intensive courses that will enable them graduate in any of the under-listed areas of specialization

Crop Production

Crop Protection

Horticulture

Entry Requirement

UME Entry Requirements

Candidates for admission to the Department must first satisfy the University entry

requirements. In addition, the UME entry requirements include ‘0’ Level credits in Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology or Agricultural Science.

Direct Entry Requirements

Candidates must have passed at the principal level in the Higher School Certificate

Examination or equivalent passes at the GCE Advanced Level in Chemistry and Biology (or Botany, Zoology or Agricultural Science).

Job Opportunities

Crop science is applied biological and physical sciences in the production of food and fibre-the foundation of civilization. Training in the Department provides job opportunities in various government and private agencies engaged in crop production as well as being self-employed. Graduates work as agricultural and biological scientists and also as research staff of agriculture-based institutions at both national and international levels, technical experts in agricultural farms, ADPs, River Basin Authorities, plantations, agro-chemicals industries and food control laboratories, etc. They can also serve as science teachers.

Job opportunities also exist in customs and quarantine services, agricultural department of financial institutions such as commercial banks and agricultural credit banks.

Stress Areas Code
Foundational Courses 0
General 1
Crop Production 2
Crop Protection 3
Horticulture 4
Crop Biotechnology 5
Seminar 6
Research Methodology 8
Project 9
  3

COURSE OUTLINE

FIRST YEAR

Course Code            Course Title                                                                     Unit

MAJOR COURSE

AGR 101                      Biomathematics                                                                                 2

REQUIRED ANCILLARY

CHM 101                    Basic Principles of Chemistry                                                             2

CHM 171                    Basic Practical Chemistry                                                                   2

BIO 151                      General Biology 1                                                                              3

MTH III                      General Mathematics                                                                          3

GENERAL STUDIES COURSES

GSP 101                     Communication in English I                                                                2

GSP 111                     Use of Library & study skills                                                              2

                                  Total                                                                                                     16­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

SECOND  SEMESTER             MAJOR COURSE

AGR 102                    Agric. Physics                                                                                      4

REQUIRED ANCILLARY

CHM 112                   Basic Principles of Chemistry II                                                          2

CHM 122                   Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry III                                          2

BIO 152                     General Biology II                                                                               3

BIO 153                      General Biology (Practical)                                                                 2

GENERAL STUDIES COURSES

GSP 102                      Communication in English II                                                              2

Total                                                                                                    15

SECOND YEAR 

FIRST SEMESTER

Course Code                          Course Title                                                                    Unit

 

MAJOR COURSES

CSC 211                     Principles of Forestry                                                                          2

CSC 221                     Crop Anatomy, Taxonomy & Physiology                                           2

 

REQUIRED ANCILLARY COURSES

AGR 201                    General Agriculture                                                                             3

COS 101                    Introduction to Computer Science                                                      2

SSC 211                     Principles of Soil Science                                                                     2

ANS 241                    Nutrition, Anatomy & Physiology of Farm Animals                           2

GENERAL STUDIES COURSES

GSP 201             Basic Concepts and theory of Peace                                                 2

GSP 207                        Humanities 1                                                                                        2

Total                                                                                                  17

SECOND SEMESTER

 MAJOR COURSE

CSC 222                     Principles of Crop Production                                                             2

REQUIRED ANCILLARY COURSES

FST 102                      Introduction to Food Science & Technology                                      2

AEC 202                    Principles of Agricultural Economics                                                  4

ANS 222                    Introduction to Agricultural Biochemistry                                          2

ANS 274                    Principles of Animal Production                                                          2

SSC 242                     Climatology and Biogeography                                                           3

ANS 272                    Introduction to Fisheries and Wildlife Management                           2

HND 102                   Introduction to Home Science, Nutrition & Dietetics                         2

GENERAL STUDIES COURSE

GSP 202                     Issues in Peace & conflict Resolution Studies                                    2

GSP 208                     Humanities II                                                                                       2

Total                                                                                                    23

 

THIRD YEAR

FIRST SEMESTER

 

Course Code                          Course Title                                                                    Unit

 

MAJOR COURSES

CSC 321                     Arable Crop Production                                                                      2

