Award in Hydroponics Science

Course Description

This short course offers an ideal opportunity for all those with a general interest in growing plants. This course has been designed to give a clearer understanding of an alternative agricultural technology with promising implications to growers, horticulturists and all those with a general interest in the science of plant cultivation.

This is a 30 hour guided learning course. Students need to invest further hours in the course, which will include private study and home assignments.

Lessons are held as indicated on the prospectus and website.

This unit will cover the basic principles of hydroponics with special emphasis on how a plant’s needs are met using soilless media. Different methodologies of this system are described together with the troubleshooting of some of the most common problems.

Learning Outcome 1; Explain a plant’s nutritional necessities and how these are met in a hydroponics system

Unit Content

• Introduction and Plant Nutrition
• Advantages of a Hydroponics System
• Hydroponics vs Conventional Agriculture
• Nutrient Requirements
• Photosynthesis
• Mineral Absorption

Learning Outcome 2; Describe the different methodologies used to apply the hydroponics technique

Unit Content

• Container Method
• Alternate Methods of Water Culture
• Hydroponics in Sand
• Hydroponics in aggregate Cultures

Learning Outcome 3; Construct a basic hydroponics system

Unit Content

• Small Scale Hydroponics
• Supply of Nutrients
• Water Supply and PH
• Other Factors

Learning Outcome 4; Identify the major problems encountered in a hydroponics system and how these can be solved

Unit Content

• Preventing and Treating Problems
• Nutrient Deficiencies vs Pesticide Attack
• Pesticides & Fungicides

The following are the suggested pre-requisites and/or entry requirements needed:

Pre-requisites:

• Completed Compulsory Education

Entry requirements:

• Functional Skills in the English Language

Course participants may be awarded either an MCAST Certificate of Attendance or an MCAST Certificate of Achievement.

MCAST Certificate of Attendance

• An MCAST Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to those candidates who attend at least 80% of the lessons.

MCAST Certificate of Achievement

• An MCAST Certificate of Achievement will be awarded to those candidates who satisfy the 80% attendance criteria and also choose to sit and pass the course assessment/s.
• Students who opt not to sit for the assessment or fail (the assessment/s) will however be awarded the MCAST Certificate of Attendance provided that they fulfill the minimum attendance criteria as stated above.

If the student intends to obtain a Certificate of Achievement, she/he is required to sit for an assessment/s.‚   Assessment/s may take various forms such as a home assignment, class assignment, practical test and time constrained test.‚   However, the assessment/s is not compulsory and an applicant may choose not to sit for it.

There are no additional costs or special materials/equipment to bring