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Agritech College Courses

Agritech courses offer a number of valuable benefits to students and professionals alike. By learning about the latest agricultural technologies, students can prepare themselves for careers in a rapidly growing field. Professionals can also benefit from agritech courses by staying up-to-date on the latest technologies and learning how to apply them to improve their operations. Here are some of the specific benefits of agritech courses: Increased job prospects: The agritech sector is growing rapidly, and there is a high demand for skilled workers. By taking agritech courses, students can make themselves more competitive in the job market. Higher salaries: Agritech workers tend to earn higher salaries than the average worker. This is because agritech skills are in high demand and there is a shortage of qualified workers. Improved productivity and profitability: Agritech can help farmers and other agricultural businesses to improve their productivity and profitability. By learning about agritech, professionals can learn how to use technology to improve their operations and save money. More sustainable practices: Agritech can help farmers and other agricultural businesses to adopt more sustainable practices. By learning about agritech, professionals can learn how to use technology to reduce their environmental impact and improve the sustainability of their operations. In addition to these specific benefits, agritech courses can also help students and professionals to develop a number of transferable skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and data analysis. These skills are valuable in any field, and can help students and professionals to succeed in their careers. If you are interested in a career in agritech, or if you are a professional who wants to learn more about agritech, then taking an agritech course is a great way to get started. Agritech courses are offered at a variety of levels, from introductory courses to advanced courses. There are also a variety of online and in-person courses available. Here are some examples of agritech courses that you might want to consider: Introduction to Agritech Precision Agriculture Crop Management Animal Science Agricultural Economics Food Science Agricultural Engineering Agricultural Data Science Read the full article

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Agronomy III - Root Crops

Discover how to grow some of the most important crops in the world: root veggies!   With the help of this thorough course in growing root crops, you can expand what you are currently producing on your farm or launch a new business.   https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Agronomy.mp4   The second-most significant staple crop in the world is roots. Over the world, they are a vital source of carbohydrates for people. As the agricultural environment is altered by climate, we will need to switch to resilient, carbohydrate and protein-rich, easily grown crops to replace those that are heavily dependent on water (such as rice) for their productivity and survival. They are also important crops for food security for both humans and animals. Root crops includes: - potatoes - sweet potatoes - yams - turnips - carrots - swedes Root crops are also becoming very popular in the developed world as people start to realise the benefits to their health and to the environment by growing and eating root vegetables. In developing countries, some types of root crops (for example, yams and cassava) contribute to the diet as a substitute for other, less accessible, protein foods such as fish or meat. You will learn the finest growing strategies, different harvesting methods, and several root vegetable kinds in this course. Lesson Structure There are 10 lessons in this course: - Scope and Nature of Root Cropping and the Botany of Roots - What are root vegetables? - Human nutrition and root vegetables - Botany of roots - Cultural Practices A: Soil Management, Crop Scheduling and Soil Water - General guide to growing root vegetables - Improving soils - Sampling soils - Cover crops - Cultivation techniques - Soil fertility and plant growth - Plant nutrition - Fertiliser - Soil and water - Cultural Practices B: Weed control, Pest Management - Weed and weed management - Methods of weed control - Pest and disease management - Toxicity - Diseases - Common environmental problems - Potatoes - Growing conditions - Nutrient requirements - Planting - Care - Watering - Problems - Harvest and post-harvest - Carrots and their Relatives - Carrots - Parsnips - Bulb fennel - Turnip rooted chervil - Skirret - Celeriac - Turnips and their Relatives - Turnips - Rutabaga (swede) - Radish - Horseradish - Daikon - Kohlrabi - Beets - Growing conditions - Nutrient requirements - Planting - Care - Watering - Problems - Harvest and post-harvest - Taro, Yams and Sweet Potato - Growing conditions - Nutrient requirements - Planting - Care - Watering - Problems - Harvest and