Course Details
Course Outline
5 days course
Introduction and brief history of organic farming.
- Why organic farming? Introduction to soil structure, organic matter, soil organisms, the living soil, drainage and cultivation.
Nutrient cycling in natural ecosystems,
- Agricultural systems, organic farms, specific plant nutrients and requirements, nutrient management, management of manures, slurry and organic residues.
Crop rotation,
- Polyculture systems, fertility building, rotation design, crops within the rotation, stockless rotations, problem of rotations.
Weed management
- Weed ecology, cultural control practices, direct intervention techniques, biological weed control, integrated weed management.
Pest and disease management
- Causes of pest problems, self-regulation in organic systems, cultural control of pests and diseases, direct pest and disease control methods, pest management in grain storage, integrated pest management in organic farming, specific pests and diseases.
