The module covers the following; cell biology; plant growth and development; seed,  dormancy and germination, plant growth regulators, Plant water relations; photoperiodism and vernalization; Photosynthesis – the ecological significance of photosynthesis in primary production of organic molecules, the Light Reaction, The Calvin Cycle, C3/C4 photosynthesis, CAM photosynthesis.  

The module will provide students with fundamental knowledge of biochemistry and specific knowledge of compounds and biochemical pathways that occur in plants. The student will be able to describe the structure and chemical and physical properties of amino acids, sugars, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Explain the relationship between structure and function of macromolecules including proteins, enzymes, carbohydrates, and lipids. Perform calculations related to enzyme kinetics, protein-ligand binding, energetics of solute transport, and oxidation-reduction reactions. Outline pathways of intermediary metabolism, C3 and C4 photosynthesis, photorespiration, photophosphorylation, cell wall biosynthesis, nitrate and sulfate assimilation, and plant secondary metabolism. Explain Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics. Explain the principles of liquid chromatography and electrophoresis and apply various techniques to the purification and characterization of proteins. Explain how light energy is captured and converted to chemical forms of energy. Explain the chemi-osmotic theory including its structural and thermodynamic requirements. Design experiments using techniques of genetics and biochemistry to address questions about the structure and function of biomolecules, metabolic pathways, and cellular processes.

Characteristics of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and a range of micro-organisms viz. Bacteria, Fungi, Viruses, Viroid’s and Protozoa; their classification, morphology, nutrition, growth, replication and metabolism; Micro-organisms as agents of diseases (pathogens), use of micro-organisms in industrial microbiology (cheese, beer and wine making) and in silage making; Immunology; techniques of isolating and identifying micro-organisms; Microscopy.

Introduction to statistics: definition, uses of statistics in research, business, tourism and agriculture; Probability: multiplicative law, addition law, conditional probability, tree diagram, law of total probability; Probability distributions: random variables, discrete, continuous, binomial distribution, normal distribution; Measures of central tendency and dispersion: mean, median, mode, range, variance, standard deviation, standard error of the mean. Sampling technique: simple random, stratified, cluster, systematic; Data types, presentation and summarization techniques; tables, graphs, charts; Regression and correlation: regression parameters, correlation coefficient, coefficient of determination; Simple statistical inference: hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, t-tests, chi-square tests and one-way ANOVA.

HCS135 Introduction to Information Technology 

This module is aimed at assisting students to achieve full academic potential through equipping them with the necessary communication and computer skills essential for their degree program.    

AGPR131 Agricultural Practice 1

The module provides hands-on learning to students, to compliment theoretical modules on agricultural production. Farm (University farm) orientation; Poultry, Dairy & Pig production, Cattle identification and detention, Soil sampling, Crops planting and fertilizing, Plant population and yield estimation, Introduction to vegetable production, Irrigation scheduling, Blood samples and smears, administering veterinary drugs, surveying in agriculture, Farm week practicals (all semesters).

AGPR132 Agricultural Practice II 

This module is part II of the Agricultural practice module. Pig production and Dairying of University cattle, Control of internal parasites in livestock; Use & calibration of spraying equipment; Ox harness & ox-drawn ploughing; Tractor handling & ploughing/ contour construction; Soil coding; Vegetation coding in rangeland management; Farm budgets and Agric financing; Castration and dehorning, Game farming – farm visit; Field visits (research station/Large scale/small scale farming areas)

Position of insects in the world: reproductive capacity, beneficial and injurious insects. Insect external anatomy: the exoskeleton, ecydysis.  Internal anatomy and physiology: The nervous system-sight, sound and vibration detection, chemical communication (pheromones), the digestive system, locomotion, insect reproduction, metamorphosis; Insect classification, life cycles, population ecology, population monitoring and economic decision making; Mites, ticks and spiders; Nematodes-morphology, classification, reproduction and economic importance.