post-harvest - Other Root Crops - Salsify - Scoronera - Scolymus - Mashua - Jerusalem artichoke - Potato bean - Arrowroot - Oca - Dandelion - Chinese artichoke - Water chestnuts - Yacon or jicama - Root chicory - Ullico - American groundnut - Harvest and Post-Harvest Management - Harvesting root vegetables - Cooling methods - Storage Each lesson ends with an assignment that is sent in to the school, graded by the tutors there, and returned to you with any pertinent comments and suggestions—and, if necessary, additional reading—if they are applicable. Aims - Explain root vegetables, including their varieties, health benefits, and morphological internal and external structures. - Provide a brief description of the cultural practises required to grow vegetables. - Describe how to manage weeds and pests, as well as the types of specialised equipment used in the production of root crops. - Describe the conditions needed for potato culture and how to grow potatoes. - Describe the growth practises for carrots and their relatives as well as the cultural requirements. - Describe the growth practises for turnips and their relatives as well as the cultural requirements for them. - Describe the growth practises for beets and their relatives as well as the cultural requirements. - Describe the cultural requirements and methods for growing yams, taro, and sweet potatoes. - Describe the cultural needs and growth methods for a variety of other root crops that were not covered before in this course. - Explain the requirements for root vegetable crops during harvest and after harvest. What You Will Do - Create a bed for root vegetables. - Make and keep a log book with information about your bed. - Do tests to identify the moisture range. - Describe how to enhance the soil for a group of root crops. - Describe crop rotation techniques. - Talk about seed preparation and planting methods. - Establish a weed collection. - Create pest and disease control strategies for use from planting through harvest. - Create a schedule for agricultural production. - Discuss when to harvest certain kinds. WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE? - Farmers and agricultural labourers - Agricultural supply companies and related services - Agricultural professionals and students - Small-scale or hobby farmers thinking about new "niche" crops - livestock managers and owners who seek to make animal feed Read the full article

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Culinary Herbs

Learn how to grow and prepare herbs. Find out how to recognise and grow a variety of common and exotic culinary plants. Get knowledge and enjoy the pleasures of preparing novel, creative recipes using herbs. Discover how to preserve flavour by drying and other means (eg. herb oils, salts, vinegars). https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commercialflowercult.mp4   Forever alter your cooking style The majority of people today only seldom utilise herbs in their cooking, but as your knowledge grows, you may discover a whole new world of culinary possibilities. When chefs and professional cooks comprehend how diverse cultivars of a herb can have minor flavour variations, they can accomplish so much more. The location of the herb's cultivation, the season, the rate of development, the sections that are harvested, and the time of year can all affect the flavour. You can expand your knowledge and opportunities for producing and using culinary herbs by becoming more familiar with a wider variety of herbs than you have in the past. One of our students studying culinary herbs commented: "Interesting and it has greatly increased my knowledge of herbs," D. Christian is a student of culinary herbs. Lesson Structure There are 8 lessons in this course: - Introduction - Scope and Nature of Culinary Herbs - Herbs and Horticulture - Accurately Identifying Herbs - Plant Classification, binomial system - Finding the group a herb fits into -Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons, Plant Families - Pronouncing Plant Name - Resources - information contacts (ie. nurseries, seed, clubs etc. - Culture - Overview - Soils - pH Requirements - Improving solid - Potting mixes - Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers - Water Management for Herbs - Diagnosing Plant Health Problems - Pests, Disease and Environmental Problems - Planting, staking, and establishing herb plants, etc. - Growing Herbs - Propagation of herbs - Seed Propagation - Cutting Propagation - Potting Media - Division, Separation, Layering - Rejuvenation of Perennials - Designing a Culinary Herb Garden - Creating a Kitchen Garden - Planning a Fragrant Herb Garden - Companion Planting in Your Design - Cooking With Herbs - General Guidelines for Using Herbs in Cooking - Harvesting Herbs; roots, leaves, seed, fruits - Handling after Harvest - Drying Herbs - Hints for Using a Range of Selected Herbs in Cooking - Herbs For Garnish - Herbal Teas: What & how to use different herbs - Herb Vinegars, oils, butters, cheeses, salts, sugars, honey,, etc - Herb Confectionary, Cakes, etc. - Selected Herb Recipes - Using Herbs with Fruit - Most Commonly Grown Varieties. - Review of many Common Culinary herbs, including their culture and culinary use - Over 20 herbs reviewed in detail, incl. Alliums - Many additional herbs summarized - Other Important Groups. - Lamiaceae (mint family) herbs - Lemon Scented Herbs and their uses - Hyssop - Mints - Bergamot - The Basils - Origanum species - Rosemary - Salvias - Thymes - Lavenders - The Lesser Grown Varieties - Agastache - Agrimony - Visnaga - Apium - Arctium lappa - Bundium - Capparis; and many more - Using Australian Native Plants as Flavourings - Special Assignment - A PBL Project on a selected genus of culinary herbs Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading. Aims - Explain the system for naming plants, the main families into which herbs fall, and the resources available to growers of culinary herbs. - Explain the best ways to handle the cultural demands placed on culinary herbs. - Explain the various sexual and asexual reproduction techniques, as well as how cutting material is handled and how seeds are typically stored. - Describe how to utilise herbs in cooking and which herbs go well with particular cuisines. - Talk about the most popular types of herbs used in cuisine. - Compare various culinary herbs that belong to the same plant family. - A variety of lesser-known culinary herb types are discussed. - Describe the functions of several culinary herbs within a certain category of herb plants.   HERB HARVESTING GUIDELINES When the oils are at their highest level, harvest the herb leaves. This can occur at any time between late spring and early autumn, generally right before flower set. Up to 75% of the season's growth can be harvested. - Autumn is the time of year when herbs are removed for their roots. - Many species of flowers, such as those from chamomile and borage, can also be employed. They need to be picked just as the flowers are beginning to open. - Harvesting herbs, such as dill, for their seeds should be done after the seed pods turn grey. So be sure to act quickly—before the pods separate. - Before they fully bloom, gather herb flowers like chamomile and borage. When the plant has enough foliage to sustain growth, start harvesting the herb. Harvesting Tips for Herbs - Harvest prior to blossoming to maximise leaf output. - Early in the morning, once the dew has dried, harvest. - Flowers should be picked before they fully open since the flavour and oil concentration are at their peak. - After the first frost, avoid harvesting leaves because doing so could harm the plant. - Herbs should be pruned back in the early summer to promote fresh growth. Harvesting Resources for Food and Medicine Plant components like leaves, petals, roots, bark, bulbs, and other parts are frequently used in cooking and making herbal medicines. But, in order to receive the best effects from these herbs, they must be carefully picked, handled, and most importantly, collected at the right time of year. - Always gather leaves in the middle of the morning on clear days, after the dew has dried. Collect the majority of your medications as the plant begins to bloom. The second year of growth is the optimal time to collect leaves from biennial plants. Spread the leaves out on a spotless, dry surface to dry. Until they are completely dry, stir them occasionally. Remove any leaves with blackened stems from moisture and any leaves that have turned green. - Flowers should be picked up as soon as they bloom. Similar to drying leaves, only save the ones that retain their original colour. - Bulbs should be harvested as soon as the plant's leaves turn brown (usually in autumn). The bulb's outer scales should be removed, and it should be dried using artificial heat, but not above around 37°C. The bulb may need to be sliced into slices so that it can dry. - It is best to harvest bark in the spring or autumn. Remove the outer bark first because it is typically needed. It is best to dry most barks in sunshine (but not wild cherry). - Gather seeds as soon as they are ready. Only seeds that are larger and more developed are beneficial.   Grow Your Own Tea and Prepare It There are a few things to keep in mind while growing your own herbs to use in teas. First of all, some herbs are perennials and some are annuals. Typically, perennials have woody stems and include herbs like sage, thyme, oregano, and rosemary. Annuals have more meat, like basil and coriander. The longevity of herbs, however, can vary depending on where you live. Several annual varieties thrive in warmer climates where they have an endless growing season. They are less likely to survive the winter temperatures in colder places and will eventually disappear. Utilize species plants rather than cultivated types of herbs because it is believed that the latter have fewer active ingredients (in some cases). The climate in your area plays a role in the quality of the herbs as well. The majority of plants require a lot