Non Category Courses

Dear students,

Welcome to the module of Biochemistry. The module comprises two units:

1. Functional Biochemistry (5 credits)

This unit will equip students with knowledge and skills in the field of Functional Biochemistry. It is aimed at familiarizing students with different structures and functions of biomolecules in animal body, as well as their effect on animal productivity.

2. NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY (5 credits)

Covers biochemical molecules and metabolic pathways that are essential for nutritional homeostasis, with a focus on macro-nutrient metabolism. It also focuses on energy metabolism in the animal.

Objectives

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• Identify and describe biological mechanisms which occur in the life of livestock.
  • Describe the structure, classification and function of carbohydrates, fats, nucleic acids, proteins, vitamins and enzymes.

Teaching strategies

Lectures will be delivered with discussions aimed at stimulating students to read themselves. Assignments, exercises, and laboratory sessions will be given to encourage the students to read and search for information in order to complete what they have been given in lecture notes. These assignments will be presented and discussed in the classroom, to encourage student to participate in the teaching and learning process.

Lecture notes are provided on hard copies. The lecturer will help, lead and guide discussions and summarize students’ ideas and evaluate them. The lecturer should emphasize on key concepts in order to be able to cover all the contents.

Assessment Strategy

Evaluation will be in form of assignments, continuous assessment tests (CATs) and a final exam. Assignments will take 20%, CATs 30% and the final exam 50%. CATs and final exam will be administered in 1 hour and 3 hours periods respectively.

1. 1.      Learning Outcomes
   1. A.    Knowledge and Understanding

On completion of the module, students will have knowledge and understanding of:

A1-Structure and function of Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, Nucleic acids and Vitamines

A2- Biochemical mechanisms within living organisms

A3- Structure and properties of genetic material

B.     Cognitive/intellectual skill/Application of knowledge

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

B1- Find out the methods used to estimate of Sugars, Proteins and Lipids

B2- Describe the structure of biomolecules

B5-Describe the function of biomolecules within living organism

C.    Practical Skills

Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to demonstrate the following skills:

C1-Evaluate quantitatively biomolecules in a sample

C2- Evaluate qualitatively biomolecules in a sample

C3-Identify source of biomolecules

D.    General Transferable skills

Having successfully completed the module, the student should be able to:

DI- Demonstrate competence in written and oral communication about biochemical  studies

D2 - Work in groups with colleagues

D3- Express clearly, comprehensively and correctly the structure and function of biomolecules in different living systems, nature of genetic material.

5. Communication, ICT and numeracy skills

The students are expected to be able to:

E1. Use computer programs such as Microsoft package to present biochemical data.

E2. Analyze and evaluate biochemical problems.

E3. Use computer to present Cleary the structure biomolecules

6. Autonomy, responsibility and working with others

F₁. Master the presented mathematical models and to identify their applications in the learner’s environment.

F₂. Use acquired mathematical skills to develop work spirit, team work, self- confidence and time management without supervision.

2.      Key readings

Gilbert, H. F. (2000). Basic concepts in Biochemistry, second edition, McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.

Graham, S. T.W & Craig, B.F. (2011), Organic Chemistry, International StudentVersion, tenth edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Garrett, R.H. & Grisham, C.M. (1999), Biochemistry, second edition, Harcourt Brace, Custom Publishers.

Holme, D. J. &Peck, H. (1998), Analytical Biochemistry, third edition, Pearson Education Ltd.

Sheehan, D. (2009). Physical Biochemistry, 2nd ed. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2009.

Welcome to Module 6123: Environmental Soil Biology & Chemistry.

Basic knowledge in soil biology, microbiology and ecology and soil chemistry are necessary

 Module description form

1. Module code :               School: Agriculture and Foods Sciences

2. Module Title:  Environmental soil biology and chemistry

3. Level  :  6                     Semester : 1                 Credits : 20(10+10)

4. First year presentation : 2014 – 2015                Administering  School :  A&FS

5. Pre- requisite or co-requisite module, excluded combination

6. Allocation of study and teaching hours

                                                                 

   Total learner hours: 200	Student hours
   Lectures	72
   Seminars/workshops	4
   Practical classes/laboratory	24
   Structured exercises	12
   Set reading etc.	20
   Self-directed study	36
   Assignments – preparation and writing	16
   Examination – revision and attendance	10
   Other:	6

    

   Brief description of aims and content

   The aim of this course is to extend soil biology and chemistry. To provide an account of the subject for postgraduate students, which encompasses global issues concerning the environment and its conservation.  To provide a comprehensive view of the chemistry and biology of soil, particularly those aspects connected with the protection of the environment. The first presents fundamental information on the chemistry and biology of soil in its natural state, as well as on changes caused by soil pollution. Along with chemical and biological changes, considerable attention will be paid to toxicological aspect.  The effect of different inorganic and organic substances on the properties of the soil, then the methods of chemical and biological analysis

   
   This module will examine the chemical and biological processes in soil and related terrestrial environments, and the consequences of these processes as they relate to soil productivity, environmental quality and pollution of soil and water.

