• Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Land and Water Resources (HLWRM)

Programme Overview

The aim of this program is to produce a cadre equipped with essential technical skills and knowledge for effective and efficient utilization and management of land and water resources in the face of climate change impacts on the environment and agricultural water availability. The Department therefore also aims to contribute towards the raising of standards of living of Zimbabweans, directly or indirectly, through teaching, research, development and application of sustainable current technical skills in land and water resources management technologies.

Entry Requirements

   Normal Entry

  At least five ‘O’ level subjects including English Language, Mathematics and any Science subject plus:      Advanced Level passes in any Mathematics or Physics and one of the following subjects or their recognized equivalents: Biology, Agriculture, Chemistry, Engineering Drawing and Geography or a relevant National Diploma from an accredited Institution as articulated in the ZNQF.

Recognition criteria for foreign credentials of international students

Special Entry

Special entry would be granted to students who, in the opinion of the Departmental Board, have outstanding passes in a relevant Diploma, subject to such a qualification meeting part of the requirements of the program.

CAREER PROSPECTS

Graduates can follow any of the following careers;

within industry – as designers, research officers, laboratory technicians, field and sales officers.
within government – as lecturers, extension officers or research officers with institutes and research stations.
within agricultural enterprises – as managers, development officers and consultants.
Self-employment – as farmers, agricultural contractors and consulting Engineers.

Graduates can also continue into higher degree programmes, which provide a basis for research and academic careers.

GENERAL PROVISIONS
In Level 3, all students will be on Work Related Learning for a minimum period of ten months. During the same period, students will be expected to carry out a research project.

A student shall be enrolled for at least six modules, a minimum of which two should be core/compulsory at any time during the semester, Students can include in their programme of study, modules offered by other departments.

The module combination should be feasible in terms of the timetable.

A student may change his/her registration for modules to be taken in any semester only during the first two weeks of the beginning of each semester.6.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

• In the first year, learners are expected to acquaint themselves with the introductory modules of the degree program. The choice of modules should be done with the guidance of Departmental staff.
• The degree program shall have at least 36 taught modules spread over the 6 teaching semesters.

Module code Modules Credits

Level I

AGPR131 Agricultural Practice 1 12

LWR131 Environmental Chemistry 12

LWR134 Principles and Applications of Hydrology 12

HAWS134 Principles of Ecology 12

LWR135 Principles to Soil Science 12

AGRO136 Introduction to Statistics 12

LWR144 Principles and Applications of Surveying 12

AGRO135 Plant Biology 12

LWR139 Engineering Drawing and Topographic Mapping 12

AGED131 Introduction to Agricultural Economics 12

AGPR132 Agricultural Practice 2 12

HCS135 Introduction to Information Technology 12

Level II

LWR137 Soil fertility Management 12

LWR236 Principles of Irrigation 12

LWR240 Soil and Water Conservation 12

 

AGRO239 Statistical Methods and

Experimental Designs 12

LWR241 Land Resource and Survey

Methodology 12

LWR236 Irrigation Systems Design 12

LWR245 Water Quality 12

LWR246 Meteorology and Climate Change 12

Level III

Level III Semester 1

AGPR330 Work-Related Preliminary Report 30

Level III Semester 2

AGPR331 Work-Related Learning Report 45

AGPR332 Employer’s Assessment Report 30

AGPR333 Academic Supervisor’s Report 45

Level IV

LWR400 Research Project 24

LWR436 Watershed Management 12

LWR445 Rainwater Harvesting 12

LWR442 Land Degradation and Reclamation 12

LWR432 Land Use Planning 12

LWR440 Integrated Water Resources

Management 12

MODULE SYNOPSES

AGPR131 Agricultural Practice

Agricultural equipment and machinery, maintenance, service and repair, the farm workshop, crop, livestock and other farm activities calendars; cropping programme; land preparation; input requirements and acquisition, planting, weeding and other agronomic practices, harvesting and post-harvest operations. Land capability classification, special crops production (e.g. tobacco, paprika), irrigated crops and pasture production, grazing and veld management; animal handling and restraint; management of large and small ruminants, feeding, routine practices including dipping dosing and disease control; pen fattening of livestock; and marketing and preparation for shows and public field days and displays