of sunlight to encourage oil production. Herbs have distinct fragrances that come from their essential oils, which also give meals and teas their flavour when consumed. Place your herbs where they will benefit most from exposure to sunlight if you are growing them in a cooler climate. Most perennial herbs thrive in a warm, sunny location, but many do not require very rich soils. Several herbs, including those that make deliciously reviving teas like mint, rocket, parsley, and mustard, prefer a semi-shaded location and moist soils. There are numerous species of some herbs, such as the mints, each with a distinctive flavour. Why not cultivate a variety of kinds for various teas? Horseradish and mint both have extremely invasive root systems, therefore it is better to grow them in pots to prevent them from encroaching on garden areas. Several other herbs can benefit from containers as well because you can move them about to receive the sunlight and, if necessary, store them in a greenhouse for the winter. If there is room, it is typically advisable to grow different species in separate containers because they may grow at different speeds. Open-air annuals and delicate perennials can be winter-protected with a cloche or cold frame. Apart from those that require moisture, avoid over-watering the herbs because this makes the leaves wet and decreases their potency when used in herbal tea or medicine.   Several well-known plants for tea - Herbs - lemon balm, chamomile, fennel, mint, catnip, oregano, sage, thyme, parsley, rosemary, chives, dill, lavender, basil, lemongrass, echinacea - Trees and shrubs (leaves) - blackberry, raspberry, Backhousia citriodora, birch, lemon myrtle, lemon or orange verbena, linden (Tilia cordata). - Trees and shrubs (flowers) - rose, elderberry, citrus, hibiscus. - Garden weeds - dandelions, nettles, goldenrod (Solidago spp.), ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), purslane (Portulaca oleracea), wild mustard, red clover, milk thistle (Silybum marianum). - Annuals and perennials – Marigold (Calendula officinalis), chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum or C. morifolium) nasturtium, pansies, violets, honeysuckle (flowers only), carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus), alliums, hollyhock (Althaea rosea), sunflower. How to Prepare Tea Teas use a variety of plant components, so if your favourite herb unexpectedly blooms, don't worry—you can still use those flowers. The softer tissues of the plant make the ideal tea ingredients. The fleshy developing tips of shoots, leaves, and flowers are examples of them. It takes more time and effort to break down the roots and toughened woody stems, therefore they are not good for a rapid brew. Furthermore, you won't want to take out the plant's roots if you intend to maintain it for its foliage. You only need your herbal plant components and boiling water to create tea. Typically, one cup of water should be added for every tablespoon of herbs. For one ounce, or 28 grammes, of herb, that works out to about 250ml of water. For herbs with a milder flavour, you might use up to three tablespoons. To impart the herb's flavour or essence into the water, cover the plant with boiling water and let it steep for a while. Place the herbs in a separate pan and pour the hot water over them if you're heating the water in a pan rather than a kettle. Let the herbs to soak without putting the pan back on the heat of the stove.   WHAT ROAD WILL THIS PATH TAKE YOU? Your knowledge of how to make food taste different and better will grow as a result of learning how to grow and use culinary herbs. The very least that this course might be able to accomplish for you and your family is to provide you with a more varied diet. For the majority of students, however, the application of what they learn will go beyond their own personal use, enhancing their chances for success in business and the workforce. - The food that chefs and caterers produce will be able to take on new flavours. - The ability to develop and market a greater selection of goods will allow herb nurseries and herb shops to better position their products for sale. - This course may serve as motivation for producers of herbal goods to create new goods.  - This could be the first of several courses leading to a higher qualification, the beginning of a business venture, or advancing one's profession.   Read the full article

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Agronomy V - Oil Crops

