COURSE CAPSULES OF THE BOARD OF STUDY IN CROP SCIENCE

   List of Courses of the Board of Study

 

Course No	Course Title	Credits
First Semester
CS 5101	Principles of Crop Production	3
CS 5102	Plant Water Relationships I	2
CS 5103	Weed Biology	2
CS 5104	Horticulture I	2
CS 5105	Crop Physiology	3
CS 5106	Seed Physiology and Technology	3
CS 5107	Protected Culture	2
CS 5108	Pomology (Fruit Crop Management)	2
CS 5109	Olericulture (Vegetable Crop Culture)	2
CS 5110	Forest Ecology	2
CS 5111	Principles of Agroforestry	2
CS 5112	Plantation Forestry and Environment	2
CS 5113	Forest Influences on Soil, Water and Climate	2
CS 5114	Biodiversity	2
CS 5115	Policy and Legislation Related to Forestry and Environment	1
CS 5116	Forest Systematic	2
CS 5117	Economics of Environmental Forestry	2
CS 5118	Forest Products and Utilization	1
CS 5119	Landscape Horticulture	3
CS 5120	Commercial Nursery Management	2
CS 5121	Commercial Floriculture	3
CS 5122	Plant Growth Regulators	2
CS 5123	Plant Tissue Culture Micropropagation	2
CS 5124	Field Crops in the Tropics	2
CS 5125	Tropical Cropping Ecosystems	2
CS 5126	Tropical Environments and Farming Systems	2
CS 5127	Tropical Plant Diversity and Ethno-Botany	2
CS/AS 5128	Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems in the Tropics (M.Sc. in Tropical Agriculture)
CS 5198	Directed Study and Seminar	2
Second Semester
CS 5201	Weed Control	2
CS 5202	Climate Change and Crop Production	3
CS 5203	Crop Management Techniques	3
CS 5204	Crop Ecology	2
CS 5205	Horticulture II	2
CS 5206	Postharvest Physiology and Management of Horticultural Produce	2
CS 5207	Physiology of Cereal Production	2
CS 5208	Organic Crop Production	2
CS 5209	Plant Water Relationships II	2
CS 5210	Herbicide Toxicology	1
CS 5211	Tree Crop Physiology	2
CS 5212	Scientific Writing and Proposal Formulation	2
CS 5213	Rural Development Forestry	2
CS 5214	Natural Forest Management	2
CS 5215	Ecological Interaction of Trees and Crops	2
CS 5216	Urban Forestry and Arboriculture	2
CS 5217	Forest Tree Improvement and Genetic Conservation	2
CS 5218	Quantitative Techniques in Forestry	2
CS 5219	Advances in Agroforestry	1
CS 5220	Forest Growth Modeling	2
CS 5221	Forest Biometrics	2
CS 5222	Landscape Architecture	2
CS 5223	Indoor Gardening for Interior Decoration	2
CS 5224	Landscape Designs	3
CS 5225	Advance Plant Tissue Culture	2
CS 5226	Advance Greenhouse Production and Technology	2
CS 5227	Introduction to Recombinant DNA Technology	2
CS 5228	Agricultural Research Management	3
CS 5229	Plantation Agriculture in Tropics	2
CS 5230	Tropical Horticulture	2
	Research Study (Thesis) for M.Sc. in Tropical Agriculture