AGRO135 Plant Biology

The plant cell and organelles; Plant water relations; Photosynthesis – the ecological significance of photosynthesis in primary production of organic molecules, the Light Reaction, The Calvin Cycle, C3/C4 photosynthesis, CAM photosynthesis. Photoperiodism and vernalization. Fruit and seed formation: double fertilization and formation of seed tissues, Seed structure, chemical composition of seed, apomixis. Germination: What is germination? Phases in germination: seed hydration, genetic and metabolic events during germination, role of plant growth regulators in germination. Seed dormancy: Mechanisms of dormancy: Innate, induced and enforced dormancy, Significance of dormancy in attuning cycles of plant growth to seasonal changes in the environment. Plant growth and development: meristems, cell expansion, cell differentiation, acid growth theory, tropisms, cell differentiation, apical dominance, bud dormancy; Plant growth regulators – synthesis and transport and physiological effects of auxins, gibberellins, cytokines, abscisic acid and ethylene on plant growth and development; Use of artificial plant growth regulators in Agriculture

AGRO136 Introduction to Statistics

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

LWR131 Environmental Chemistry

Sampling and analysis of an industrial sample, interpreting the analytical data and accounting for patterns and trends observed; air and water pollution; ozone generation and ozone removal reactions in the atmosphere; concentrations and biogeochemical cycles of that pollutant elements; The Environmental and Health Consequences of Polluted Air—Outdoors and Indoors, greenhouse effect; Chemistry of natural waters, Pollution and Purification of Water; Toxic Heavy Metals; Pesticides; Toxic Organic Compounds of Environmental Concern; Wastes, Soils, and Sediments; development and components of soil; sorptive properties of soils, and the effect of pH on surfaces charges; soil acidification and environmental effects; sediment transport and depositional processes; flocculation, precipitation, coagulation and dispersion; environmental cycling processes between sediment, water and biota at the sediment-water interface; global cycling of the major elements water quality

LWR135 Principles to Soil Science

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

HAWS134Principles of Ecology

Definition and scope of ecology, source and concept of energy flow, laws of thermodynamics, concept of limiting factors, ecosystems, biotic and abiotic factors of ecosystem, food chain and food web, trophic levels, ecological pyramids of numbers, biomass and energy, biogeochemical cycles, community ecology, species diversity, diversity indices, successions and ecological niche

LWR134 Principles and Applications of Hydrology

The hydrological cycle; meteorological parameters, their definitions and measurements; rainfall- intensity/duration/frequency relationships; evaporation; infiltration; groundwater; surface runoff-processes, rainfall/runoff correlations; hydrograph analysis; flood routing surface runoff – processes, rainfall/runoff correlations; hydrograph analysis flood routing. Interception of depression storage. Hydrological statistical analysis

LWR144 Principles and Applications of Surveying

Introduction and history of Surveying. Survey measurements: Errors: Gross, Systematic, Random. Distance measurements: Taping, corrections/reductions, chain surveys. Levelling: dumpy, tilting and automatic levels, field procedures, booking and reduction, applications, grid levelling and contouring: Plane table surveys, Coordinate systems: plane, spherical. The Theodolite; angular measurements, traversing: field procedures, reductions, computations, Tacheometry: (i) Theodolite and staff, (ii) tacheometers, (iii) Theodolite and tape (iv) Theodolite and EDM, (v) Total Station, Plotting tachy details

LWR139 Engineering Drawing and Topographic Mapping

Engineering Drawing: -Projections; Isometric Drawing: AutoCAD:-Creating and manipulating drawings in AutoCAD, Topographic Mapping:- Topographic maps production, Google earth and Map production; Plotting, Setting out/ Geodetic Positioning; Production of drawings for water structures such as weirs, reservoirs and canals

LWR137 Soil Fertility Management

Factors controlling the 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

LWR236 Principles of Irrigation

Role and history of irrigation development in Zimbabwe; Soil Water Plant Relations- Physical properties of soil and water, water retention and availability to plants, soil water movement and measurement; Evapotranspiration and crop water requirements; Basic principles of irrigation hydraulics- open channel flow, pipe flow, flow measurement; Irrigation System Types-Sprinkler irrigation systems and components, Surface irrigation systems and components, Drip irrigation systems and components; Planning irrigation projects; Land levelling and land levelling methods for irrigation; Issues of salinity in Irrigation

LWR241 Land Resource and Survey Methodology

Remote sensing: principles and applications of aerial photo interpretation and satellite imagery; Soil survey: principles, mapping methods, organization and implementation of a soil survey, the soil survey process; Irritability assessment of soils; Water quality for suitability for irrigation and environmental impact of irrigation projects; Vegetation survey: principles and mapping methods; Land evaluation: Zimbabwe capability classification systems, constraints of the methods, advantages and uses

