Department of Crop/soil Science

PROF. (MRS.) ANN IKWUNMA NWONUALA

The Current Head of Department

Crop/Soil Science

The Department of Crop/Soil Science and Forestry was established on the 4^th December, 1970, in the School of Agriculture of the former College of Science and Technology, alongside three (3) other Departments namely:

The Department of Agricultural Engineering and Fisheries Technology

Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension

Department of Animal /Food Science and Technology.

At the initial stage of existence, these Departments offered courses leading to the award of Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and later Higher National Diploma (HND), however, on the 6^th of August 1980, a bill for the establishment of a State University of Science and Technology was passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and this gave birth to the present Rivers State University of Science and Technology which was formally opened on the 31th of October, 1980. The Faculty of Agriculture was also inaugurated on the same year and date with its four (4) earlier mentioned Departments. In the year 1990, the number of its Department increased to five (5).

The Department of Agricultural Engineering was detached from the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Fisheries Technology and transferred to the Faculty of Engineering, leaving Fisheries Technology with Agriculture Faculty while the Department of Animal/ Food Science and Technology was also separated into two (2) Departments to read the Department of Animal Science and the Department of Food Science and Technology, respectively.

Later, in the year 2004, the Department of Forestry and Environment was created out of the Department of Crop/Soil Science and Forestry leaving behind the Department of Crop/Soil Science.

All the initial paired Departments in the Faculty of Agriculture are now separate and independent Departments with the exception of the Department of Crop/Soil Science which is currently overdue for separation.

Staff list in the Department

Names	Rank	Area of Specialization	Email
TEACHING STAFF
Prof. (Mrs) A.I. Nwonuala	Professor	Agronomy/ Plant Breeding	nwonuala.ann@ust.edu.ng
Prof. M.N. Ogburia	Professor	Agronomy/ Plant Genetics and Breeding	mnogburia@gmail.com
Prof. J.A. Osakwe	Professor	Agronomy/ Plant Pathology	osakwejoseph@ust.edu.ng
Prof. L.D. Gbaraneh	Professor	Farming Systems/ Agronomy	gbaralesidike@gmail.com
Dr (Mrs) O.A. Orji	Reader	Soil Physics	mbonu.obianuju@ust.edu.ng
Dr. S.O.N. Dimkpa	Senior Lecturer	Entomology/ Molecular Genetics	stanley.dimkpa@ust.edu.ng
Dr. I.B. Foby	Lecturer II	Soil Environmental Management	issywoks@yahoo.com
Dr. K.D. Peter	Lecturer I	Pedology	dumkapbase@yahoo.com
Dr. C.E. Elenwo	Lecturer II	Soil Microbiology	elenwo.chinyere@ust.edu.ng
Mrs. I. Oriakpono	Assistant Lecturer	Soil Microbiology	truly.iris@yahoo.com
Mr. G. Elenwo	Assistant Lecturer	Soil Fertility	fred.elenwo@gmail.com
Mr. D.U. Ene	Assistant Lecturer	Soil Microbiology
NON-TEACHING STAFF
Mr. B.C. Iyieke	Chief Technology	Technologist (Crop)	ukedav@yahoo.com
Mr. J.N. Ukeh	Deputy Chief Technologist	Technologist (Soil)
Mr. E.I. Tariah	Technologist II	Technologist(Soils)	endemeigonikontariah@yahoo.com
Mrs. D. Amachree	Senior Technical Assistant	Technician (Soils)
Mrs. V. Otuka	Technical Assistant	Technician (Soils)
Mrs. F.A Harry	Nursery Attendant I	Farm Supervisor
Mrs. C. Obuzor FSLC	Nursery Man II	Farm hand
Miss J.V. Barinaayo-Mkee	Laboratory Attendant	Attendant (Crops)
Administrative Staff
Mr. N.A. OtamiriB.Ed	Higher Executive Officer	Secretary
Mrs. C. Abere	Clerical Officer	Clerk
Cleaners
Mrs. V.S. Lelesi	Skill	Cleaner
Miss H.J. ChijiokeFSLC, SSCE	Skill	Cleaner

