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UndergraduateThe Department of Crop and Soil Sciences consists of three major programme areas of Crop Sciences, Horticulture and Soil Sciences that share a common mission of education, discovery, and communication to improve the understanding and management of plant and soil systems. At the undergraduate level the department offers majors in Crop Sciences, Horticulture and Soil Sciences.
The undergraduate degree programme in soil sciences is designed to build up knowledge progressively starting from Soil Genesis to Soil Management providing necessary theoretical background in Soil Physics, Soil Chemistry, Soil Mineralogy, Soil Microbiology, Soil Survey and Classification, Plant Nutrition, Soil Fertility and Land Use. Practical applications of all the courses address agronomic and environmental concerns giving equal emphasis on both.
Laboratory and field practical sessions are integral components of all courses. Through these sessions, students develop skills to analyze soil, plant, manure, fertilizers and water and subsequently make judgments on their suitability for food production based on the availability of nutrients, and organic and inorganic contaminants.
Mission
The mission of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences is to improve the understanding and management of plant and soil systems that are the foundation for food and fibre production, environmental quality, and community well-being. We educate students regarding stewardship of these systems, preparing them for fulfilling private- and public sector employment; we discover answers to complex problems that threaten sustainable land use through science-based research; and we communicate our findings through scholarly publications and relevant outreach programmes.
Vision
The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences will lead to the development and application of science-based knowledge for understanding and managing diverse and sustainable landscapes for food and fibre production, critical ecosystem functions (e.g., water and air quality, biodiversity, climate stability), and community well-being. The Department will continue to be responsive to developing problems, but will seek to be forward looking and proactive in the stewardship of plant and soil resources. To accomplish this vision the Department must expand multidisciplinary teams to address critical regional, national and international needs (that have significance in Cameroon). We strive to evolve our learning and outreach activities to address current and future economic, social, and technological developments and maintain an active dialogue with managers of rural and urban landscapes.
Objectives
To produce agriculturalists who are well grounded in the sciences of crop production and the management of soil fertility.
Areas of covered:
- Crop Science
- Soil Science
- Horticulture
Employment Opportunities
Career opportunities in the crop and soil sciences specialties include:
- Agronomists
- Plant breeders and genetics
- Plant Pathologists and related disciplines
- Soil Scientists
- Extension and rural sociologists
- Agribusiness manager
- Food technologists
- Farm managers
- Pasture managers
- Weeds specialists
- Plant biotechnologists
Find challenging work with the soil conservation service, the extension service or Private Industry.
Horticulturists (manage a personal business as a retail or wholesale nurseryman, florist, landscape contractor or fruit and vegetable grower) even in relation with firms or companies that sell chemicals, fertilizers, and seed stock.
Course Layout for Crop and Soil Sciences
After the above mentioned general courses to be taken during the first and second year by all students of the School of Tropical Agriculture and Natural Resources, those in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences shall also take the courses listed below during their third and fourth years. Meanwhile, depending on what their individual interests may be, they shall also take additional courses from amongst those listed below as electives to complete their course load for the different semesters.
LEVEL 300: SEMESTER 1
| Code | Title | Status | CV | L | T | P |
| AGN 3101 | Crops production technology I | CC | 6 | 30 | 00 | 30 |
| AGN 3103 | Research methodology and experimental designs in agronomy | CC | 4 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| AGN 3107 | Soil chemistry, microbiology, descriptions and sampling techniques | CC | 4 | 30 | 00 | 10 |
| AEE 3105 | Economics of crop and livestock production | CE | 4 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| AGN 3111 | Plant mycology and bacteriology | CC | 4 | 20 | 00 | 20 |
| ABO 3113 | General entomology | CC | 4 | 20 | 00 | 40 |
| AGN 3117 | On farm practice V | CC | 8 | 00 | 00 | 60 |
| Total | 30 |
LEVEL 300: SEMESTER 2
| CODE | TITLE | STATUS | CV | L | T | P |
| AGN 3202 | Crop Production Technology II | CC | 4 | 20 | 00 | 20 |
| AGN 3205 | Soil water and management technology | CC | 4 | 20 | 00 | 20 |
| AGN 3201 | Plant Nematology and virology | CC | 4 | 20 | 00 | 20 |
| AEG3210 | Soil Tillage systems and Management Techniques in tropical Agriculture | CC | 6 | 20 | 00 | 40 |
| AGN 3203 | Storage pest and diseases of Cereals and grain legumes | CC | 4 | 20 | 00 | 20 |
| AGN 3204 | Seed Science Technology | CC | 4 | 20 | 00 | 20 |
| ABO 3203 | Crops Propagation Technology | CE | 4 | 20 | 20 | 00 |
| Total | 30 | 140 | 20 | 140 |
LEVEL 400: SEMESTER 1
| CODE | TITLE | Status | CV | L | T | P |
| AGN 4101 | Horticultural Crops Production Technology | CC | 4 | 20 | 00 | 20 |
| AGN 4103 | Soil Degradation, Amelioration And Land Use Planning Techniques | CC | 4 | 20 | 00 | 20 |
| AEE 4121 | Entrepreneurship Development And Communication Skills | CC | 3 | 15 | 00 | 15 |
| ABO 4101 | Plant Breeding Technology II | CC | 4 | 20 | 00 | 20 |
| ABO4102 | Integrated Pest Management | CC | 4 | 30 | 00 | 10 |
| ABO 4103 | Weed Biology And Weed Management Techniques | CC | 4 | 20 | 00 | 20 |
| AGN 4105 | Farm Machinery And Equipment Applications | CC | 3 | 15 | 00 | 15 |
| ABO 4104 | Plant Diseases Control Techniques | CC | 4 | 30 | 00 | 10 |
| TOTAL | 30 |
LEVEL 400: SEMESTER 2
| CODE | TITLE | Status | CV | L | T | P |
| AGN 4201 | Biomass Crops Production Technology* | CC | 4 | 30 | 00 | 10 |
| AGN 4202 | Soil Spatial Analysis And Land Evaluation Techniques | CC | 4 | 20 | 00 | 20 |
| AEE 4210 | Dimensions & Methodologies Of Agronomy Extension | CC | 4 | 10 | 00 | 20 |
| AGN 4203 | Seed Production Technologies | CC | 4 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| ABO 4201 | Pesticides And Plant Protection Equipment | CC | 4 | 30 | 00 | 10 |
| AGR 4201 | End Of Course Project Work | CC | 12 | |||
| 32 |
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