Course Description

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50101   Agriculture in Palestine

Introduction about agriculture development globally and at Arab countries. The economic importance of agricultural sector. The geographic and climatic factors that affect agriculture at Palestine. The inputs, outputs of plant and animal production and food processing sectors in Palestine. The constraints, problems, and challenges of Palestinian agricultural sector

51110   Fundamentals of Botany

The origin of life; the cell; mitosis and meiosis; DNA; photosynthesis; respiration and fermentation; plant classification; tissues; gymnosperms; angiosperms; hormones; plant nutrition; stems; roots; leaves; flowers; fruits and seeds. 

51111   Fundamentals of Botany Lab.

Identify representative plant cells, tissues and organs.  Have a basic understanding of chemistry and plant metabolism. Understand the basics of taxonomy and how it applies to the plants.  Have a basic understanding of genetics. Describe plant reproduction and know the parts of a flower. Know the differences between the bacteria, viruses, fungi and plant phyla. Identify the major plant families.

51201   Principles of Plant Production

This course focuses on plant structure, classification, origin, growth, reproduction and utilization of cultivated plants.  The course will also include: methods of plant identification and nomenclature, plant propagation in general, vegetative and reproductive growth, and development. Additionally, information on photosynthesis, respiration and translocation, and factors affecting plant growth and development including climatic influences on crop production will be covered

51202   Principles of Plant Protection

This course include two sections;

Plant Pathology part: definitions, history, concept of plant disease, classification, development of disease in plants, symptoms, how pathogen attack plants, plant defense, epidemiology, control and most important disease examples...

Plant pests: Naming & classification of living things, arthropods.  Insects. Pest. Agricultural ecosystem.  Pest status development, pest damage to crop plants. Methods of pest control.  Forecasting pest attack.

51203   Plant Physiology

This course will explore the fundamental knowledge of plant physiology: water absorption and diffusion, transpiration and translocation, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis and respiration, the effect of hormones on plant metabolism and plant stress physiology

51204   Plant Physiology Lab.

Seed viability testing, permeability of cell membranes, water potential, photosynthesis and respiration, transpiration and hormones (3 hours lab/week

51205   Modern Genetics

Basic concepts of genetics and organism, Mendel's laws,  analysis chromosomes theory and inheritance, constancy and variation of DNA. DNA structure, function and regulation, extra nuclear genome, principle of gene mapping, population genetics, quantitative genetics, cytogenesis.

51207   Mycology Lab.

The course introduces practical training in fungi cultivation, morphology, reproduction, and classification according to various parameters. It covers all true fungi phyla in addition to phyla recently classified in two closely related kingdoms

51208   Fundamentals of Floriculture & Gardens

This course includes the study of indoor and outdoor ornamental plants in terms of plant classification, environmental requirements, morphological and structural characteristics, and appropriate methods and timing for propagation. It also covers the identification of garden types, the principles of garden design, and the classification of plants used in landscaping based on their location and shape.

The course features a practical component that involves visits to various types of gardens and nurseries for the production of ornamental plants. Additionally, it includes the creation of a miniature garden model, with a focus on the types of plants used in landscaping and their availability in Palestine

51216   Mycology

The course introduces fungi characteristics, nutrition, reproduction, importance and classification according to different parameters. It includes studying a wide group of fungi in details including biology, life cycle and classification

51269   Bee Keeping and Plant Pollination

The course includes honeybee study in terms of anatomy and morphology, the tools used in beekeeping, and the examination of apiaries in terms of establishment, feeding locations, and honey collection. It also covers honey extraction, hive division, bee diseases, and natural enemies. Additionally, it explores bee poisoning by pesticides and the role of bees in flower pollination. Smart beekeeping methods are highlighted, including a self-powered intelligent monitoring and control system for hives and a sensor-based smart measurement system for advanced hive monitoring.