HORT133 Introduction to Horticulture 

Definition, characteristics and importance of horticulture; branches of horticulture (pomology, olericulture, landscape horticulture, viticulture, ornamental horticulture); methods of propagating horticultural crops, Environmental factors affecting horticultural production at different phonological stages; Types and uses of controlled environments in horticultural production (manipulation of the plant environment); Pruning and training of horticultural crops; Harvesting, post-harvest handling and storage.

Cell division: mitosis and meiosis; nucleic acids, replication and protein synthesis.  Mendelian principles: segregation and independent assortment. Environmental effects and gene expression.  Gene interaction and lethality; sex determination and sex linkage.  Gene mutation and induced genetic change (biotechnology). Gene structure and regulation.  Population genetics, genetic biodiversity of agriculturally important plants and animals and conservation of genetic resources.

Soil formation: Parent material characteristics; Influence of factors of soil formation. Physical properties of soils: soil separates and soil textural classes, inter-particle forces, flocculation and dispersion, and soil structure. Mineralogy of soils: particle mineralogy and its effects on physical and chemical properties (1:1, 2:1 and 2:2 phyllosilicates, Fe oxides), crystalline and amorphous clay colloids, origin and magnitude of permanent and pH-dependent charge, soil water relations; soil air and temperature; soil organic matter. Soil chemical environment: ion adsorption and exchange, ion exchange capacities, base cations, exchangeable aluminium, hydroxy aluminium. Soil microbiology and biochemistry:  Plant mineral nutrition; cycles; movement, and uptake by plants; soil pH; Soil classification, land capability classification; soil management; management of saline and sodic soil.

AGED131 Introduction to Agricultural Economics

Economic systems and organisation, theory of supply and demand, market equilibrium and nature of markets. Micro – economics. Macro – economics. The consumption, investment and savings functions. The international economy. Monetary and fiscal policies. Employment and growth policies. The role of the agricultural industry in the national economy.

AGHORT133 Seed Biology

Flowering in angiosperms and gymnosperms; Plant meristems;  Floral induction and initiation in Plants; Pollination and Fertilisation; Apomixes; Seed formation and development; somatic embryogenesis, artificial seed; Seed maturation, chemical composition of seeds, seed structure, seed germination and the physiological factors affecting germination; seed dormancy. Seed Agronomy. 

Measurement of Crop Growth – Growth analysis, parameters of size, efficiency and duration of the photosynthetic system, advantages and limitations of growth analysis; Gas analysis, Infra-red gas analyser, calibration for use in the absolute and differential modes, different ways of setting up the INRGA for measuring CO2 exchange, advantages and limitations of gas analysis, canopy analysers; The radiant environment and the crop; total radiation, the light spectrum, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), factors that affect radiation receipts on the earth’s surface, radiation interception by plant leaves and canopies, extinction coefficient (k) of canopies; Efficiency, size and duration of the photosynthetic system and factors that affect them. Management of factors that affect the efficiency, size and duration of the photosynthetic system (choice of crops and varieties, planting date, planting populations and patterns, fertilizer/manure application, irrigation and pest and disease control) to maximize economic yield.  Growth stages of important crops in Zimbabwe (maize, wheat, soybean and cotton) and effect of stress on growth and dry matter partitioning to economic yield.  Plant adaptation to water and temperature stress.     

Data collection: populations and random sampling; Introduction to experimental designs, data analysis and interpretation; statistical methods related to variances; Statistical methods related to comparison of means;  Experimental designs and layout (randomized complete block designs, split plots, factorial, Latin squares);  Analysis of variance for one factor, two factor experiments and multi-factor experiments; Multiple comparison of means; Partitioning of sum of squares, transformations;  Analysis of covariance; Repeated measures analysis; Regression, Correlation Multi-variate regression; Tests for goodness of fit and independence;  Data entry, analysis and interpretation using statistical packages (MINITAB, GENSTAT, SAS) for all designs: Regression and Correlation.