List of Courses

Course No	Course Title	Credits	Option
First Semester
CS 5107	Protected Culture	2	Compulsory
CS 5119	Landscape Horticulture	3	Compulsory
CS 5120	Commercial Nursery Management	2	Compulsory
CS 5121	Commercial Floriculture	3	Compulsory
CS 5104	Horticulture 1	2	Elective
CS 5106	Seed Physiology and Technology	3	Elective
CS 5108	Pomology (Fruit Crop Management)	2	Elective
CS 5109	Olericulture (Vegetable Crop Production)	2	Elective
CS 5122	Plant Growth Regulators	2	Elective
CS 5123	Plant Tissue Culture Micropropagation	2	Elective
CS 5198	Directed Study and Seminar	2	Elective
EC 5104	Agricultural Marketing 1	2	Elective
PP 5102	Plant Pathology	2	Elective
Second Semester
CS 5206	Post-harvest Physiology and Management of Horticultural Crops	2	Compulsory
CS 5222	Landscape Architecture	2	Compulsory
CS 5223	Indoor Gardening for Interior Decoration	2	Compulsory
CS 5224	Landscape Designs	2	Compulsory
PP 5254	Disease Management in Floricultural Crops	2	Compulsory
CS 5202	Weed Control	2	Elective
CS 5205	Horticulture II	2	Elective
CS 5216	Urban Forestry and Arboriculture	2	Elective
CS 5225	Advance Plant Tissue Culture	2	Elective
CS 5226	Advance Greenhouse Production and          Technology	2	Elective
CS 5227	Introduction to Recombinant DNA            Technology	2	Elective
AB 5203	Plant Breeding Techniques	2	Elective
SS 5201	Soil Fertility and Fertilizers	3	Elective

        

COURSE CAPSULES OF THE BOARD OF STUDY IN CROP SCIENCE

Courses Offered in the First Semester

            Principles of Crop Production (3)

            Principles of field crop and horticultural crop production to include climate and ecology, Seeds            and sowing, Measurement of crop growth, Plant nutrition and fertilizers, Weed control,       Irrigation, Harvesting and Storage. Field visit: to an agricultural research station or a production             farm.

            Plant Water Relationships I (2)

            Physiological and ecological importance of water in plat growth and agriculture, Quantification            of water availability in soil-plant-atmosphere system, Principles and mechanisms of water             transfer, Factors determining water absorption by crop root systems, Radial and axial       translocation of water within plants, Transpiration and water use efficiency.

            Weed Biology (2)

            Domestication of plants, Agricultural and environmental weeds, Survival mechanisms of weeds,           Weed-crop interactions, Common weeds and their biology

            Practical: Identification of weeds and their propagules, field visits to identify the diversity of     weeds under agricultural and natural ecosystems

            Horticulture I (2)

            Semi perennial and perennial fruits and vegetables, Introduction, Present status and future

            potential of horticulture, propagation methods and nursery management, Floral biology and

            fruit set, Physiology and practices of plant training, Mixed cropping and cropping systems of

            vegetables, Designing and management of orchards, Plant nutrition and water management,              Breeding and crop improvement, Post harvest management, Seeds and planting materials,           Phyto-sanitory regulations in imports and exports.

            Crop Physiology (3)

            Framework for analysis of crop growth and yield formation, Principles of radiation interception

            by crop canopies, radiation use efficiency, Determination of crop development by temperature

            and photoperiod, Photosynthesis and respiration at crop canopy level, Biomass partitioning and

            determination of harvest index, Physiology of crops environmental stress conditions, Water use

            efficiency, Root and nutrient physiology, Nutrient use efficiency.

            Seed Physiology and Technology (3)

             Importance and value of seeds in Sri Lanka, Influence of environment on seed formation and             development, Seed viability and survival curves, Seen dormancy, Physiology of seed     germination, Seed vigour and vigour testing, Seed production and post-harvest aspects of seeds,            Seed quality and seed testing, Seed laws, Seed certification, Varietal characterizations.

            Field visits: Seed production farms and seed storage warehouses in different seed production      farms.

            Protected Culture (2)

            Introduction to protected culture, structural differences of greenhouses, greenhouse environment   control, growing systems and hydroponics, nutrient and water management, other greenhouse        technology, protection from pest & diseases, budgeting.

            Field visits: to production centres and video shows.

            Pomology (Fruit Crop Management) (2)

            Natural history, Evolution and domestication of fruit crops, The science of fruit production in tropical climates, Present status and future potential of fruit industry in Sri Lanka, Fruit crops      grown in Sri Lanka and their ecological and climatic requirements, Evolution, Breeding history   and physiology of high priority fruit crops and other fruit crops, cultural practices that influence          productivity, fruit quality and pest damage, Marketing and economics, Alternative production   practices for commercial and home gardeners, Related topics with respect to the current           literature, Experimental techniques or applied technologies.

