Professor Bhagirath Chauhan
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Gatton
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Gatton
- Coordinating unit
- Agriculture and Food Sustainability School
Provides an understanding of integrated pest management for sustainable production systems. There will be special emphasis on weeds and their management measures.
Crop health is affected by several factors, including biological, chemical and physical. In this course, we will focus on crop pests, including weeds, pathogens and insects, and among these pests, the main emphasise will be on weeds.
Weeds, insects and diseases destroy 30% of global food production before it leaves the paddock and weeds cause the maximum damage among different pests. The main focus of the course is on the ecology and biology of pests. Without the knowledge of pest ecology and biology, it is not possible to manage pests. Ecological-based management approaches are the foundation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems. Students who complete this course will be able to identify and apply appropriate IPM strategies for crops that are significant to them and the world around them.ﾠ
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
PLNT6894, PLNT7014
Course staff
Course coordinator
Lecturer
Professor Bhagirath Chauhan
Dr Kayvan Etebari
Guest lecturer
Associate Professor Shane Campbell
Professor Femi Akinsanmi
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
The aim of this course is to understand the development of integrated pest management based on a good understanding of the biology of pests.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Evaluate factors affecting pest ecology, with special emphasise on weeds.
LO2.
Estimate the impact of different pests on crops, with special emphasise on weeds.
LO3.
Compare and contrast different pest control measures.
LO4.
Propose integrated pest management strategies to manage pests in different scenarios.
LO5.
Synthesise information from plant protection literature.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Biology and management of a weed species | 30% |
31/03/2025 |
| Presentation |
3MT presentation
|
30% |
28/04/2025
The event will begin at 8:00am |
| Examination |
Final exam
|
40% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
Assessment details
Biology and management of a weed species
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
31/03/2025
Task description
Length: 3000 words (+/-10%) excluding references and captions for photos, tables and figures. Exceeding every 100 words above the maximum word limit (3300) will result in a 1-mark deduction.
The objective of this assignment is for you to understand weed biology and various methods to manage weeds. You can choose any type of weed (cropping/aquatic/rangeland), but ensure you select a weed species for which sufficient published literature is available to address the various sections outlined below.
General guidelines:
- Follow any journal's format and style but this should be consistent throughout the report.
Structure your assignment according to the following outline (also view the marking scheme):
- Introduction (importance of this weed; why problematic; losses ($ and/or yield) caused by this weed; need to justify the need for this information)
- Biology (cover different aspects under this heading)
- Management (cover different methods here)
- Conclusion (summary of all your main findings; you may also suggest research gaps here)
- References (those used to provide background information).
Your assignment should go through several drafts before the final product is completed.
Please attend or listen to the Lectures for further information on how to undertake the assignments.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit. Legal Declaration: By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for acceptable reasons, as as per UQ guidelines.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.
3MT presentation
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
28/04/2025
The event will begin at 8:00am
Task description
Students will deliver a presentation in the 3 minute thesis (3MT) format, with a strict time limit of three minutes per presentation. Students must select a target pest (weed, disease, or insect) and prepare a single slide on its biology and/or management. The presentation must be completed in person, with no more than one slide allowed. The event will begin at 8:00 am on April 28, 2025, and all presentations will be recorded.
This assessment task must be completed in person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
The blackboard site will provide detailed information on the criteria and marking for different components (for example, content, delivery, quality, etc.).
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for acceptable reasons, as as per UQ guidelines.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.
Final exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
Task description
A theory exam will be set for this course. Students will complete a final exam which could cover any topics explored during the course.
This is an in-person, on-campus exam. This exam will be Closed-Book - no printed materials permitted, and no calculators will be permitted.
Have your UQ student ID card available for all of your exams.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Materials | No |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 34 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 0 - 34% |
| 2 (Fail) | 35 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 35% - 46% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: 47% - 49% |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 50% - 64% |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 65% - 74% |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 75% - 84% |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 85% - 100% |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Please note the following when writing assignments
You must not re-use past work from previous assessments in your assignments.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
All reported work must be done by the individual student. Assignments that look and sound alike will be reported as plagiarism – a serious offence at UQ. Please note the university’s policy on academic integrity and plagiarism which can be accessed at Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy / Document / Policy and Procedure Library
TurnItIn Assignments
TurnItIn Assignments that are required to be submitted through TurnItIn, must only be uploaded to the assessment specific Turnitin link on the relevant course Blackboard site. If you submit any version of your assessment item to any alternative Turnitin link, this is considered cheating and you will be held liable for this action. ﾠ
Results
Unless specifically indicated by the lecturer involved, every attempt will be made to have the results for progressive assessment tasks available within 3 weeks of submission. For items of assessment submitted in the last 2 weeks of the semester, the results will be available before the day of your end of semester examination in the course, unless otherwise indicated by the Course Coordinator. Results and feedback availability will be advised to you by email or announced via the course Blackboard site.ﾠ
Feedback in this course
Feedback is welcome in this course as any information on how students find this learning experience is constructive.
Please use the evaluation form provided to you at the end of semester - or if you are enrolled internally, a course evaluation process will occur in the last few weeks of semester.
Re-mark Applications – refer to theﾠUniversity's Re-mark Policyﾠto check your eligibility.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Blackboard | Use blackboard regularly as this will be the main method of communication. | own item needed |
| Protective clothing | Hat, water bottle and shoes during practicals. Lab coat when in the lab. | own item needed |
Additional learning resources information
Blackboard is the main method of communication.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Lectures Please refer to the full timetable in the course blackboard site. Sub-activity: (UQ as well as guest lecturers from industry): Lectures on the biology and management of weeds; Lectures on the biology and management of diseases; Lectures on the biology and management of insect pests. |
Multiple weeks From Week 2 To Week 12 |
Practical |
Practicals Please refer to the full timetable in the course blackboard site. Sub-activity: Weed, disease and insect identification walks; Spray calibration; Visit to industry (e.g., DAF facility in Brisbane). |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.