This module covers issues to deal with the structure, physiology, reproduction and classification of bacteria and other procaryotes, fungi, viruses, parasitic higher plants and their role as plant pathogens; Concepts of Disease epidemiology, Disease Cycle; Mechanisms of infection; Plant defence mechanisms against pathogens; Physiological or Abiotic Diseases to plants; Plant Disease management – cultural, chemical, preventative within the concept of integrated disease management. Lifecycles and management of key crop diseases

AGRO234 Weed Science and Management

The module covers the evolution of weeds, adaptations of weeds as pests of disturbed areas, seed production, dormancy, germination, seed bank, weed interference, allelopathy and methods to study allelopathy, vegetative propagation mechanisms, and weed dispersal. Weed management tactics: manual, cultural, legislative, biological weed control, chemical. classification of herbicides, herbicide selectivity, soil-applied herbicides, foliar-applied herbicides, herbicide application.

This module covers important pests of crops, biology and ecology, life cycles, population ecology, population monitoring and economic decision making, monitoring and pest risk assessments, pest management strategies- cultural, physical, biological, IPM, surveillance, quarantine, botanicals, pheromones, insect growth regulators, plant resistance and genetic modifications of plants or insects. 

Factors controlling growth of plants; Elements involved in plant nutrition and their sources; Soil organic matter and plant nutrient availability; Factors controlling various nutrient availabilities in soils; Soil plant relations affecting nutrient up-take and growth; Nutrient use efficiency; Types of fertilizers (mineral versus organic) and their use; Compost manure making; Biological Nitrogen Fixation; Agro-forestry; Soil fertility management in crop production; Conditions and processes of plant nutrient uptake, distribution and assimilation; Nutrient requirements of various crops; Design of fertilizer trials; Survey of fertilizer usage; Research findings on important soils and crops

Definition and origin, domestication and classification of cultivated plants; factors that affect crop productivity; crop water requirements & efficiency, water-logging and effects on crop growth. Zimbabwe’s agro=ecological zones, rainfall type, pattern, length and quality, crops or crop varieties selection. Land capability and suitability. Crop establishment, methods of planting and planting time.  Plant competition Cropping systems and patterns; Biological nitrogen fixation, crop yield function; quality of crop products; Tillage methods; Principles of Irrigation, types of irrigations, drainage, scheduling; importance of plant breeding in crop production; Grain Storage; Agricultural Pollution.

AGHORT240 Varietal Evaluation, Release and Seed Certification

Importance of varietal evaluation; Relationship of varietal evaluation with selection.  Analysis of multi-location variety data; the role of genotype x environment interaction in selection. Varietal release regulations and processes.

Brief history, Objectives. Certification authority. Manpower requirements. Elements of Sound Seed Certification programme. Minimum certification standards. Field inspection. Pre and Post-harvest control (varietal purity, seed borne disease). Seed quality tests in the laboratory. Summary of certification scheme. Certification of blends, phytosanitary certification. 

AGHORT239 Seed Production, Processing and Handling

The seed industry and its developmental stages. Seed production systems.  Essential requisites of a seed Programme.  Agronomic and climatic aspects of Seed reproduction.  Determinants of seeds quality.  Seed multiplication.  Production of seed for the farmer, contract seed production.  Harvesting and drying.  Seed processing certification.  Seed legislation, seed marketing, Field Inspection, test for cultivar authenticity. Transportation, Seed processing Principles, Pre-cleaning and conditioning.  Basic cleaning Dimensional sizing.  Specific gravity separation.  Surface texture separation.  Air separators.  Electronic separators.  Miscellaneous cleaning equipment.  Commercial seed treatments.  Seed handling.  Accessories.  Design and layout of the processing plant.