CSC 331                     Principles of Crop Protection                                                              2

REQUIRED ANCILLARY COURSES

COS 201                    Computer Programming I                                                                    2

AEC 301                    Basic Farm Management & Production Economics                            3

AEX 311                    Introduction to Agric. Extension & Rural Sociology                          2

ANS 371                    Non-ruminant Animal Production                                                       2

CED 341                    Introduction to Entrepreneurship I                                                      2

SSC 321                     Paedology                                                                                            2

Total                                                                                                    17

SECOND SEMESTER

MAJOR COURSES

CSC 322                    Crop Genetics and Breeding                                                               2

CSC 342                                                    Permanent Crop Production          2

REQUIRED ANCILLARY COURSES

AGR302                     Agricultural Statistics and Data Processing                                        2

AEX 312                    Extension Teaching Methods                                                              2

ANS 322                    Agricultural Biochemistry and Methods                                             2

ANS 332                    Animal Genetics and Breeding                                                            2

SSC  362                    Soil Chemistry and Microbiology                                                        2

ANS 372                    Ruminant Animal Production                                                              2

CED 342                    Introduction to Entrepreneurship II                                                    2

ABE 306                    Introduction to Farm Machinery                                                         2

Total                                                                                                   20

 

 FOURTH YEAR

FIRST SEMESTER  

Course Code                          Course Title                                                                     Unit

 

MAJOR COURSES

CSC 421            Crop Production Techniques                                            4

CSC 431          Crop Protection and Pest Control                                       2

REQUIRED ANCILLARY COURSES

AGR 401                                               Agricultural Products Storage          2

SSC 431                          Farm Design, Survey, & Land Use Planning          2

SSC 441                         Agric. Meteorology, Irrigation and Drainage          2

ANS 471                                              Animal Husbandry Techniques          3

Total           15

 

REQUIRED ANCILLARY COURSES  
AGR 402 Farm Work Project and Report Writing 6
AEX 412 Extension Practices 2
AEC 422 Farm Management and Accounting Practice 2
SSC 462 Soil Fertility, Soil and Water Management 2
ABE 412 Agricultural Engineering Practical 2
FVM 433 Animal Health and Management 2
    Total 16

 

SECOND SEMESTER  

FIFTH YEAR

CROP PRODUCTION OPTION FIRST SEMESTER

FIRST SEMESTER

 

Course Code                              Course Title                                                           Unit 

 

MAJOR COURSES

CSC 511                      Field Experimentation and Data Analysis                              2

CSC 521                      Field Crops                                                                             2

CSC 531                      Plant Protection                                                                                  2

CSC 541                      Vegetable Crops                                                                                 2

CSC 533                      Economic Entomology                                                           2

REQUIRED ANCILLARY COURSES

SSC 531                      Soil Survey and land Use Planning                                         2

SSC 541                      Soil Physics                                                                             2

SSC 561                      Soil Chemistry                                                                         2

SSC 562                      Soil and Plant Analysis                                                           2

Total                                                                                                  18

 

SECOND SEMESTER

MAJOR COURSES

CSC 512                      Plant Nutrition                                                                                    1

CSC 522                      Forage and Fodder Crops                                                       2

CSC 524                     Plant Breeding and Genetics                                                  2

CSC 534                     Weed Science                                                                                     2

CSC 542                      Plantation Crops                                                                     2

CSC 544                      Post harvest Physiology and Product Storage                        2

CSC 552                      Special Project                                                                        4

 

REQUIRED ANCILLARY COURSES

SSC 542                     Principles of Irrigation and Drainage                                      2

SSC 563                     Soil fertility                                                                             1

Total                                                   18

 

 

CROP PROTECTION OPTION

FIRST SEMESTER

 

Course Code                          Course Title                                                                      Unit

 

MAJOR COURSES

CSC 511          Field Experimentation and Data Analysis              2

CSC 521                     Field Crops                                                                                          2

CSC 531                     Plant Protection                                                                                   2

CSC 533                     Economic Entomology                                                                        2

CSC 541                     Vegetable Crops                                                                                  2

REQUIRED ANCILLARY COURSES

SSC 531                                         Soil Survey and land Use Planning          2