51301   Plant Breeding

Plant propagation particularly by seeds, plant breeding methods and techniques, principles of genetic that related to breeding practice and relationship between breeding and biotechnology.

51302   Plant Taxonomy

Study and scope of plant taxonomy, general characters of organisms, plant identification and naming, flora, taxonomic characteristics, development of systems of plant taxonomy, kingdom Plantae, seed plants (angiosperm and gymnosperm), origin and revolution of flowering plants

51303   Plant Propagation & Nurseries

The course study the general aspects of propagation, biology of propagation, environmental factors, principles of seed selection, techniques of propagation, vegetative propagation; selection and management of clones, biology and techniques of propagation by cuttings, grafting, budding, layering and its natural modifications, specialized stems and roots; principles of tissue culture, biotechnology and micro propagation

51304   Plant Breeding Lab

It involves applying techniques for selection methods on self-pollinated and cross-pollinated crops

51307   Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering

Recombinant DNA technology and application tools of genetic engineering:  Biological material and general techniques molecular biology PCR, enzymes, hybridization, vectors, gel electrophoresis of DNA, probes, cloning,  sequencing,  modification of DNA.  Genome analysis, gene expression analysis, transgenic plants and animals: principles, procedures, and examples. Objectives, hazards on human & environment laws & ethics

51308   Green Forages

This course includes definition of forage crops, composition and nutritive value, types of forage crops, forage crops description and classification, the cultural practices for the most important forage crops, and uses of forage crops, and identifications of types, method of culture and caring of it.

51309   Plant Tissue Culture

This course consists of several concepts:  types of in vitro culture, micro propagation, methods and technologies, genetic manipulation and transformation, factors affecting success of these techniques particularly growth regulators and relationship between tissue culture & genetic engineering.

This course requires 3 hours lab per 2 weeks:  to provide information about the equipment, media preparation and methods of sterilization

51310   Storage and Handling of Fruits and Vegetables

This course covers the effects of the pre-harvest factors on post-harvest life, assessments of crop maturity, harvesting and handling methods. The course will also include: pre-cooling, packaging, post-harvest treatment, storage, fruit ripening conditions, marketing and transport. In addition, post-harvest technology of some selected fruits and vegetable will be discussed

51311    Vegetable Production

Covers the economic and nutritional importance of vegetables, appropriate environmental conditions, various agricultural operations, the production of seedlings, protected and open field agriculture, crop rotations and overlapping agriculture, harvesting, storage and marketing, agricultural operations for the most important vegetable crops in Palestine

51312   Vegetable Production Lab.

It covers the classification of vegetables, the botanical description of the most important vegetable crops, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. It also involves cultivating most types of vegetables to study them and identify their seeds.

51315    Flower Production in Greenhouses

This course focuses on the reasons for producing ornamental plants within greenhouses, the factors to be considered in preparing and equipping greenhouses for cultivation, and selecting suitable plant species for greenhouse cultivation based on their environmental needs. It also covers appropriate propagation methods, the study of various agricultural practices for plants during different growth stages, identification of suitable methods for harvesting processes, and post-harvest handling practices.

51321   Field Crops Production

Economical and nutritional importance. Botanical classification. Most important field crops: botanical description, origin, areas of production, environmental requirements, suitable soil, fertilization, land preparation sowing rates and dates, operations after sowing, maturity, harvesting and utilization

51322  Seed Production

This course covers different subjects related to seed production technology including importance of seeds, development of seed industry, principles of seed production, cultural practices, rouging and isolation processes. Seed harvesting, handling and storing. In addition this course addresses factors affecting seed quality. Also, this course covers methods of seed production for most important horticultural and field crops

51331   Fruit Trees Production

This course will discuss some physiological concepts and principles that underlie sound horticultural practices; the environmental factors in relation to fruit trees requirement; classification of fruit trees; theoretical and practical subjects about fruit trees production; rootstocks and orchard management. The course will also cover most of the fruit trees that cultivated in Palestine including: olive, grape, citrus, pome fruits, stone fruits, fig, palm and banana.