   The module provides a comprehensive view of

   • soil, its inhabitants, and their activities:   soil organisms communities (soil biota) and its impact on soil pollution in agro ecosystem ( agrocenose) and chemistry of soil  organic matter(  hmus chemistry)its environmental significance, particular potential labile humic substances on soil pollution) and
   •  Influence of man on natural cycle of soil (acid rain, nitrogen fertilizers are considered alongside pesticides and genetically modified organisms.
   • Fundamental chemical concepts such as soil solution and solid phase chemistry, sorption phenomena, ion exchange and oxidation-reduction, hydrolysis and photolysis reactions. These concepts can be used to predict the transport and bioavailability of inorganic and organic contaminants in soils and to assess the behavior of soils to crop production controlling nutrients’ availability to plants and rates of pollutant reactions as well as technologies for remediating contaminated soils.  

   • 8. Learning Outcomes

      

     Knowledge and Understanding

     Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:

     • Evaluate the functional roles of soil and its inhabitants:  organisms ( soil biota) in decomposition and nutrient cycling and the wider environmental significance of these processes
     • Analyse interactions between soil pollutants and soil organisms
     • Assess soil contaminations on the basis of soil biological and chemical properties
     • Analyse the trophic relationships between soil organisms and their interactions with soil physical and chemical properties at different spatial and temporal scales
     •  Use a computer model to predict transformations and losses in the soil nitrogen cycle and appraise the model output
     •  Identify and criticize methodologies used to test, enumerate and isolate soil organisms in the laboratory
     • Gain a holistic understanding of soil ecological functioning at the centre of terrestrial ecosystems and become familiar with new terminology and concepts in a highly topical field.
     • Illustrate fundamental principles of soil chemistry with respect to environmental reactions including  redox, hydrolysis, etc on  natural materials  such as heavy metals, radionuclide, metalloids, pesticides, industrial contaminants, acid rain, and salts  and heavy metals in soil and their speciation
     •  Understand and describe the solid and liquid phases of soil, and how they affect the chemical reactions and processes that occur between the phases on  soil pollutants;
     • Evaluate how soil chemistry processes can be managed to promote plant productivity and land remediation, including techniques and calculations used.
     • Comprehend the physical, chemical and biological functioning within soil

      

     Cognitive/Intellectual skills/Application of Knowledge

      

     Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:

     Adopt a holistic approach in undertaking the soil biological and biochemical and chemical processes that contribute to the global biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus and the chemical reactions between soils and environmentally important plant nutrients, radio nuclides, metals, metalloids, and organic chemicals.

      

     Communication/ICT/Numeracy/Analytic Techniques/Practical Skills

      

     Having successfully completed the course, students should be able to:

        Take soil samples and prepare them for analyses. 

        Carry out measurements of some soil physical properties and interprete their results.

        Carry out measurements of some soil chemical properties and interprete their results.

        Carry out measurements of some soil biological properties and interprete their results.

      

      

                

     General transferable skills

      

     Having successfully completed the module, Students should be able to:

      

     Use a holistic approach in understanding the soil physical, chemical and biological properties and their interactions with the sources, reactions, transport, effects, and fates of chemical species in the air, soil and water environments; and the effect of human activity and biological activity on these and in particular oxidation-reduction of metals and organics, and effects of acidic deposition and salinity on contaminant reactions

     • 1. Indicative Content

        

       Component of Environmental soil biology

       Soil as a habitant for organisms; life in the soil : microbial biomass, the soil inhabitants ( Soil organism communities (soil biota) ( the major groups of organisms in soil, including microorganisms, meso- and macro-fauna), plant roots; Biological processes in soil: what do organisms require for  life?, biochemical processes , soil enzymes, sources of substrates for heterotrophs, substrate quality and microbial biomass and nutrients cycling. Soil formation and development: paedogenesis, weathering of rocks, organic matter, profile development, and influence of man. Environmental issues: acidification, salinity, heavy metal, nitrate leaching, pesticides, and introduced organism.  Soil biology in sustainability of  Agro-environment in the future:  sustainability of agriculture development, environmental quality, soil and global climate changes, biodiversity sustainable agriculture system

         their interactions in food webs);  and their interaction with biotic and abiotic factors, To describe fundamental ecological processes and biotic communities in agro ecosystems/ agrocenose as well as the impact on  soil pollution; Linkages between soil biological communities and plants. Trophic interactions and soil biological communities, Soil organisms as bio-indicators, Soil Organic Matter fractions pool  and their relevance to soil function and pollution, modern functional concepts of  analytical methods for soil organic matter . Microbial ecology and diversity, biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, biodegradation, soil enzymes:  soil biochemistry and effect on soil pollutant. Chemistry of Soil Organic Matter(  Humus chemistry:  colloidal properties of humic substance, electrochemical and ion-exchangeable properties of humic substances reactive function group involving metal ions, pesticides and others in soil, etc), environmental significance of humic substances:  its effect on soil contamination, particular potentially labile humic constituents, etc.

