Agrichemicals and the Environment

This module provides an introduction to the use of agrichemicals for the control of pest, disease and weed problems in agricultural systems. Specific attention will be given to the use of: insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, preventative and therapeutic livestock products. The module stresses the environmental consequences of over-reliance on such inputs, procedures to regulate use and developments to integrate such use into environmentally sustainable production systems. Topics include the types, properties and modes of action of the products used, their formulation and methods of application. The module will stress the ecological problems and environmental hazards associated with use, including target resistance, food residues, non-target impacts, generation of secondary problems and accumulation in the wider environment. A brief overview of alternative, non-chemical control strategies - cultural, physical and biological - will also be given and the principles and concepts of the Integrated Management of crop and livestock production systems will be introduced. Places on this module are limited (50) due to constraints in relation to student project supervision. NOTE: THIS MODULE IS TAUGHT OVER 7-WEEKS AND THE TIMETABLED WRITTEN EXAMINATION HELD AT THE SPRING BREAK IN MARCH.