Courses list

Wersja polska

Course code: MRS10087o14
Semester: 2014/2015 summer
Name: Pesticides in the Environment
Major: Plant Medicine
Study Type: first cycle
Course type: compulsory
Study Semester: 6
ECTS points: 5
Hours (Lectures / Tutorials / Other): 2 / 2 / 0
Lecturer: dr hab. Mariusz Kucharski, dr inż. Jacek Jackowski,dr inż. Ewa Tendziagolska
Language of instruction: Polish


Learning outcomes: The course graduate know the possible side-effects of introducing the pesticide active ingredients into the environment. They are aware of the way in which the resistance of pathogens and pests to plant protection products affects the efficacy of their application. They know the methods of identification of the pesticide resistance phenomenon in different groups of harmful organisms, they also know how to prevent development of pesticide resistance in pest populations. They understand the importance of selective pesticides for biodiversity and for its conservation. They understand the essential rules that govern the activity and the fate of pesticides in the environment, i.e. in soil, water and in plants. They know the factors affecting the rate of the active ingredients` decomposition and transformation in the environment. They have a basic background in qualitative and quantitative analysis of agriculture-originated xenobiotics present in the environmental samples. The course graduate have the ability to use their acquired knowledge for the assessment of the currently lasting and anticipated environmental impacts of the use of plant protection products on living organisms and their habitats. They are capable of applying that knowledge in preventing or reducing the risk created by inapropriate pesticide handling and application, for humans, animals an the environment. They are able to interpret the results of the analyses of pesticide a.i. residues in the environmental samples. Thay understand the natural phenomena of particular indicative value and importance, which they attentively perceive within the farm as well as in the ecosystem that surrounds it/

Competences: The course graduates are informed users of plant protection products being currently registered for sale and application. They are capable of passing their knowledge on other persons. They can assesss the hazard related to the particular product and anticipate the risk resultant from inapropriate handling of it, either in the context of the operator or environment safety, as well as that of the consumer of the protected food products. They are aware of the necessity to continuously increase their knowledge and skills within the intermidiate zone between the disciplines of crop protection and ecology.

Prerequisites: Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Plant Biochemistry and Physiology (university level), general background in soil cultivation and crop production, the standard course “Plant Protection Products” taught in the preceeding (5th) semester as the indispensible condition of successful completing the present course.

Course content: Elementary terms and glossary of toxicology and eco-toxicology. The essential legal information related to plant protection products in general, and to the detailed legal aspects of their possible negative enviromnental impact, in particular. Practical intricacy of the sprayer operator and environment safety during the control treatments. The pest, pathogen and weed resistance to the pesticide MOA and pesticide selectivity; the two phenomena that respectively: affect the efficacy of chemical treatments and determine the extent of environmental damage they bring about. The environmental circulation of agricultural xenobiotics. Transformations, persistence and land and water ecosystems impact. Environmental sample analysis focused on pesticide residue detection. Pesticide incidence in trophic webs. Pesticide a.i. residues in food and food products: consumer welfare. Transgenic crops as the source of xenobiotics in the ecosystems.

Recommended literature: 1. Walker C. H., Hopkin S. P., Sibly R. M., Peakall D. B., 2002. Podstawy ekotoksykologii. Tłum. pod red. Pawła Miguli, wyd. polskie wg II wyd. angielskiego: PWN. 2. Carlile W.R., 2006. Pesticide selectivity, Health and the Environment. Cambridge Univ Press. 3. Różański L., 1998. Przemiany pestycydów w organizmach żywych i środowisku. Agra-Enviro Lab. Poznań. 4. Sadowski J. Środowiskowe skutki pozostałości herbicydów. Wyd. IUNG-PIB Puławy. 5. A variety of scattered resource – mostly original scientific papers- when relevant.

Assessment methods: Knowledge: tests in part-time of tutorial class, written exam on the lectured material after the 6th semester. Skills: tests in part-time of tutorial class, the record of student`s activity and commitment during the field practicals and demonstrative laboratory class Personal and social competence: The assessment, by the teacher, of the content and coherence of student`s answers, opinions given and attidudes shown during tutorial class.

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