            Olericulture (Vegetable Crop Culture) (2)

            Introduction, Cropping systems, Vegetable culture, Processing, Marketing and export of fresh            vegetables, Quality of vegetables, Crop improvements, Institutional support, Research       advancements, Global review.

            Field visits: Learning the practical aspects of vegetable crop cultivation, Post-harvest operations      and marketing by field visits and other audio-visual aids.

            Forest Ecology (2)

            Theory: Ecosystem concepts, The physical and biotic environment, Ecological energetics,      Transfer and storage of energy in ecosystem, Ecosystem structure and species interactions,   Ecological succession, Species strategies, Pioneer and climax, Productivity of forest             ecosystems, Nutrient cycling, Major forest types, their climatic control and characteristics, Role     of forest, Disturbance in ecosystems and regeneration of soil and vegetation, Gap theory.

            Practical: Field visits to study natural forests

            Principles of Agroforestry (2)

            Theory: Concepts of definitions, role of trees in agroforestry, Systems of classification,             Advantages of agroforestry, Ecological and socio-economic, Structure, Composition and  functions of common agroforestry practices in Sri Lanka, Species selection, Tree-crop interface           and ecological interactions in agroforestry, Criteria used and evaluation of agroforestry,            Designing agroforestry practices, Diagnosis and design (D&D).

            Practical: Field visits to study different agroforestry systems

            Plantation Forestry and Environment (2)

            Theory: Role of plantation forestry on environment, Afforestration/reforestation objectives,      Choice of tree species, Tree seed problems, Nursery techniques, Field planting, Fertilizer     application, Weeding costs, Silvicultural treatments, Cleaning, Pruning, Thinning, Timber stand       improvement, Regeneration techniques/silvicultural systems, high forest method and low forest method, Growth and dynamics of stands, Forest mesuration, age, Diameter, Height, Stem form,        Bark thickness, Tree crown, Tree growth.

            Practical: Field visits to a well-managed forest plantation, measuring different stand parameters      and evaluating the stand

            Forest Influences on Soil, Water and Climate (2)

            Introduction: Environmental problems in Sri Lanka, how environmental issues can be address       through forestry and related activities, Current situation and future of the forestry sector; Soil    ecosystems; Soil biodiversity; Ecological significance of forest soils; Sustainable soil          management; Hydrology of forest ecosystems; Concepts of watershed management and current problems in watersheds; Quantification of hydrological processes and soil erosion. Climatic    conditions and agro-ecological zones of Sri Lanka; Global climate change; Impacts of climate         change on forest ecosystems; Clean Development Mechanisms: Forests as carbon sink.

            Biodiversity (2)

            Theory: Introduction; levels, uses and threats; systematics, evolution and extinction;             biodiversity in Sri Lanka; assessment, monitoring and interpretation of biodiversity information;   biodiversity indices; biodiversity as an indicator; options for conservation: in situ, ex situ and      circa situm; special topics related to biodiversity, red listing, biodiversity prospecting, benefit       sharing, traditional knowledge, ecotourism, laws, treaties, agreements, conventions and           international cooperation; use of biodiversity in developmental planning.

            Practical: Investigation and quantification of biodiversity of different ecosystem and preparation           of biodiversity conservation plan for a selected area

            Policy and Legislation Related to Forestry and Environment (1)

            Introduction; Processes and products of policies; Evolution of forest, wildlife and              environmental policies in Sri Lanka; Policy formulation and stakeholder participation; Policy   objectives of forestry and environment; Quantitative information for decision making;        Paradigms of forestry and agroforestry: sustainable, multiple use and multi resources           management; Institutional organization of forest, wildlife and environmental policies; Politics        and policies; Gaps in existing policies; Case study on policy development (group work).

            Forest Systematics (2)

            Principles and practices of plant systematics; Nomenclature and identification of forest plants;   Pattern of variation of forest plants; Experimental approach to establish evolutionary  relationships; Value of systematics in conservation and management of forests.