AGHORT241 Seed Testing and Storage

Types of seeds. Seed sampling, physical purity, moisture, germination and seed vigour analysis. Seed moisture relationships and storage.  Life span of seeds.  Seed deterioration.  Possible causes of seed deterioration.  Seed storage, purposes and precepts.  Storage pests; storage pathogens.  Types of storage.  Conditioned storage.  Seed packaging.

AGHORT238 Fundamentals of Seed Health and Quarantine

Concept of seed-borne mycoflora. Seed pests. Plant diseases caused by seed-borne pathogens.  Seed diseases of major tropical crops.  Transmission of seed disease agents.  Mode of infection by seed-borne inoculum.  Micro-climate and seed disease development.  General morphology and taxonomy of seed-borne fungi, bacteria, nematode and viruses.  Principles and methods of seed health testing.  Modern techniques for detection of seed-borne inoculum.  Ecological aspects of seed health testing.  Survey of seed diseases, seed-borne diseases and causal agents with reference to taxonomic distinctions. Seed health, mycotoxins and human health.  Control of field and storage pests and diseases of seeds.  Integrated pest management approach to seed disease control.  Seed health and quarantine programmes.

Work-Related Learning (WRL) for at least 8 months of the third year is a prerequisite for registration for fourth-year modules.  The purpose of WRL is to make students relate theory to practice in real work situations, facilitate students to acquire world of work experience and skills, facilitate career choices by students and help students to identify entrepreneurial and business opportunities, among others. WRL is assessed as two components viz. continuous assessment and WRL report. The continuous assessment component consists of at least two assessment reports by academic staff that visit the students during WRL plus a workplace supervisor’s report.  The Work-Related Preliminary (WRP) and WRL reports are comprehensive and critical analysis of the activities, processes and outputs of the organization to which the student was attached and the drawing of lessons learnt from the WRL experiences.   The student is required to identify a specific problem in systems, processes and/or in the organization to which they are seconded, analyse the problem and solutions.   Credit will be given to reports that show critical thinking and comprehensive analysis of the problem identified during WRL.

The rationale behind offering this module is to prepare students in areas of quality proposal and dissertation scientific writing, conducting of research, data collection, analysis, interpretation, verbal results presentation and publication. The primary objective of this module is to give students an opportunity to engage in an independent study, with limited supervision and guidance. The dissertation shall focus on one of the following areas weed, insect pest, pathology and nematology issues,

This module presents an overview of the techniques and underlying theory of molecular biology, plant tissue culture and genetic engineering, understanding of traditional and molecular assisted plant breeding; molecular markers, genomics, gene transfer systems, including case studies and regulatory and ethical issues; cell & molecular understandings of plant processes important in horticulture, agriculture and forestryresearch and commercial applications, and issues/challenges in the area of plant biotechnology. It introduces students to the principles, practices and application of plant tissue culture and transformation in science, agriculture and industry. It gives students hands-on experience and training in plant tissue culture and genetic engineering techniques. It exposes students to issues and challenges encountered in the area of molecular biology and plant biotechnology. It acquaints students with experimental design and analysis of plant biotechnology experiments.

AGRO450 Annual Food Crop Production 

The module covers classification, adaptation and agronomy of selected annual field crops grown for food. Classification, importance, growth and development of selected groups of annual food crops.  Regional and national potential; limitations to production; Agronomy: cultivar selection, land preparation, planting, weed, pest and disease management, irrigation, harvesting and post-harvest handling of cereal grain, legume grain; plantain; root and tuber crops. 

AGRO451 Industrial and Cash Crop Production 

The module highlights the economic importance, agronomy and marketing of cash and industrial crops; Regional potential and limitations to production; Economic importance; Agronomy of cash and industrial crops; cultivar selection, soil requirements, tillage, planting, fertilizer application, weeding, crop protection, irrigation, harvesting, post-harvest processing and marketing cash and industrial beverage, sugar, fibre, oilseeds, drug, nut, silvicultural and citrus.