SSC 561                                                                         Soil Chemistry          2

SSC 563                                                           Soil and Plant Analysis          2

ANS 541                                                                              Soil Physic          2

 

Total            18

 

CSC    512 Plant Nutrition 1
CSC    522 Forage and Fodder Crops 2
CSC 524 Plant Breeding and Genetics 2
CSC 534 Weed Science 2
CSC 542 Plantation Crops 2
CSC 544 Post Harvest Physiology and Product Storage 2
CSC 592 Special Project 4

SECOND SEMESTER

MAJOR COURSES

 

REQUIRED ANCILLARY COURSES

SSC 542                     Principles of Irrigation and Drainage                                              2

SSC 563                     Soil Fertility                                                                                         1

Total                                                               18


HORTICULTURE OPTION

FIRST SEMESTER

 

Course Code                          Course Title                                                                      Unit

 

MAJOR COURSES

CSC 511          Field Experimentation and Data Analysis                                          2

CSC 531                     Field Crops                                                                                          2

CSC 541                     Vegetable                                                                                            2

CSC 543                     Plant Propagation                                                                                2

CSC 521                     Field Crops                                                                                          2

 

REQUIRED ANCILLARY COURSES

SSC 531                                         Soil Survey and land Use Planning          2

SSC 561                                                                         Soil Chemistry          2

SSC 541                                                                             Soil Physics          2

SSC 562                                                              Soil & Plant Analysis          2

 

Total            18

 

CSC    512 Plant Nutrition 1
CSC    522 Forage and Fodder Crops 2
CSC 524 Plant Breeding and Genetics 2
CSC 534 Weed Science 2
CSC 542 Plantation Crops 2
CSC 544 Post Harvest Physiology and Product Storage 2
CSC 592 Special Project 4

SECOND SEMESTER

MAJOR COURSES

REQUIRED ANCILLARY COURSES

SSC 542                     Principles of Irrigation and Drainage                                         2

SSC 563                     Soil fertility                                                                                         1

Total                                                           18
COURSE DESCRIPTION

 CSC 211- Principles of Forestry

Renewable natural resources-availability, distribution and potential. The important forest trees and wildlife (with emphasis on Nigerian species) Classification, morphology and distribution of important forestry trees. Forest and game reserves in Nigeria. Silviculture a forestation characteristics of major timber and their uses. Felling and log transportation.

CSC 221- Crop Anatomy, Taxonomy & Physiology                                                                                (2 unit)

Origin and introduction to the taxonomy of cultivated plants with particular references to tropical crops. Cell biology. Pollination, seed dormancy and seed germination. Morphology and reproduction of important tropical crops. Quantitative aspects of plant crop growth. Nutritional and environmental influences on crop growth, development and yield. Regulation of growth and development, biosynthesis, storage and mobilization of harvest able reserves in crops.

CSC 222 – Principles of Crop Production                                                                                                    ( 2 units)

Fundamental principles and problems of crop production. The importance of crop rotation, cultural practices, water and soil conservation, irrigation and drainage. Maintenance of soil fertility. Pests, diseases and weed control in crop production. Principles and methods of crop harvesting; crop processing and storage. Specific cultural requirements and practices in the production of field, forage and plantation crops.

CSC 321- Arable Crop Production                                                                                                                   (2 units)

Origin, distribution, soil and climatic requirements of cereals, legumes, root crops, fibre crops, vegetables and other important annual crops in Nigeria. Improved varieties. Production practices, harvesting, utilization, processing, storage and economic aspects of some selected arable crops.

CSC 331 – Principles of Crop Protection                                                                                                       (2 units)

Concept of disease in agriculture caused by micro-organisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Economic importance of crop disease. Classification and identification of pathogenic fungi, bacteria and viruses. Symptoms and methods of disease control – chemical, cultural and biological. Definition of pest. Insect pest and Nematodes. Introduction of arthropods in agriculture, their biology, classification and economic importance. Methods of manipulation of arthropod in agricultural production. Effects of weeds and the principles and methods of weed control. Introduction to parasitism and parasitic organisms in agriculture. Biology, ecology, classification, identification and control methods of agricultural parasites.

