Graduate Programmes
PROGRAMME INFORMATION
Agronomy as main subject can be followed in the following programmes:
- Crop Production. In the Crop Production sub-programme Agronomy can be combined with Agricultural Economics, Plant Pathology, Entomology or Genetics, OR
- Soil and Water management. In the Soil and Water Management sub-programme Agronomy can be combined with Soil Science, OR
- Animal Production Systems. You can also follow the BSc(Agric) programme in Animal Production Systems (Animal Sciences with Agronomy)
Admission requirements for Agronomy students are as follow:
General requirements
- A National Senior Cettificate (NSC) as certified by Umalusi, with admission to bachelor's degree
- ??A level of at least 4 in each of four subjects designated for university admission (one of them has to be Afrikaans OR English).
- For the NSC an aggregate of at least 60% (excluding Life Orientation)
- Write the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) according to your chosen programme. All candidates write the Academic and quantitative literacy test (AQL). Students studying towards a programme requiring Mathematics also write the Mathematics (MAT) test.
Requirements for Agriscience programmes
- Afrikaans OR English (Home language OR First Additional Language) 4 (50%)
- Mathematics 5 (60%)
- Physical Sciences 4 (50%) OR
- Physical Sciences 3 (40%)? and Life Sciences 4 (50%) OR
- Physical Sciences 3 (40%)? and Agricultural Sciences 6 (70%)
For the programmes Soil and Water Management
- Afrikaans OR English (Home language OR First Additional Language) 4 (50%)
- Mathematics 6 (70%)
- Physical Sciences same reqirement as other AgriScience programmes
For the programmes Wood and Wood Products Science
- Afrikaans OR English (Home language OR First Additional Language) 4 (50%)
- Mathematics 6 (70%)
- Physical Sciences 5 (60%)?
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The main undergraduate training fields include:
- Production systems of open field winter cereal-, oilseed-, vegetable- and pasture crops including weed management
- Hydroponic vegetable and herb production
- Rangeland management
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The following Agronomy modules can be followed:
212 (8) Agronomical crop production
Economic importance of crops; RELATIONSHIP between soil, climate and production capacity; cultivation practices SUCH
as tillage, crop rotation and weed control.
312 (8) Greenhouse production techniques
Soilless production techniques (hydroponics) for seedlings and crops; effect of different growth mediums; different types of climate control; optimum concentrations of nutrient solutions for different crops.
322 (8) Cultivation of annual agronomical crops
Introduction to the morphology and development of important annual agronomical crops for the winter rainfall region; identification and production of these crops; soil and climatic requirements of these crops, as well as their utilisation and economic importance.
324 (16) Pasture management
Development and ecology of South African veld types; morphology and physiology of pasture plants and their reaction to defoliation; pasture management principles;determination of veld condition; veld management on GAME farms and management of various veld types.
332 (8) Cultivation of annual agronomical crops
Introduction to the morphology and development of important annual agronomical crops for the winter rainfall region; identification and production of these crops; soil and climatic requirements of these crops, as well as their utilisation and economic importance.
324 (16) Pasture management
Development and ecology of South African veld types; morphology and physiology of pasture plants and their reaction to defoliation; pasture management principles; determination of veld condition; veld management on GAME farms and management of various veld types.
332 (8) Cultivation of future crops
Identification, morphology and growth requirements of new potentially important food, FIBRE, medicinal and industrial crops; morphology and growth requirements of selected crops; management practices for sustainable maximal production of these crops.
342 (8) Weed Management
Characteristics of weeds; methods of weed control; principles of weed management programmes; mechanisms of chemical herbicide action.
362 (8) Vegetable crops for intensive production systems
Identification of the most important vegetable crops that are cultivated in intensive production systems; morphology and physiology of these crops; production techniques in intensive plant production systems for these crops.
424 (16) Physiological and ecological principles of natural pas?ture management
Development and ecology of South African veld types; morphology and physiology of pasture plants; physiology of defoliation and plant response; physiological principles of veld management; determination of veld condition, veld burning, bush encroachment,veld management on GAME farms; causes and control of erosion.
454 (16) Production physiology and technology for annual agronomical crops
Physiological processes involved in yield increase in cool-weather crops; crop rotations and biological management for sustainable production; quality requirements and utilisation of crops.