The lab (equal to one credit hour) covers fruit trees classification, plant description, fruit trees propagation

51332   Deciduous Fruit Trees

Environmental requirements for deciduous fruit trees, methods of planting, cultivation and training, pruning, groups of deciduous fruit trees: grape, pome fruits, stone fruits, fig and mulberry, persimmons, deciduous nut trees

51333   Evergreen Fruit Trees

The course includes a study of the appropriate environmental conditions for evergreen fruit trees, planting methods, training and pruning methods, types of evergreen fruit trees that includes citrus, olive, papaya, Annona, mango, palm, banana and pineapple

51346   Medicinal & Aromatic Plants

Covers theoretical and practical information's relating to the production of cultivated medicinal plants and many of the most common wild weeds in the local environment, the importance of medicinal and aromatic, industrial, geographical distribution and its relationship with the environment and its various factors, agricultural operations that are required to produce these plants economically, classification, plant description, plant parts used with the preparation methods

51351   Principles of Forestry

This course covers the following topics: Historical introduction about forestry science, the science of forest trees studying, appropriate species, forest ecology, ecological factors and their influences on forest growth and development, Afforestation and Forest management, role of forestry in sustainable development, Argo-forestry systems. Windbreak and shelter belt plantings. Forest protection, measurement and harvesting

51342   Entomology

This course includes; Importance of insects to agriculture, Characteristics of insects, features of insects that have enhanced their success. Morphology of insects; Anatomy and physiology of organ systems.  Locomotion in insects, and some aspects of insect behavior. Insect development & life histories. Insect - plants relationships

51360   Economic Entomology

This course includes: Study insect pests of field crop, fruit trees & vegetables: life cycle, damage, method of control.  It covers pests from the following orders: Homoptera, Hemiptera, Thysanoptera, Diptera, Coleopteran, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Orthoptera

51365   Entomology Lab.

Field Trips & Lab Sessions. Insect taxonomy of the most common insects to the order. Emphasis is placed upon identification of adult insects and important aspects of their biology such as life cycles, habitat preference, feeding habits. The student will learn how to collect, preserve, pin, label and identify insects, Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to identify basic morphological characters of adult insects, identify common insects to family on sight, and using taxonomic keys and microscope. (3 hours lab/week)

51366   Economic Entomology Lab.

Practical work consists of at least 14 field &/or lab periods. In each lab period, samples about the insect pest or its symptoms will be exposed. Small insects will be mounted on glass slides by each student. At least 20 samples about the symptoms of the economic, insect are needed to be submitted by each student at the end of the course. (3 hours lab/week)

51368   Pests of Field Crops and Stores

This course discusses the biology, morphology, damage & control measures of the major insect pests attaching field crops and stored grains.  These pests are arranged according to their host plant including wheat, corn, small grains, legumes, potato, carrot, stored products and forage plants.

51371   Plant Pathology

Part one introduce the basics of parasitism and diseases development, mechanism of disease development and plant’s defense system, genetics of plant disease, influence of environmental conditions on disease initiation and development, plant disease epidemiology and control strategies.   Part two includes the study in details of a wide range of infections and non-infectious diseases mainly caused by fungi, bacteria, mycoplasma, parasitic highly plants, viruses, nematodes and protozoa

51375   Plant Pathology Lab

The course defines major tools in disease causal agent’s isolation and identification. The lab offer hands on training for students on plant disease diagnosis of major plant diseases in Palestine

51391   Pesticides

This course discusses the general consideration, pesticide formulations, metabolism, toxicity. Insecticides: organo-phosphorous, carbamates, organo-chlorine, pyrethroids & other related compounds.  Fungicides, herbicides.  Pesticide in the environment