Get Training on Oil Crops   - Increase the number of crops you are considering growing on your farm. - Expand the sources of your farm's income. - As a provider of products or services to farms, broaden your understanding of agricultural crop production. https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Agronomy.mp4   Oil crop products can be used to make a wide range of goods, including food, biofuels, cosmetics, medicines, cleaning supplies, and much more. There is a huge market for plant-based oils; every year, more than 200 million metric tonnes of edible oils are produced. Who should take this course? - A farmer looking to expand their crop selection, - aspiring upskilled farm labourers - newcomers to the industry, whether they are farmers or not - Anybody interested in learning more about cultivating oil crops, including investors, service providers, consultants, students, and others   Lesson Structure There are 9 lessons in this course: - Nature & scope of oil crops - What are plant oils? - Essential oils - Plant oil crops & uses - Vegetable oil uses - Essential oil uses - Economic value of oil crops - What crops can be grown where? - Oil extraction - Introduction - Oil seed processing - Mechanical processing - Chemical processing - Other processing methods - Distillation - Simple distillation - Steam distillation - Fractional distillation - Vacuum distillation - Molecular distillation - Extractive distillation - Membrane distillation - Canola and rapeseed - Characteristics of canola - World production - Growing canola - Using seed - Soil types - Soil preparation - Sowing - Growth stages - Environmental stresses - Nutrition - Irrigation management - Weeds - Pest control - Diseases - Harvesting - Storage - Processing - Olive oil - Characteristics of olive oil - World production - Growing olives - Using seedlings - Soil types - Soil preparation - Planting - Pruning - Growing conditions - Varieties - Nutrition - Irrigation management - Weeds - Pest control - Diseases - Organic production - Harvesting - Storage - Processing - Other edible oils - Growing conditions - Organic matter - Soil texture - Subsoil PH - Soil water available to plants - Slope of the topography - Natural soil drainage - Maintaining good soil structure - Growing edible oil crops - Sunflowers (helianthus annuus) - Flax/linseed (linum usitatissimum) - Soybean/soya bean (glycine max) - Peanuts (arachis hypogaea) - Herbal and pharmaceutical oils - Introduction - Pros and cons of herbal medicine & nutraceuticals - Essential oils - General guidelines for growing herbs for essential oils - Planting - Agronomy - Improved herbs and essential oils - Growing select crops for cosmetic or pharmaceutical oils - Avocado (persea americana) - Mint (mentha arvensis) - Tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia) - Blackcurrant (ribes nigrum) - Passionfruit (passiflora edulis) - Biofuel and other industrial oils - Biofuel production - Vegetable oils and genetic modification - Extraction of oils from plants - GMO crops - Oleic acid - Oil palm trees - Novel fatty acids - Chemical and biotechnological transformations of basic industrial oils - Key targets for future industrial oil crops - Unusual fatty acids - Industrial importance - Growing select crops for biofuels and other industrial uses - Poppy (papaver somniferum) - Castor bean (ricinus communis) - Camelina (camelina sativa) - Crambe (crambe abyssinica) - Issues, Risks, Optimising success - Successful farming - Capital - Profitability - Risk management - Succession - Entrepreneurial skills of farmers - Production management - Developing a farming business plan - Goals and mission - Asset planning - Land - Irrigation water - Livestock - Farm management - Labour and machinery - Capital - Soil testing - Produce selection - Integrated pest management - Integrated weed management - Grain storage - Product development and management - Oilseed production and extraction yields - Oil fatty acid composition and biodiesel - Oil extraction and biodiesel processing - On-farm oil seed processing Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading. Aims - Discuss the scope and nature of growing plants for oils or items containing oils. - Describe the process for obtaining oils from plants. - Describe the canola and rapeseed farming process. - Provide instructions on how to grow olives for oil. - Talk about the production of different edible oils for human and animal consumption, as well as agronomic farming. - Discuss the production of various oils for aesthetic and therapeutic purposes as well as agronomic farming. - Discuss the production of plant oils for use in industry and biofuels as well as agronomic farming. - Examine factors that affect a plant oil producing business's ability to succeed or fail. - Create a plan for the growth and administration of a business producing plant oil. Selecting the Plants to Grow and the Methods to Use Making the correct decisions about what to plant, when to grow it, where to grow it, and how to grow it can make farming an oil crop lucrative. Making those decisions is essential for the success of farming as a business, and taking this course can significantly improve your capacity to do so. It is crucial to take production and processing expenses into account when contemplating cultivating any crop for plant oils. You might be thinking about changing your farm's focus to cultivating just oilseed crops, or you might be thinking about including oil crops through crop rotations. You can be a farm manager seeking for new prospects or you may