LWR240 Soil and Water Conservation

The soil erosion system; water erosion; wind erosion; Classes, types and forms of soil erosion. Classification, processes, factors, analysis and measurements of water erosion and wind erosion. Engineering principles of soil and water conservation: erosion control, soil conservation planning. soil water and nutrient conservation; soil management and reclamation; open channel flow, principles, hydraulic grade stabilization, storm water management, design of structures for floodwater routing, culvert design, design of water ways and agricultural reservoirs stream bank protection. Erosion assessment experimentation and modelling, field methods, physical models, empirical models, wind studies, and conservation schemes. Students will do case studies and visits to erosion-affected areas

LWR246 Introduction to Meteorology and Climate Change

Meteorology; Climate change impacts; Adaptation and mitigation options in different developmental sectors; and International responses to global warming and climate change: treaties, conventions and policies. Weather watching basics; Climate- seasons; Effects of geography on weather; Clouds: precipitation; Fronts and Air Masses: air pressure and humidity; Weather Forecasting: methods; Bodies of Water: impact of circulation and evaporation; Weather Conservation; Climate Change: history of earth’s climate, the science behind climate and weather; global warming and greenhouse gases; Climate dynamics: Climate forcing factors natural & anthropogenic, Ecological balance of natural systems: Biogeochemical cycles; Climate change impacts in different development sectors: Vulnerability of African systems; Climate change impacts on agriculture; Environment: endangered species, ecosystems, and biological resources; Health; Tourism; Aquatic systems; Industry; Adaptation and mitigation: Understanding adaptation and mitigation; Case studies in adaptation and mitigation: carbon credits; REDD+; WWF; clean development mechanism; aviation industry; Fundamental requirements for adaptation in Africa; and Sustainable development concept

AGRO239 Statistical Methods and Experimental Design

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

LWR236 Irrigation Systems Design

Design of Sprinkler systems; Design of drip systems; Design of surface systems; Irrigation Water Management Principles, Impacts of Irrigation, Organisation of Irrigation schemes, Performance Monitoring and Evaluation of Irrigation Systems, Irrigation scheduling, Operation and Maintenance of irrigation systems and equipment

LWR245Water Quality

Aquatic Chemistry, microbiology, standards, engineering and environmental problems, testing techniques and equipment sampling methodology

LWR430 Research Project

Research proposal writing, data collection and organization, data analyses and statistical competence, data interpretation and presentation, quality scientific writing, verbal presentation of research proposals

LWR436 Watershed Management

Introduction; Watershed Management Principles; Characteristics of a Watershed; Land-use Impacts on watersheds; Potential problems in a watershed and Watershed Degradation; Data Sources for Watershed Management; Strategies for integrated watershed Resources Conservation and Management; Tools for Watershed Management -Watershed Delineation, Participation Principles, Rapid Rural Appraisals and Participatory Rural Appraisals, Soil Loss Estimation – SLEMSA, USLE, Wind Equation, Environmental Impact Assessments; Watershed Management plan; Wetlands- Occurrence, geological characteristics, importance and functions of wetlands, Sustainable utilization, conservation and management of wetlands

LWR445 Rain Water Harvesting

Need for RWH; Planning and designing of RWH systems- RWH for domestic purposes, RWH in Urban Areas. RWH in dry land agriculture and irrigation; RW Quality management and control; Financial aspects and Economic analysis of RWH systems

LWR442 Land Degradation and Reclamation

An overview of the major forms and processes of land degradation, impacts of land degradation on food security, biodiversity, and water resources. Reclamation of degraded lands through agronomic, chemical, mechanical and biological remediation

LWR440 Integrated Water Resources Management

Strategic issues in water management; Integrated water resources management; Stakeholder participation; Water scarcity and concept of virtual water; Sustainability and intergenerational equity; Water using activities; Water demand projections; Principles of water allocation; Legal and institutional issues in water management; Zimbabwe water law and policy; International rivers; SADC protocol on shared water courses; Water economics: Water supply and demand, price-elasticity of demand of water, demand management, water pricing; and Water quality management

LWR432 Land Use Planning

Land use planning in early civilization, UN contributions to concepts of land use planning, definition of land use planning, functions of land, concepts of sustainability, the cycle of land use planning, degrees of limitation, land quality indicators