51402   Field Practices In Plant Production & Protection (I)

Training the student and improve his skills in plant production and protection (field crops, vegetables and fruit trees) where a piece of land at the university farm is assigned for each student to execute the different cultural practices.  The student will apply what he theoretically learned during his study in the college.  In addition, there are several field trips to introduce the student into the different agricultural systems applied in Palestine

51403   Field Practices In Plant Production And Protection (II)

Training the student and improve his skills in plant production and protection (field crops, vegetable and fruit trees) where a piece of land at the university farm is assigned for each student to execute the different cultural practices.  ‘the student will apply what he theoretically learned during his study in the college. In addition, there are several field trips to introduce the student into the different agricultural systems applied in Palestine

51411    Protected Agriculture

The course includes the importance of protected agriculture, types of structure and protection materials (glass, wood, plastic, and plastic tunnels), design, materials, components, arrangement, and maintenance of these types. Additionally, we will cover methods of controlling the environmental factors inside the protected houses. Moreover, the different cultural practices and the newly developed techniques and their effects in increasing the productivity and improving the quality of crops will be addressed. Finally, the cultural practices under protected conditions using smart and programmed applications for the most important crops (tomato, cucumber, and others) will be included.

51412   Protected Agriculture Lab.

It aims to identify the types of greenhouses, their construction, tools, materials used for covering them, and the plants grown inside them

51413   Smart Greenhouse: Constructions & Management

This course aims to introduce the types of greenhouses based on the type of cover used, structures, shapes, and modern control systems within greenhouses, including irrigation, fertilization, lighting, temperature, ventilation, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration. The course includes a practical component that involves planting various seedlings, applying modern systems to these plants, and comparing them with traditional systems

51363   Economic Mites

Mites & its relations to arthropods. External anatomy, internal anatomy. And physiology.  Classification of mites.  Biology & ecology of economic mites attacking fruit trees.  Vegetables & field crops.  Their life cycle, damage & methods of control.

51453   Integrated Pest Management

This course includes: Definition of pests, history of pest control.  Economics of pest control.  Philosophy of pest control.  Natural ecosystem. Agricultural ecosystem.  Plant resistant, natural enemies, insecticide attractants, repellents, sampling & statistical analysis. Strategies of integrated pest management.

51472   Plant Diseases Control

Introduction, diagnosis, disease epidemiology, damage assessments, methods of disease control including legislative, cultural, physical, biological, chemical methods and plant disease resistance

51473   Fruit Trees Diseases

Introduction; diseases of pome fruits, stone fruits, grape, fig and olive trees.  Every section includes studying major diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, phytoplasma and viruses, remedies and a biotic diseases and their control.

Practical pant includes field trips for collection and diagnosis of fruit diseases in addition to lab. Examination of specimens

51474    Vegetable Diseases

The course deals with diseases of major deciduous tree fruits including pome fruits, stone fruits, grapes, fig, and olive.  Every section focuses on diseases caused by fungi. bacteria, viruses, nematodes, in addition to non-infectious disorders and their control.

Practical part includes field trips for collection and diagnosis of vegetable diseases both in the open field and under protected system in addition to lab. Examination of specimens

51501   Seminar In Plant Production & Protection

This course provide opportunity for the student to use the journals and other scientific sources in his field of study, and to learn the scientific method of research writing, summarize the information, and make presentation about certain subject in plant production or protection

51504    Special Topics

This course aims to give the student a specialized scientific material, that was not included in the study plan, and the department found it important for the students.  The course taught by invited teacher or by one of the faculty members

51334   Research Methods in Plant Production & Protection

This course is designed to enhance the students understanding of the principles and processes of agricultural research. The course will provide students with a foundation in critical thinking, experimental design and data analysis that will be applicable to independent research projects and graduate studies. Students will also explore the practical requirements and limitations of scientific research. Laboratory and field safety, intellectual property and research ethics will be reviewed. Students will be required to practice both writing skills and oral presentation

51572   Plant Virology

This course including studying the principles of virology, morphology structure, replication and spread of viruses: techniques and methods in virus isolation, symptoms of virus diseases and its occurrence, their relationship with its transporters, its ecology, economic harmful, and the most important virus diseases.