        

       PRACTICES : Design of the experiment (field and laboratory experiments), Soil sampling of polluted and unpolluted soils (e.g. samples of a field trial including different amounts of polluted sludges), selection of methods in soil biology and chemistry for different aims (soil management, soil pollution, soil reclamation), description of soil biological and chemical analysis methods in lab, statistical analyses, calculation and interpretation of the results, discussion and classification of the results of the  soil pollution level on the basis of soil biological and chemical properties, presentation of the results (oral presentation, poster or short communication),

        

        

       10. Learning and Teaching Strategy

        

       This is a theory and practical based module. The learning strategy comprises lectures, assigned reading materials, and in-class discussions along with field visits. Students will be tested on their level of understanding of the materials covered in class.

        

       11. Assessment Strategy. 

        

                 1          Continuous assessment tests comprising assignments and presentations, and final examination will be given. Examinations will cover lectures, assigned reading materials, and class discussions.

                 2          The assignments will be graded on individual basis and on each component of the module;

                 3          Individual projects will be assessed through power point presentations at the end of the module.

        

       12.  Assessment Pattern

        

       Component                                        Weighing

       Continuous assessment tests (CAT)               50%                        

       Final examination                                            50%                      

       Minimum marks for pass is 60% for masters

        

       13.  Strategy for feedback and learner support during module 

        

       Learners will be allocated consultation time for clarifications on issues pertaining to each module component.  Timely feedback will be given to students after grading each assignment.

        

       14. Indicative Resources

        

       Core text:  There is no required textbook for this course; any booktext related soil biology or soil chemistry

     • Recommended reading:
     • Bertold,H. and Erich F.Elstrner.(2005). Plant toxicology. 4th ed. 270 Madison Avenue, NY10016, USA.
     • Charlotte,J.(2009). Biology of Soil Sciences. 1sth ed.267, 10-B-Scheme, jaipur 302018, JapanBardget, R.( 2015). The biology of soil. Chennai, India
     • Ezekiel, A. Akinrinde (2014). Soil : Natural fertility conservation and management. AMS publishing, Inc, Ibadan, Nigeria

     •            

       15. Background texts

        

       Journal articles:

        

       Key websites and on-line resources:

        

       1. Other resources
       2. Teaching team:

       Dr. Hamudu RUKANGANTAMBARA

       Prof. NARAMABUYE

The module of Farm Management and Agriculture Finance deals with the general concepts, principles and methods of farm management as well as the aspects and challenges of financing agriculture. Without being exhaustive, the course will address the economic principles of agricultural production, the different approaches and tools for farm management: economic, analytical, systemic and strategic as well as the risk in agriculture and the role of the different actors. The course will also provide students with skills for developing a strategic plan for the development of farms using economic optimization tools (General Algebraic Modeling Systems, GAMS) and development of a technical management advice report and decision making tools for technical and economic direction of the farm.

Module Description:

This module is aiming at providing the students with an understanding of problems of rural people accessing the financial services and special challenges of rural areas that are traditionally associated with rural and agricultural credit directed to the poor.

Rural finance provide an awareness of the importance of rural finance in development and the difficult history and learning that has taken place. To understand thoroughly the challenges and issues in rural finance. Understand level of comprehension and participant suggestions from feedback discussion.

Learning outcomes:

Having successfully completed the module, you should be able to:

(1)Demonstrate knowledge on the forces that affect rural finance and marketing

(2) Analyse historical rural finance aspects

(3) Specify non-linear models 

(4) Analyse the model and interpret the results through hypothesis testing

(5) Be able to handle some of the practical consequences in the regression analysis

(6) Be familiar with the use of SPSS in the analysis of econometric models

(7) Apply econometrics  and modelling in agricultural problem solving

(8) Collect and analysis data for empirical analysis

(9) Analyse problems with help of appropriate tools and define and evaluate relationships between agricultural phenomena

(10) Write a report especially during their assignments

(11) Present the results from analysis by linking the economic theory and economic principles.

(12) Independently carry out a field survey

(13) Conduct data analysis and report writing

Welcome to Scientific Research Methods module. The module is designed for Year III Rural Development Student. The module is made up of two components:

1. Research Methodology I

2. Biometrics

Aim:

(i) The main objective of this course is to make the student able to design, to implement & organize, to carry out and to write various research tasks.

(ii) To make student familiar with basic knowledge of Data Management; Data collection and Analysis and application of software in problems solving

(iii) To make the student familiar with basic concepts in planning and analysis of Agricultural experiment.