have plans to start a new oilseed farm. No of the circumstance, minimising risks and making informed decisions require having a solid understanding of prices. Learn to weigh the costs and profits of producing feedstock, crushing oilseeds, and producing biodiesel. It will be determined how productive, expensive, and profitable the oilseed feedstocks canola, flax, camelina, yellow mustard, sunflower, and safflower are. Take into account the yield, technical specifications, market prices, and the cost of production. Take into account outside variables like societal costs and trends like shifting political, financial, and legal considerations. For instance, the manufacturing of biofuel is only commercially viable when the social cost is taken into account. Reducing reliance on fossil fuels by switching to renewable energy sources is a key driver of national biofuel policy.   Read the full article

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Agronomy VI - Fibre Crops

Discover How to Grow Fibre Crops - learn how to cultivate a wider range of fibre crops - Diversify and innovate - Improve the viability, profitability, and sustainability of farms https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Agronomy.mp4   Plant fibres, including cotton, jute, and others, have long been used to manufacture fabrics and ropes, as well as for a variety of other purposes, including those related to architecture and construction. Plant fibre production—growing, harvesting, processing, and product development—is a huge global industry. Obviously, that entire business is supported by farm production. The creation of the raw material is the main topic of this course. Who should take this course? - Farmers and agricultural labourers - Farm support services include providing resources, counsel, encouragement, education, and information. - Students, researchers, businesspeople, and anybody else interested in learning more about fibre crops Lesson Structure There are 10 lessons in this course: - Scope and Nature of Fibre Crops - Introduction - Fibre Properties - Fibre Uses - Types of Fibre Crops - Commercial Viability - Assessing Land Characteristics - Assessing land suitability - Broad Acre Farming - Crop Production Considerations - Production Systems - Crop Rotation and Management - Cover Crops - Crop Islands - Cotton – Part 1 - Cotton Production - Sustainable Agriculture - Crop Rotation - Conservation Tillage - Insects and Diseases - Insects - Aphids - Armyworm - Cotton bollworm - Cotton Diseases - Fungal Diseases - Viral Diseases - Bacterial Diseases - Pesticides and insecticides - Cotton Life Cycle - Types of Cotton - Better Cotton Initiative - Genetic modification - Cotton - Part 2 - Cotton Fibre Properties - Improving Properties of Cotton Fibre - Flexural testing - Industrial Use of Cotton - Cotton Fibre in Clothing - Wicking - Cotton - Milkweed blends - Ginning - Coloured Cotton - Textile Dyeing - Load Bearing Materials - Harvesting - Cotton Pickers - Cotton Strippers - Cotton Ginning - Uses of Cotton - Jute - Types and Properties of Jute - Jute Production - Climatic requirements for Jute - Jute Characteristics - Genetic Yield Improvements - Pests and Diseases - Harvesting - Uses and Consumption - Industrial Hemp - Terminology - Types and Properties - Cultivation - Countries of Production - Climate - Soil Fertility - Water - Pests and Diseases - Cost - Genetic Modification - Harvesting - Uses and Consumption - Geotextiles - Fabric - Carbon Capture - Phytoremediation - Hempseed - Building - Paper - Cannabidiol - Sunn Hemp and Kenaf (Deccan Hemp) - Sunn Hemp - Properties - Cultivation - Soil Fertility - Water - Cost - Phytoremediation - Pests and Diseases - Genetic Modification - Harvesting - Retting - Uses - Fibre - Weed Control - Green Manure - Biofuel - Kenaf (Deccan Hemp) - Types and Properties - Cultivation - Countries of Production - Climate - Soil Fertility - Water Requirements - Pests and Diseases - Harvesting and Processing - Uses and Consumption - Textiles - Food - Sustainable Material - Soil Structure - Paper - Flax - Types and Properties - Cultivation - Countries of Production - Climate - Soil - Water Requirement - Pests and Diseases - Genetic Modification - Harvesting - Processing - Uses and Consumption - Fabric - Bio Composites and Industrial Materials - Paper - Bioplastic - Food - Leaf Fibres and Grass Fibre - Abaca and sisal fibres - Abaca - Types and Properties - Production and Cultivation - Pests and Diseases - Harvesting and Processing - Uses and Consumption - Sisal - Sisal Cultivation - Harvesting and Processing - Uses and Consumption - Grass Fibres – sugarcane and bamboo - Sugarcane - Properties - Sugarcane Culture - Growing & Production - Soil Conditions - Ratooning - Tillage - Crop Rotation and Break Crops - Harvesting - Burn-offs - Sugarcane Straw - Sugarcane Yield Limitations - Pests and Diseases - Pathogens - Uses and Consumption - Sugar - Energy - Bioethanol - Bioplastics/Biomaterials - Paper and containers - Other Uses - Alcohol – Rum - Bamboo - Types