CSC 322 – Crop Genetics and Breeding                                                                                                   (2 units)

Definition and historical development of the science of genetics, cell structure and components; chromosomes, structure, number and variations, linkage and crossing-over, mutation and genes in population. Multiple alleles, mitosis and meiosis. Principles of mendelian genetics. Theory of evolution. Gene actions and interactions. Qualitative inheritance, linkage and cytoplasmic inheritance. Objectives and general principles of crop breeding. Breeding methods for crop improvement. Selection methods in in-breeders and out-breeders; compatibility, male sterility, Heterosis. Polyploidy in crop breeding development, multiplication and distribution of improved varieties.

CSC 342 – Permanent Crop Production                                                                                              (2 units)

Origin, distribution, soil and climatic requirements of some important permanent crops such as cocoa, oil palm, rubber, coffee, coconut, mango, sugar cane, banana, plantains, citrus, kola, cashew, etc. Production practices, improvement, harvesting, utilization, processing, storage and economic aspects of some selected permanent and perennial crops.

CSC 421 Crop Production Techniques                                                                           (4 units)

Crop to be covered are legumes, cereals, root, tubers and horticultural crops.

Layout of plots, nursery bed construction; ridge, mound construction with hoes. Direct planting, rice nursery management and transplanting. Manures, fertilization, weeding, use and care of spray equipment. Cut, thresh and mill rice. Dig up yam, cassava, and sweet potato. Pick, thresh and dry cowpeas, soybeans and maize. Estimation of yield of grains and cereals, dry matter content (cassava, yam); starch (yam, cassava); protein (cowpea, soybeans). Oil content (soybean, maize, groundnut). Field management of vegetable gardens, fruit trees and plantation crops. Harvesting and handling of produce.

CSC 431- Crop Protection and Pest Control                                             (2 units)

Field identification of crop diseases and pests. Collection and classification of crop pathogens and pests control techniques -chemical, cultural, biological etc.

CSC 511- Field Experimentation and Data Analysis                                 (2 units)

Design and management of experiments with crops. Randomized block, factorial and split plot designs; confounding; simple linear regressions. Data processing from commonly used design and data interpretation.

CSC 521- Field Crop            (2 units)

Classification of cereals and legumes. Centre of origin, history and importance, climatic and soil requirements, rotation and cropping sequences. Cultural operations: planting, management, harvesting, handling and storage of major cereals and legumes including rice, maize, guinea com, millet, cowpea and groundnuts. Pests and diseases of the various cereals and legumes and their control.

Classification of roots and tubers. Centre of origin, history and importance, climatic and soil requirements, rotation, management, harvesting, handling and storage of major roots and tubers including cassava, cocoyams, Irish potato and sweet potato. Pests and diseases of the various roots and tubers and their controls.

Classification of oil, drug and fibre crops. Centre of Origin, history and importance, climatic and soil requirements, rotation and cropping sequences.

Cultural operations: planting, management, harvesting, handling and storage of major oil, drug and fibre crops including cotton, jute, kenaf and tobacco. Pests and diseases of the various oil, drug and fibre crops and their control.

CSC 531 Plant Protection                                                                                       (2 units)

The concept and importance of crop protection against diseases. General classification of diseases causal organisms and types of plant diseases. Principles of disease control including eradication, protection, exclusion and immunization.

Pest: General introduction to major plant pests including insect, nematodes, birds, rodents, etc. Pests of major importance in Nigerian agriculture, survey of pest control techniques.

Weed: Economic importance of weeds in tropical crop production. General and specific effects of weeds on crops. Weed biology. Methods of weed control.

CSC 533 Economic Entomology                                                                              (2 units)

General classification of insects of economic importance. Life cycle and food habits of insects as basis of control measures. Problems of insect on growing crops and in storage. Insects as vectors of certain viral, bacterial and fungal diseases. Methods of insect pest control. Use of insecticides. Method of insecticide application and handling of insecticides phytotoxicity and mammalian toxicity of insecticides. Economic considerations.