Practical part: Includes methods of virus transportation, isolation, purification, characterization and purification methods

51573   Plant Nematology

This course deals with the basic principles of nematology, involving the morphology, biology, host – parasite relationship, and management of Phyto nematodes. This course also covers individual nematodes of significant economic importance from various nematode taxa.

Practical part: Includes studying the most important types of nematode after isolation and identification of Phyto nematodes

51574    Bacterial Plant Diseases

Introduction, morphology, structure and composition of bacterial cell; taxonomy, nutrition, genetics.  Pathogenesis, infection and disease development, major bacterial diseases and its control.

Practical part includes basic bacterial methodologies in respect to isolation, culturing and classification in addition to inoculation and diagnosis of major bacterial diseases

51581   Weeds & Weeds Control

This course covers various aspects of weed biology and ecology, weed categories, interference and economic importance. It also provides various methods of their control.

Practical part: Field trips & practices. Identification of weeds & application of methods of control. Elaboration of sparing machine

51421    Grapes Production

The course covers the history of grape cultivation, grapevine varieties, botanical description, growth stages, and fruit ripening. It also addresses modern agricultural practices for grape production, including: variety selection, site selection, site preparation for planting, vineyard establishment, tillage, fertilization, weed, pest, and disease control, rootstocks and propagation methods, pruning techniques, and training systems

51422    Olives Production

The course covers the introduction to the olive tree, suitable environmental conditions, botanical description, major varieties and cultivars grown in Palestine, vegetative and fruiting growth stages, origins and propagation methods, orchard planning, pre-fruiting agricultural operations, post-fruiting agricultural operations, and factors affecting the production and quality of olive oil

51423    Palms Production

The course covers an introduction to the date palm tree, its suitable environmental conditions for growth and production, and the regions where it is widely cultivated, with a focus on the main types and varieties grown in Arab countries, particularly in Palestine. It also includes sexual and asexual propagation methods, land preparation and planning for planting offshoots, essential care practices such as irrigation, fertilization, and pest control, as well as pruning types, pollination methods and timing, and the economic production of dates, including thinning, bending, bagging, harvesting, and storage of fruits. Additionally, the course explores factors affecting date production and quality, along with an economic feasibility study of date production

51424    Citrus Production

The course includes an introduction to citrus fruits, their varieties, botanical description, growth stages, and fruit ripening. It covers suitable environmental conditions, selection of varieties and orchard site, orchard establishment, and agricultural practices such as weed, pest, and disease control, fertilization, irrigation, pruning, and training. Additionally, it addresses rootstocks and propagation methods

53101    Rural Development

Study of the different rural societies. Their movements, natures and types. Rural organization. The possibility of developing the rural societies. The local rural societies

53122   Principles of Agricultural Extension

This course is instructed in Arabic. It includes the study of the Agricultural Extension and how does the extension increase the productivity. Education among farmers. History, philosophy, basic principles of developing, implementing, and evaluation of extension programs. Applications for that. Agricultural extension in Palestine, history, organizations, and objectives

53211   Principles of Agricultural Economics

Introduction to basic methods of accounting and to the general principles of mathematics. Basic economic concepts and principles. Input – output relations. Agricultural production function, law of diminishing returns, agricultural production relations, costs of the production, supply and demand and their laws

53214   Farm Management

Introducing the basic principles of agricultural economics which is needed by farm management. Basic concepts of farm management. Application of economic principles to farm management, planning, decision making process, production theory, costs and balance sheets, linear programming and farm budget. Risk and uncertainty in agriculture.

