Overview
Sustainable management of pest animals, plant diseases and weeds is paramount to successfully managing agricultural and natural environments. This unit introduces you to the principles of plant protection and the relevant foundation disciplines of weed science, plant pathology (the science of plant diseases) and entomology (insect science). You will learn key aspects of biology and identification of weeds, pests and plant diseases. You will be introduced to ecological principles of their interactions with agricultural and natural environments. Guided by this fundamental knowledge you will understand, plan and evaluate protection strategies for a range of agricultural and natural environments.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite 48 Credit Points
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE data
Improve clarity of quizzes
It is recommended that quiz questions are continuously revised to ensure clarity, align with current lecture material, and minimise academic integrity issues.
Feedback from SUTE data
Review amount of weekly content
It is recommended that weekly live workshops be held, encouraging discussions on content and assessment. Additionally, weekly updates on the current timetable and upcoming assessments should also be provided. Based on the student needs, additional workshops focused on specific assessments may also be considered.
Feedback from SUTE data
Provide more real life examples relating to unit content
It is recommended that live tutorials will include more guests with research or industry backgrounds. This will provide students industry connections and current knowledge. Relevant researchers would provide students to potential research issues and innovative practices.
Feedback from Email
Provide additional assessment feedback
It is recommended that more feedback will be provided on each assessment.
- Identify major weeds, pests and plant diseases
- Explain the fundamental biology and ecology of weeds, pests and plant diseases
- Evaluate and propose protection strategies for agricultural and natural systems from weeds, pests and plant diseases.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40% | |||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 20% | |||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom Capacity (microphone required, webcam preferred if possible)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
k.harper@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction
Chapter
Background reading will be set through the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Fundamentals of weed science 1
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Fundamentals of weed science 2
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Animal pests 1 - introduction to agricultural entomology (insect science)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Animal pests 2 - including non-insect pest animals
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 1
Close: Week 5 Friday 15 Aug. 2025 5:00 pm AEST.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Plant pathology 1
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Plant pathology 2
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Weed management
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Pest identification
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 2
Close: Week 9 Thursday 19 Sept. 2025 5:00 pm AEST.
Module/Topic
Pest control and management
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 Fact Sheet Due: Week 10 Friday (26 Sept 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Plant disease control and management
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Integration and revision
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 3
Close: Week 12 Tuesday 7 Oct. 2025 5:00 pm AEST.
Assessment 3 Advisor's Report Due: Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
Answer questions to test your knowledge of the foundation material you learned in lectures and tutorials. You can undertake the quiz within the time period specified, but you have only one attempt. Note that once you start an attempt you have to complete it in the allocated time. Make sure you are ready, have stable internet connection and are free from distractions during this period. Each quiz is worth 13.33% of the overall assessment marks.
Level of GenAI use allowed.
Level 1: You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.
The 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.
3
Other
Online Quiz 1 Close: Week 5 Friday 15 Aug. 2025 5:00 pm AEST. Online Quiz 2 Close: Week 9 Friday 19 Sept. 2025 5:00 pm AEST. Online Quiz 3 Close: Week 12 Tuesday 7 Oct. 2025 5:00 pm AEST.
5 working days after due date
Quiz questions about material delivered in readings, lectures and tutorials must be answered correctly.
- Identify major weeds, pests and plant diseases
- Explain the fundamental biology and ecology of weeds, pests and plant diseases
2 Written Assessment
You will be supplied with materials relevant to a crop protection issue that you will need to identify. You will put yourself in the position of a land management officer responsible for issuing fact sheets about the issue you have selected. This information will provide land and farm managers with relevant information about the issue in the format of a fact sheet. The fact sheet must be concise and clear, contain relevant and correct information, and include a list of authoritative resources used to compile the information. The fact sheet should have clear and easily readable layout and style, contain at least one image, and all content must be accommodated into one-A4 page, 12 pt font. The overall word limit, excluding titles, references, figure legends etc. for the fact sheet is 350 words. Further information will be made available on the Unit's Moodle site.
The marking rubric will be available on Moodle.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 10 Friday (26 Sept 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 12 Friday
Marks are awarded for:
1. Relevant and accurate information in the fact sheets (50%)
2. Professional format and presentation of the fact sheets (30%)
3. Appropriate sources correctly referenced (20%)
- Identify major weeds, pests and plant diseases
- Evaluate and propose protection strategies for agricultural and natural systems from weeds, pests and plant diseases.
3 Written Assessment
In this assessment you will be asked to assume the role of a farm advisor (agronomist, crop protection consultant or similar). You will be given a farm case study scenario with a specific weed, pest or disease problem. More details will be provided on the Moodle page. You will be asked to analyse and explain the problem and suggest management solutions in a written report to the farm manager. The word limit is 2000 words.
The marking rubric will be available on Moodle.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
10 working days post due date
Marks are awarded for:
- Relevant and accurate background information provided (40%)
- Rationale for the suggested management directions and clarity of suggestions (20%)
- Professional impression including the clarity of English expression, spelling, grammar, consistent formatting incl. good use of figures and tables, and appropriate length (20%)
- Appropriate sources and correct referencing (20%)
- Explain the fundamental biology and ecology of weeds, pests and plant diseases
- Evaluate and propose protection strategies for agricultural and natural systems from weeds, pests and plant diseases.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