            CS 5117. Economics of Environmental Forestry (2)

            Principles of Market economic theory; Investment appraisal in forestry; Economics decisions         related to rotation length, thinning and other operations; Environmental valuation techniques in          forestry; Economic principles in natural resource allocation; Economic perspective of        sustainability.

            CS 5118. Forest Products and Utilization (1)

            Theory: Harvesting process, systems and equipment; Anatomical structure of wood; Properties       of wood; Wood conversion; Uses of wood; Wood defects; Seasoning and preservation of wood;            Wood products: Composite products, pulp and paper; Non-timber forest products: Extraction,    processing and utilization; Environmental friendly forest production techniques.

            Practical: Field visit to timber processing centers

            CS 5119. Landscape Horticulture (3)

            Theory: Introduction to landscape Horticulture. Materials used in landscape designs.              Establishment and maintenance of soft landscape materials. Theories and principles of         landscape garden designs. Landscape gardening with emphasis on design construction. History of garden design, Application of garden design principles and techniques. Planting design, Principles and practice, Plant materials for landscape work, Relevant nursery stocks. Contract     procedure, preparation of specifications, quantities, cost estimates, etc.

            Practical: Identification of plants used in landscape designs. Introduction of design project,            instructions, re-site investigation and evaluation.

            CS 5120. Commercial Nursery Management (2)

            Selection of nursery site. Commercial nursery management. Nursery structures. Construction   and maintenance according to climatic standards Propagators. Different types of nurseries.      Nursery media. Compost preparation. Nursery bed preparation, shade, sterilization cultural    practices. Acclimatization and training.

            CS 5121. Commercial Floriculture (3)

            Theory: Introduction. Requirement for establishment of a commercial nursery. Propagating    structures. Nutrient Film Technique, hydroponics. Commercial cut flower production. Market     demand, Characteristics required for commercial purpose. Propagation. Harvesting. Gardening.             Post-harvest treatments, Packing, Export regulations. Flower dying and floral arrangement.   Hybridization techniques. Potted plant production. Interior decorations. Identification of potted     plants. Demand, Cultural practices, propagation systems, characteristics of commercial plants,        post-harvest handling. Cut foliage: varieties, demand, harvesting, post-harvest treatments, and             packing, Bonsai Production.

            Practical: Identification of cut flowers and potted plants, Pollination techniques; Cut Flowers,

            post-harvest treatments. Field Visits : To observe propagation techniques, Commercial    nurseries: Commercial practices of cut flowers and potted plants (2 visits)

            CS 5122. Plant Growth Regulators (2)

            Introduction, History and nature of endogenous growth regulators; Biosynthesis, Properties and             mode of action. Physiological effects of growth regulators. Plant growth retardants. Targets for            manipulation of crop growth and application of plant growth regulators.

            CS 5123. Plant Tissue Culture - Micropropagation (2)

            Theory: Introduction and history of plant tissue culture, laboratory equipment and supplies,          laboratory cleanliness, plant anatomy, morphology and embryology, tissue culture media,             explant materials, aseptic procedures, and pathways of regeneration, tissue culture systems,           stages of micropropagation.

            Practical: Introduction and demonstration of laboratory equipment; chemical calculations and          stock solutions making; aseptic techniques of the preparation of the explant materials, dissection and placement on media; preparation of media for microprogation Stage I; establishment of     cultures for micropropagation Stage I; preparation of media for micropropagation Stage II and      III; conduction of transfers for Stage II and III, Acclimatization of tissue cultured plants.

            CS 5124. Field Crops in the Tropics (2)

            Overview of tropical field crops and their present status with respect to food security; Climatic       requirements of field crops; Management and yield improvement of tropical field crops with         emphasis to crop physiology: one specific crop in cereals, legumes, root and tuber crops, sugar             crops, fibre crops, spices, and narcotics; constraints to increasing production of tropical field           crops, post-harvest technologies, issues of concern to students in tropical field crops.