53225    Food Security

Introduction to some basics of agricultural economics related to food security. Definition of Food security. The Importance of storage and the decision-making process. The system of food security and its relation on local, individual, and notional levels. The different polices of food security. The organization that works on food security

53231   Agricultural Marketing

The principles of agricultural economics related to marketing. Principles of marketing. Marketing functions and services. Demand, supply and price of farm products under perfectly competitive market. Marketing organizations. Marketing channels and structure. Marketing cost and Bargaining power

53237    Statistics and Experimental Design

Introduction to basic methods of accounting and to the general principles of mathematics. The researcher’s problem, the elements of chance, steps in experimentation, the normal distribution, means, standard deviation, sampling from a normal distribution, statistical hypothesis and tests of significance, the analysis of variance and their tests, the completely randomization design, split; plot; and block designs, and the Latin square design

55100    Environmental Awareness

It teaches the different kinds of environment in the world. The natural ecological system and its components. The reasons for increasing the environmental crises. It also studies air, water and soil  pollutions, the  reasons, and ways of protections. It educates desertification reasons and the impact of pesticides on the environment. Finally it looks at the environment in Palestine in its different aspects

55211    Principles of Soil Science

Soil and its components, physical and chemical soil properties, soil water, organic matter, soil organisms, soil nutrients

55217    Principals of Soil Science Lab

Laboratory exercises: Soil sampling, moisture determinations, texture, structure, densities and porosity, salinity, pH, soil color, organic matter content, carbonate content

55212    Soil Fertility & Fertilizers

Plant growth factors, nutrients, N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S and micronutrients functions and sources, fertilizer application

55218    Soil Fertility & Fertilizers Lab

Laboratory exercises: recognizing fertilizers, calculations of fertilizer rate, concentrations of active ingredients in fertilizers, preparation solutions for fertigation, determination of N content in soils, determination of water-soluble, and acid soluble P content in soils, determination of K content in soils, visual deficiency observations

55221    Principals Irrigation & Drainage

In this course, the students will be introduced to irrigation definition, sources of irrigation water, soil-water relationship: field capacity, wilting point, leaching and drainage, required applied depth, water requirements for plants, irrigation scheduling.

In addition, water delivery systems for irrigation systems: pipes, open channels, pumping will be presented.  Also, irrigation systems: types, advantages and disadvantages, surface irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, drip and trickle irrigation will be discussed.  Water quality and irrigation and water conveyance systems will be introduced

55316    Soil, Plant & Water Relationship

Soil characters, soil water, soil salinity and its effect on plant growth, cycles of N, P, K, S, Ca, and Mg Nutrient cycling. Hysteresis, capillary rise and soil water.  Water movement in different types of soils. Field capacity, the continuous chain for relation-ship between soil, water, plant and atmosphere.  Soil colloids; their nature and practical significance plant growth regulators. Soil stabilizers micronutrient elements and plant growth, movement of water in soil. Plant water consumption and wilting point.

55317   Soil Conservation & Management

Soil types and their properties, and its relation-ships with soil conservation & management, soil forming factors, soil deterioration,  water and wind erosion,  predicting soil  loss,  USLE, conservation structures,  conservation tillage,  soil pollution.

55320   Soilless Agriculture and Hydroponic

Definition of Soilless Agriculture. Components and Characteristics of Soilless and Hydroponic Agriculture. Methods of Hydroponic Agriculture. Disadvantages of Hydroponic Agriculture. Advantages of Hydroponic Agriculture. Crops Suitable for Hydroponic Farming. Horizons and Future of Hydroponic Agriculture

55515   Organic Agriculture

Definition, importance, and objective of organic culture, hazards of pesticides and fertilizer for microorganisms and health, organic properties of soils, principles of organic culture,  compost and composting,  natural and biological methods of composting,  organic crops,  cover crops in organic culture,  quality of organic products and its benefits

55517     Organic Agriculture lab

Compost preparation, sampling composts before and after composting, land preparation for organic culture, observations of plants and microorganisms, comparison of soil treated with organic and chemical materials