CSC 551- General Principles of Biotechnology                                                         (2 units)

Definition and historical development of Biotechnology in developed and developing countries. Introduction of Molecules Biology of Plant and Organization of Genes. Tools used in Biotechnology: Cell and Tissue Culture Techniques, Media, Aseptic Manipulation and Micro propagation. Germplasm Conservation (invitro). Field gene banks. Gene transfer-Agrobacteruim fumefaciens- mediated gene transfer, plant viruses as gene vectors, protoplast isolation and fusion- gene transfer. Application of Biotechnology: Biopharming, Artificial seed production, Diagnostics and control of diseases and pests, Remediation, Bio fertilization, Bio pesticides, Phytostimulation etc. Bioethics and Regulatory laws of Bio safety. Intellectual Property rights.

CSC 561- Seminar                                                                                                          (2unit)

Each final year student in the Department of Crop Science is required to prepare and present a paper on any relevant topical issue in Crop Science. The student is expected to do an exhaustive literature review in the chosen topic which must be approved by his academic adviser.

CSC 512 – Plant Nutrition                                                                                                      (2 units)

The nutrient requirements of crops; influence of soil conditions and cation relationships on nutrient availability and uptake, movement and utilization of the major and micro-nutrients by crops; manures; fertilizers and limes; nutrients deficiency symptoms in crops and their remedies. Crop responses to nutrient application. The role of legumes. Plant sampling and sample preparation. Analysis of plant samples for major elements and the interpretation of data.

CSC 524 – Plant Breeding and Genetics (Including Seed Production)                    (2 units)

Genetic principles as basis of plant breeding. Survey of objectives, method and techniques of plant breeding. Germplasm bank. Reproductive systems in plants and their role in plant breeding. Application of breeding methods to the improvement of self pollinated, cross-pollinated, and sexually reproduced crops. Development, maintenance of breeding stock, multiplication and distribution of improved crop varieties. Breeding for pest and disease control.

CSC 534 – Weed Science                                                                                                   (2 units)

Biology of weeds. Principles and methods of weed control. Classification, chemistry, selectivity, formulation, application and mode of action of herbicides. Herbicide -environment interaction. Safety factors in the use of herbicides.

CSC 541- Vegetable Crops                                                                                                 (2 units)

Origin and classification of vegetable crops. Vegetable seeds structure and functions of parts; seed viability, vigour, dormancy and methods of breaking seed dormancy. Types of vegetable growing. Factors affecting vegetable growing and distribution. Land preparation and including a survey of tools and types of seed beds. Nursery practices. Manures, fertilizer and pesticides in use in vegetable production. Other cultural operations for tropical and adapted temperate vegetable crops. Vegetable seed production. Harvesting, processing and storage of vegetable crops. Crop rotation in vegetable growing.

CSC 543 – Plant Propagation                                                                                             (2 units)

Sexual propagation: Media for seed propagation. Seed germination requirements.

Seed storage and longevity. Seed certification and quality control – quarantine regulations.

Vegetable propagation: Anatomical and physiological aspects of grafting and rooting. Clones, sports and chimera; root-stock and scion interactions. Role of the environment on vegetative propagation. Growth regulators in plant propagation. Budwood certification and maintenance of clonal gardens.

CSC 542 – Plantation Crops                                                                                                (2 units)

Origin, distribution and importance of tropical plantation crops. Climatic and soil requirements, cultural operations; methods of propagation, nursery practices, plantation managements, harvesting, processing and storage of major plantation crops including oil palm, rubber, cocoa, coffee, kola, cashew, banana/plantains, sugar cane, tea and sisal hemp.

CSC 544 – Post Harvest Physiology and Product Storage                                        (2 units)

Storage life of harvested fruits, vegetable and flowers. Tropical environment in relation to maturity, ripeness and senescence including climacteric. Physical and chemical indices and quality in fruit and vegetable crops. Controlled environment for transit and long term storage.

CSC 572 – Special Project                                                                                                       (4 units)

Each final year student intending to graduate in the Department of Crop Science is required to give a seminar and submit an acceptable project report on a problem selected with the guidance of an academic staff in the relevant field of his interest. The topic is to be approved by the departmental academic board and investigated under the supervision of the academic staff in his chosen area of specialization.