            CS 5125. Tropical Cropping Ecosystems (2)

            Ecosystems in the tropics, Crop communities, Ecological Resiliency, Biomass accumulation,             Ecological systems, Structure and functioning of crop ecosystems, Niches and Interactions,         Ecological features of tropical cropping systems, Crop responses to limiting factors, Crop-weed      interactions and Population dynamics in crops and weeds in the tropics, Vegetation analysis,          Ecological basis of sustainable cropping, Current developments in Crop-Ecosystem research.

            CS 5126. Tropical Environments and Farming systems (2)

            Introduction to tropical environment: climate, edaphic, biotic; common landuse systems:          lowland and upland annual/perennial cropping; traditional farming systems: shifting cultivation,    dryland farming, ecological agriculture, organic farming; cropping systems and patterns; crop-   livestock integration, evaluation of farming systems; Agroforestry and exploitation of                   agroforestry in the tropics; role of different farming systems on sustainable management of       natural resources; understanding, sustaining and using tropical environments for food            production.

            CS 5127. Tropical Plant Diversity and Ethno-Botany (2)

            Introduction; Tropical plant biology, taxonomy, identification and classification; Issues in

            tropical plant diversity: biodiversity, endemism, hotspots, diverse plant characters,             measurements of diversity, mega diversity countries, tropical wilderness area, eco-regions;

            Major monocot and dicot plant families; Plant diversity and development of tropical agriculture:

            past, present and future; Centers of plant origin and cultivation; Domestication; Introduction to

            ethnobotany; Methods of ethnobotanical studies; Phytochemistry and agriculture; Medicinal

            plant and tropical agriculture; Ethnobotany and future of tropical agriculture; Economic botany;

            Practical assignment on plant ingredients, with respect to their botanical identification,

            classification, origin of cultivation and customary mode of preparation

            CS/AS 5128. Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems in the Tropics (pass/fail course)

            This practical program is designed to provide the students with a sound knowledge and      understanding of scientific, technological, managerial, economic and sociological principles        associated with crop-livestock integration, and post-harvest/product technologies in the tropical    environments.

            CS 5198. Directed Study and Seminar (2)

            (To be offered during every semester as decided by the Board of Study)

            This course is designed to allow students to undertake an independent investigation in the

            selected field with the approval of the Board of Study. Results of the study will have to be

            presented in the seminar.

Courses Offered in the Second Semester

 

            CS 5201. Weed Control (2)

            Theory: Why control weeds? Prevention, Eradication and management of weeds, Methods of     weed control (practices, advantages and disadvantages), Weed control in crop production          systems.

            Practical: Calibration of sprayers, field visits to identify impact of different weed control            techniques in annual and perennial crop production systems

            CS 5202. Climate Change and Crop Production (3)

            Introduction to climate and its relationship to agricultural production. Effects of climatic

            parameters on crop production. Measurement of climate and weather, recording and mapping.

            Changes in climate and their causes: Rising concentrations of carbon dioxide and other

            greenhouse gases, Green house effect and global warming, Increased UV radiation, ozone

            concentrations and air pollutants, Rise in sea levels and ocean temperatures, Natural climatic

            variations. Impacts of climate change on productivity of agricultural crops, forestry and other

            natural ecosystems. Prediction of climate change and its impacts, Adaptation to climate change.

            Field visit: to the Department of Meteorology.

            CS 5203. Crop Management Techniques (3)

            Conventional agriculture vs. alternative agriculture, cropping patterns and cropping systems,          Integrated Plant Nutrient Management Systems (IPNS), Integrated Weed Management (IWM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated farming systems (crop-animal integration).

            CS 5204. Crop Ecology (2)

            Introductory ecology, Individuals, Populations, Communities, Ecosystems, Ecological       Resiliency, Biomass accumulation, Ecological systems, Structure and functioning of             ecosystems, Niches, Interactions, Ecosystems in the tropics with emphasis on Sri Lanka.          Ecological features of tropical cropping systems, Crop responses to limiting factors, Crop-weed      interactions, Population dynamics in crops and weeds, Vegetation analysis, Ecological basis of       sustainable cropping. Current developments in Crop-Ecosystem research.

