COURSE STRUCTURE
There are ten lessons in this module, as follows:
- Introduction
- Overview of Preventative Controls
- Insecticides
- Other Pesticides
- Spray Equipment
- Insect Biology
- Fungal Biology
- Environmental Problems
- Viruses
- Nematodes, Molluscs and Crustaceans
SUMMARY OF COMPETENCIES DEVELOPED
Here is just a sample of what you will learn to do in this course:
- Identify the characteristics of pests and diseases of plants.
- Explain methods for the control of pests and diseases.
- Describe the characteristics of a range of different pesticides, including insecticides
- and fungicides.
- Explain the selection and use of spray equipment appropriate for different
- specified tasks.
- Describe aspects of the biology of an insect which are relevant to pest control.
- Describe aspects of the biology of an fungus which are relevant to disease control.
- Explain how inappropriate environmental conditions can affect plant health.
- Identify the characteristic signs of a range of non-insect pests,and select appropriate control methods.
WHAT THE COURSE COVERS
Here are just some of the things you will be doing:
- Develop a checklist for determining the significance of pests and diseases, which addresses different criteria including:
Short term impact
Long term impact
Economic impact
Aesthetic impact.
- Distinguish between the main types of plant diseases, including:
Fungal
Viral
Bacterial
- Create a standard worksheet for reviewing pest and disease problems of plants.
- Diagnose different problems (i.e. pests or diseases), documenting the problem on a standard pest/disease review worksheet.
- Describe different ways to control pests and diseases, including:
Application of chemicals
Plant selection
Companion planting
Cultural techniques (i.e. improving ventilation, improving drainage).
Physical control (i.e. pruning, hand removal, trapping, hosing off).
- Explain how plant breeding has been used to improve pest/disease resistance in different plant species.
- Explain three biological control methods for dealing with specific problems.
- Develop an IPM strategy for a specific situation such as a crop or garden, considering:
Application procedures, remedial action and monitoring.
- Describe plant hygiene practices for a specific situation such as a crop, nursery or garden, in line with industry practice, enterprise guidelines and sound management practice.
- Recommend control methods for different pest and/or disease problems diagnosed.
- List safety procedures to follow when handling pesticides.
- Distinguish between the main groups of pesticides, including:
Organo-phosphates
Synthetic pyrethroids
Carbamates
Chlorinated hydrocarbons.
-
Explain the difference between the action of systemic and non-systemic pesticides.
- Explain the difference between the action of systemic and non-systemic pesticides.
- Explain maintenance practices, including cleaning, for a specified sprayer.
- List different uses for several types of sprayers, including a motorised pump sprayer, a knapsack and a PTO driven tractor mounted sprayer.
- Compare different sprayers, in terms of:
Cost
Applications
Maintenance
Spare parts
Ease of use
Safety.
- Explain the application of chemicals in a given situation, including:
Calibration
Mixing chemicals
Equipment operation
Safety measures
Post spray procedures such as cleaning, and storage of chemicals).
-
Describe the minimum records which should be kept when spraying pesticides.
- Describe the minimum records which should be kept when spraying pesticides.
- Prepare a labelled diagram showing the structural parts of an insect.
- Prepare an insect collection of different insects of significance to agriculture or horticulture.
- Describe the lifecycle of a fungal disease species.
- Explain the physiology of tree decay processes, including compartmentalisation.
- Explain aspects of fungal biology, for different types of fungi, which are of horticultural significance, including:
Phytophthora
Sclerotinia rot
Peach leaf curl (Taphrina deformens)
Powdery Mildew
Pythium.
- List environmental problems which affect plant health and their symptoms.
- Describe the affect of air pollution on different plants.
- Identify nutritional deficiency symptoms in specified situations.
- Develop a fertiliser program in response to a specified nutritional problem.
- Distinguish between the affects of water deficiency and water excess on plant health.
- Explain how to diagnose damage by various non-insect pest problems, including:
Nematodes
Slugs and snails
Mites
Millipedes
Larger animals such as rabbits, possums or birds.
- Explain how to control different non-insect pests with both chemical and non-chemical methods.
What This Course Can Do For You
This course builds on knowledge gained through our Horticulture I and Horticulture II modules, but may be taken as a stand-alone course.
Those completing this course will have acquired a thorough knowledge of plant health to complement their understanding of general horticulture principles and practices. By understanding plant pest and disease cycles you will be better equipped to establish suitable programs of control for these problems. The course will suit people looking to work in:
- Garden Maintenance
- Parks and Gardens
- Garden Tourism
- Garden Conservation
- General Horticulture
- Nursery and Propagation
Student Comment: "I have found the course to be interesting and challenging, with great learning materials that really make you research the industry and get involved. It has been a great way to study because it has allowed me to work in the industry and study at the same time. I have found the online resources to be fantastic, the tutors feedback constructive and the fact that assignments can be submitted online makes the process so easy."
Tom Wood - Diploma in Horticultural Science
WHAT SETS ACS APART?
Service – We put the student first. Tutors and administration can be contacted 5 days a week, 50 weeks of the year, by phone or email.
We provide Better Learning – We’ve been delivering distance education for over 3 decades, and we understand how people learn by home study.
Our methods are unique, developed through experience with a focus squarely on helping you learn.
Up to Date – We are continually revising and updating courses. We listen to our students feedback and we always improve the course if a change is identified that will help significantly improve your learning.
More Choice – Graduates need a set of skills that will set them apart and give them an advantage over competition in the world after study. We have a wide variety of study choices, and give you lots of options to choose different paths throughout a course. Doing this has meant our graduates very successful.
No Short Cuts –You can’t take short cuts in learning, and that is why our courses are often longer than you will find elsewhere. You could choose to study a short course, quickly sit an exam (while the information is fresh) and pass, but if you want to really understand something and retain it, that takes time.
More than just Learning Facts – We understand that success in the workplace or business requires you to not only learn things, but also build networks, understand the commercial world, be able to solve problems, communicate with people, and have an attitude that will function in your chosen industry.
Enrol today and start learning!
You can start the course at any time. Study when and wherever you want to with our online and USB study options.
If you have any questions about the course or studying with ACS, please get in touch using our Free Course Counselling service.