794-011 Horticultural Chemicals

Plant Health I and II.

The objective of this subject is to extend participants' ability to:

• explain the procedure of clearance and registration of agricultural chemicals in Australia;

• describe the environmental implications of agrochemical use;

• describe the importance of agriculture chemical formulations from the manufacturer's and end user's point of view;

• interpret the safety and use information given on agricultural chemical labels;

• describe the techniques used for agricultural chemical application including fumigation and their relation to efficiency of application;

• describe the properties of the major groups of insecticidal, fungicidal and herbicidal chemicals in use in horticulture; and

• describe the management issues concerned with each of the major groups of insecticidal, fungicidal and herbicidal chemicals in use in horticulture.

The content includes the development of an understanding of the role of agricultural chemicals in plant production and maintenance, including their role in open space management. Students will consider pesticide toxicology and residues, consumer attitudes, agricultural chemical formulation and spray application technology, major classes of pesticides, environmental protection and the fate of chemicals in the environment.

Two assignments of 1600 and 2500 words (40% and 60%).

• K A Hassall, The Biochemistry and Uses of Pesticides. 2nd ed., MacMillan Press Ltd, 1990.