            CS 5205. Horticulture II (2)

            Scope of Sri Lankan horticultural sector, Current trends, Developments and techniques in horticultural research,  Timely topics in horticultural science, Gene centres, Germplasm and its     maintenance, Regulatory role of light quality in plant development (photomorphogenesis) and     its consequences in and application for horticultural crop production, Agronomic influence in fruit growth and ripening, Integrated plant protection programmes, Quality measurements and      grading in horticultural produce.

            Field Visits : Quarantine facility at Katunayake, Commercial Nursery

            CS 5206. Postharvest Physiology & Management of Horticultural Produce (2)

            Post-harvest management and problems in developing countries, Channel of food losses,             Influence of pre-harvest factors on storage, Physiology and biochemistry fruits and vegetables after harvest, Major causes of losses, post harvest handling of cut flowers, Reduction of post-    harvest losses.

            CS 5207. Physiology of Cereal Production (2)

            Environmental influence of growth and development of cereals, Morphology and physiology of cereals in the vegetative and reproductive phases of growth, Physiology of grain production.

            CS 5208. Organic Crop Production (2)

            Introduction to organic crop production, Scope for organic crop production in Sri Lanka,

            Techniques of organic crop production, Constraints to increasing organic crop production in Sri

            Lanka.

            Field visits: to organic farms.

            CS 5209. Plant Water Relationships II (2)

            Drought and its relevance to crop productivity in Sri Lanka, Quantification of drought, Drought        resistant cultivars, Canopy stomatal conductance and crop productivity, Environmental and       plant control of stomatal conductance of crop canopies and forests, Theory of optimal stomatal        functioning in crop canopies, Non-stomatal sources of water loss, Basic principles of modelling            crop growth and yield formation in water-limited environments, Modelling of stomatal        behaviour in crop canopies.

            CS 5210. Herbicide Toxicology (1)

            Registration aspects of herbicides, Toxicity to mammals, Birds, Aquatic fauna and flora, First       aid and antidotes, Herbicide residues, FAO international code of conduct on distribution and use    of herbicides.

            CS 5211. Tree Crop Physiology (2)

            Theory: Physiological basis of growth, development and productivity of perennials; Physiology      of tree crop yield of major plantation crops: tea, rubber, coconut, export agriculture crops and physiology of major plantation forest species; Response of tree crop yield to environmental           stress and climate change (nutrient, water, light, Co2, temperature, UV etc.); Yield improvement   of tree crops.

            Practical: Field visit to study yield improvement programs for major tree crops

            CS 5212. Scientific Writing and Proposal Formulation (2)

            Research Methodology, definition, types of research, Research classification, identification and       preparation of research projects. Scientific methodologies, hypothesis. Review of past work.      Need for good scientific writing, structure and layout of a scientific paper, Title, Introduction        Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Preparation of Abstracts, Synopses, Summaries,      Resumes, Bibliographical identification, Acknowledgements .Style of reporting, Construction          of sentences, Use of words, Use of international standards, Quantity units and symbols,       Symbols for physical quantities, Use of abbreviations. Presentation of illustrations, Criteria,   type of illustrations, their merits and demerits. Review process, Responsibilities of authors,             editors and printers. Proof correction, Use of symbols. Oral presentation, Communication aids and their correct use, Practical assignments

            CS 5213. Rural Development Forestry (2)

            Rural environment: Functions of woody biomass, biophysical and socio-economic features;

            Human ecology: farmers attitudes on trees and environment; origin and definition of         participatory forestry approaches; Typology of participation, experiences and potentials of Rural

            Development Forestry (RDF) in Sri Lanka; Tools for RDF: indigenous ecological knowledge,

            farmer experimentation, methods of rural appraisal and forest resources assessment; Major

            issues: land and tree tenure, gender roles, institutions; Classical and new forester.