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties and responsibilities of the Department is teaching and research. The Department of Crop/Soil Science undertakes Undergraduate programme which offers Bachelor of Agriculture (B.Agric) degree in Crop Science and in Soil Science. The students for both programme do the same courses from years I to IV and then specialize in either Crop Science or Soil Science in year V. To graduate in this programme a student must have undergone 5, 4 or 3 years of study including the SIWES depending on his mode of admission which is either through UTME or Direct Entry. The maximum length of time allowed to obtain classified degree in the Department is fourteen (14) semesters (7 years) for 5-year degree programme, and Twelve (12) and Ten (10) semesters for students admitted directly into the 200 and 300 levels, provided he/she maintains a CGPA of 1.00 and above. However, a student who is unable to complete the programme within this stipulated time may be allowed to continue for an additional two (2) semesters but shall only be eligible for a “pass” degree.

The Department also offers Postgraduate programme of study leading to Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), and degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Crop Science and Soil Science in various areas of specialization. They are:

Crop Science Programme (MSc, Ph.D)

Crop Production; Crop Physiology; Horticulture; Plant Breeding and Genetics; Farming Systems; Environmental Crop Science; Seed Science and Technology; Entomology and Plant Pathology.

Soil Science Programme (MSc, Ph.D)

Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy; Soil Physics and Conservation; Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry; Soil Survey and Land Use Planning; Pedology and Environmental Soil Science.

Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) Programme Crop Science

Soil Science

The minimum and maximum duration of the programmes are:

Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) Programme

Full time – 2 semesters minimum

4 semesters maximum

Part – time – 4 semesters minimum

8 semesters maximum

Masters’s Degree Programme

Full time – 2 semesters minimum

4 semesters maximum

Part time – 4 semesters minimum

8 semesters maximum

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Programme

Full time – 6 semesters minimum

8 semesters maximum

Part time – 10 semesters minimum

12 semesters maximum

Both Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes are Project, Dissertation and Thesis oriented, meaning that the emphasis also lie on Research by individual student. The students choose their research topics according to their own interest, background and goals but are closely supervised by lecturers in the different areas of specialization. The lecturers can also assign research topics to students. External Examiners are used to assess these projects, dissertations and thesis.

STRUCTURE OF THE UNIT

The Department has a Head, appointed by the Vice Chancellor on the recommendation of the Dean of the Faculty.

Structurally, the Department is made up of Academic and Non-Academic

staff.

The Academic staff comprises of Professors, Readers, Senior Lecturers and Lecturers while the Non-Academic staff are Laboratory staff (Senior Technologists, Chief Technologists, Technologists, Laboratory Attendants/Assistants), the Field officers and Nursery Attendants; the Secretarial Staff (Higher Executive Officer, Clerk and Messengers); and the Cleaners.

The Head of Department who is also a member of the Departmental Academic Staff oversees the day-to-day administration of the Department. He/she reports directly to the Dean of the Faculty, and represents the Department in all senate meetings and in all other events that require the attendance of Heads of Departments.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMMES

The philosophy of the programme is the production of graduates – that are adequately equipped with the comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge for engaging in crop production of both arable, field and vegetative crops; that would provide relevant and appropriate solution to the country’s sustainable agricultural productivity and also engage in soil research; have fundamental knowledge of soils for production, conservation and for the formulation of sound land-use decisions for variety of uses including agricultural, industrial, urban and recreational development.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of the programme are to produce well trained manpower that will:

Acquire the principles, practices and understanding of crop production, protection and horticulture.

Acquire skills in sustainable management of soils through knowledge of different cropping and farming systems.

Establish skills in the diagnosis, identification and control of diseases, weeds and insect pests which will help in the production of healthy crops and increased yield.

Acquire skills on post-harvest handling and storage of agricultural crops.
Survey soils and landscape and produce soil and landscape data for agricultural use and other applications.

Analyse and quantify physical properties of soils and study of soil chemical changes and their effects on soil fertility management and carbon sequestration.

Assess the effectiveness of organic and inorganic amendments for soils and their behaviour under different cultural practices, and maintenance and improvement of soils fertility.

Create Data Bank of Fertility Capability Classes (FCC) of soil types prevalent in the Niger Delta Region.

Map out different areas and develop suitable soil maps for the Niger Delta Region.

Effectively mobilise and train rural communities for increased yield of all agricultural products and also give advice on soil related matters for sustainable agricultural productivity.