            CS 5214. Natural Forest Management (2)

            Theory: Rationale behind natural forest management; role of managed forests in conservation; Ecosystem concept and ecological basis of management; forest zoning; Logging and its impacts         on natural forests; Criteria and indicators for sustainable management; Rehabilitation,             reclamation and restoration of degraded forests; Natural forest silvicultural systems; Ecological       implications of social, political and economic elements of management; Successful case studies         

            Practical: Preparation of management plan for selected forest

            CS 5215. Ecological Interactions of Trees and Crops (2)

            Introduction to abiotic interactions; Principles of resource capture and utilization of light, water     and nutrient; Root and canopy distribution of trees and crops and microclimatic modifications;            Quantification of tree crop interaction; Introduction to biotic interaction; Symbiotic and non           symbiotic interactions in annuals and perennials; Nitrogen fixation; Mycorrhizal relationships;   Environmental factors affecting symbiotic relationships; Measurements of symbiotic          relationships and advantages; Ecological significance of symbiotic relationships in forestry and

            agroforestry systems. Allelopathic effects of trees and crops.

            CS 5216. Urban Forestry and Arboriculture (2)

            Theory: Introduction to urban forestry; Composition, role and benefits; Management of urban            forest; Introduction to arboriculture; Role and benefits of plants in the landscape; Selection of             plants; Inspection of plants; Land preparation for planting, root balling techniques, fertilization,   irrigation, pruning and thinning; Pest and disease control; Wounds, decay and wood treatments.

            Practical: Evaluation of urban ecosystems of major cities

            CS 5217. Forest Tree Improvement and Genetic Conservation (2)

            Theory: Essentials of genetic conservation and improvement for forest trees; current problems

            of conservation and tree improvement; tree improvement philosophies; achieving genetic gain

            and maintaining diversity; natural variation as the basis for genetic improvement and      conservation; quantitative aspects of forest tree improvement; a conceptual approach for tree

            improvement; breeding strategies as the framework for improvement and conservation; non

            industrial tree improvement; innovation in tree improvement; practical application and case

            studies.

            Practical: Field visit to conservation and improvement stands to elaborate potential and      strategies of conservation and improvement

            CS 5218. Quantitative Techniques in Forestry (2)

            Theory: Introduction; Sampling methods in Forestry: fixed-area plot sampling, variable-area   plot sampling, angle-count sampling, cluster sampling, block sampling, systematic sampling; Other aspects of sampling: temporary and permanent sample unit; Types of forest models; Stand           density; Canopy cover; Site Index; Diameter distributions; Diameter-height relations; Predicting            growth and yield; Predicting current and future yield; Model evaluation.

            Practical: Practicing different sampling methods both in natural and plantation forests

            CS 5219. Advances in Agroforestry (1)

            Research and developments during past two decades: trends and lessons learnt; Confronting

            complexity and dealing with difference: characteristics of long-established agroforestry

            practices; Performance and adoption of packaged agroforestry technologies; Agroforestry

            design: FSR/E and knowledge-based systems approach; Ecological approaches: transformation

            and analogue; Permaculture; Local and scientific knowledge on selection, arrangement and

            management of components; Agroforestry practices and policy.

            CS 5220. Forest Growth Modelling (2)

            Theory: Introduction: data requirement & types of forest models; Stand Density and Structure:        stand density, crown cover: basal area percentile, C66, BALMOD, basal area-diameter-index; Point density; Neighbour tree relation; Modelling Stand Structure: anamorphic, disjoint polymorphic & non-disjoint polymorphic height models; Basal area; Generalized & bivariate         diameter-height relations; Estimating product yield: volume ratio methods, modelling stem          profiles; Classification of yield prediction models; Explicit & implicit prediction of yield;        individual tree growth models; Qualitative & quantitative Model evaluations.

            CS 5221. Forest Biometrics (2)

            Role of statistics in forestry and agroforestry; Experimental design in forestry and agroforestry;   Determination of plot size, number of blocks and orientation; Non-orthogonal data analysis;       Non statistical considerations in forestry and agroforestry; Conventional and non-conventional sampling techniques in forestry and agroforestry; Growth models in forestry.

            CS 5222. Landscape Architecture (2)

            Theory: Principles and applications of landscape architectural design theory. Land development. Importance of regional landscape concepts. Ecological studies, landscape conservation. Studies             on recreation potential. Application of design concept to site planning. Landscape architectural     site development concepts. Theories and techniques of site development, drainage principles           and utilization of materials.

            Practical: Development of a design for a proposed site.

            CS 5223. Indoor Gardening for Interior Decorations (2)

            Use of interior decoration and its advantages, Interior environment and its effect on plants,             identification of plants for interior utilization, Identification of new plant species, aquatic plants            etc., Application of plant requirement for their selection and maintenance in interior          environment, Eco-friendly ornamental houseplants.

            Practical:

            CS 5224. Landscape Designs (3)

            Theory: Application of landscape theories. Design planning, Urban suburban and home garden   designs. Recreation and park designs. Roadside development designs. Landscape evaluation,            Site analysis, Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) of plants. Introduction to Landscape Impact     Assessment (LIA) using computer Aided Designing (CAD)

            Practical: Designing a given Project using Auto CAD.

            CS 5225. Advanced Plant Tissue Culture (2)

            Theory: Principles of plant cell culture; Types of isolated cell systems; callus cultures; cell   suspension cultures; isolated cell culture and cell planting; artificial seeds for mass propagation;            expression of organogenesis and embryogenesis; protoplasts, isolation and fusion; mutagenesis;    Haploid production in vitro fertilization embryo rescue gene transformation and transgenic   plants.

            Practical: Isolation of explants, establishment of callus cultures; subculture of callus and      establishment of cell suspension cultures; establishment of anther cultures; isolation of         protoplasts, protoplast fusion, isoenzyme systems

            CS 5226. Advanced Greenhouse Production and Technology (2)

            Theory: Cultivation of major greenhouse crops, construction and covering of greenhouses,   advances in greenhouse environment control, mechanization and automation, recirculated     hydroponic and micro irrigation, quality control, marketing, research advancements, global             review, present & future of protected culture.

            Practical: Review of product and technological information

            CS 5227. Introduction to Recombinant DNA Technology (2)

            Application of biotechnology in crops, Construction of c-DNA and DNA libraries, Synthesis        and cloning of c-DNA, DNA isolation amplification, Use of : PCR, Molecular cloning, protein    expression, purification and analysis, Detection of DNA and proteins, Western Blotting and          other blotting techniques, Mutations, Evaluation of genetic stability by biochemical and             molecular techniques, Use of genetic engineering in crop improvement.

            CS 5228. Agricultural Research Management (3)

            Principles of management; Agricultural research management systems in Asia; The researchers      and research proposal; Research planning and implementation; Resource allocation and returns             to research; Communication and information transfer; Linkages; Experimental Station        development; Principles of case writing; Presentation of scientific papers; Personnel           management; Evaluation of research; The international agricultural research system.

            CS 5229. Plantation Agriculture in Tropics (2)

            Introduction and overview to plantation agriculture and its contribution to national economies       of the tropics, agro-climatological and ecological requirements; agronomy of tea, rubber, coconut, and export agricultural crops under tropical environments; harvesting processing and      manufacture; economics and marketing of plantation agriculture; Challenges faced in managing   plantation agricultural lands.

            CS 5230. Tropical Horticulture (2)

            Introduction, climatic conditions in tropical environment, horticultural crops in tropical           climates, cultural requirements of fruits, vegetables and flowers, techniques of culture and management of horticultural crops, factors affecting the production of fruits and vegetables in        the tropics in relation to food security, post harvest technologies, study and discussion of          significant topics and problems. Research Study (Thesis) for M.Sc. in Tropical Agriculture

            The student will be involved in planning, implementation and evaluation of research work    either experimental or empirical, preferably in an experimental field of a University, commodity          Research Institutes and private organizations. The PGIA has commitments to, and offers unique   opportunities for postgraduate research projects to be conducted in several Commodity      Research Centers, which are funded by industry and the Sri Lankan Government to foster            collaboration between universities, research agencies, and industry. The research project will

            be supervised by an academic staff member of the PGIA and a member the collaborating institute.