and Properties - Cultivation - Pests and Diseases - Harvesting and Processing - Uses and Consumption - Food - Fuel - Medicine - Building Material - Furniture, Household Items and Accessories - Clothing - Paper - Fruit Fibre - Coir - Types and Properties of Coir - Coir Production and Cultivation - Countries of Production - Climate - Soil Fertility - Water Requirement - Cultivars - Pests and Diseases - Harvesting and Processing - Uses and Consumption - Cordage - Horticulture - Construction material - Biocontrol - Fibre Processing and the Fibre Future - Fibre Quality - Retting - Biological Retting - Dew Retting - Water Retting - Enzyme Retting - Chemical Retting - Mechanical Retting - Physical Retting - Drying - Fibre Future - Hybrid Composites - Geotextiles - Building Industry - Car Interiors - Genetic Improvements - Other Fibre Sources Each lesson ends with an assignment that is sent in to the school, graded by the tutors there, and returned to you with any pertinent comments and suggestions—and, if necessary, additional reading—if they are applicable. Aims - Describe the range and characteristics of fibre crops in agronomy. - Describe the various components of cotton growing. - Describe the cultivation, harvesting, and usage of cotton. - Describe the conditions necessary to grow a profitable crop of jute (Corchorus spp.). - Describe the prerequisites for cultivating an industrial hemp crop for commercial purposes (Cannabis sativa). - Describe the conditions needed to grow Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea) and Kenaf as commercial crops (Hibiscus cannabinus). - Describe the conditions needed to grow a commercial crop of flax (Linum spp.). - Describe the conditions needed to grow abaca (Musa textilis), sisal (Agave sisalana), and bamboo for use as commercial leaf and grass fibre crops (Phyllostachys edulis). - Describe the conditions necessary to grow a commercial crop of coir for fibre use. - Describe the various fibres' separation and processing steps for sale, as well as contemporary fibre usage. Fibre Crops: How are They Raised? The majority of fibre crops have been grown in broad-acre monocultures. This is the practise of cultivating a single crop over a big area with little to no diversification. This type of farming leaves crops particularly vulnerable to weed and pest infestation. As they know they will always have food available, many predators return to these farms every year. Another significant issue in a monoculture is the soil's loss of nutrients that are specifically beneficial to crops. Farmers are compelled to use more chemicals, such as herbicides, pesticides, and fertilisers, to offset these consequences. The cycle of monoculture is thus broken using a variety of techniques, such as crop rotations (also known as break crops), cover crops, intercropping, agroforestry, etc. Crop Management and Rotation By merely rotating crops, a lot of the issues brought on by monocultures can be reduced. As a general rule, space out plantings of the same crop over longer periods of time when there are more issues. Increasing sustainability could be accomplished by: - Half of the year is spent growing a crop or crops, and the other half is spent grazing the same land. - Rotate your crops such that no one variety is produced in the same paddock more than once every two to three years by growing a variety of crops on your farm (or preferably longer). - Between crops, leavened ground (i.e. do not graze or grow a crop during the rest period). - To revitalise the soil, grow cover crops for green manure at least once a year. This strategy is less successful in drier farming regions. - Ley agricultural techniques. This entails alternating between pasture and the cultivation of cereal grains. When combined with grasses, annual medics or subclovers are helpful in producing feed of the highest calibre.   Cover Crops Simply said, a cover crop is a plant that is raised with the intention of enhancing the health of the soil. Although it is most frequently sprayed or ploughed in, it can also be chopped and left to lie on the ground. The latter approach is quite laborious but may work. Although research has proven that this isn't always the case, a cover crop should theoretically boost the organic content and fertility of the soil. Crop Islands Planting species-rich "islands" at regular intervals throughout the crop is one technique used. These resource islands, which can contain literally hundreds of different native plant species, appear to be quite successful at reducing pest and disease populations as well as elevating soil fertility. Managing weeds effectively is essential in every farming environment since it can significantly reduce yield. What species of plants are grown for fibre? Field crops known as fibre crops are primarily produced for their fibre, however they may also have other advantages. The most visible and popular fibre crop is cotton, but there are numerous other notable plants that are also farmed for fibre. Slender cells with thick secondary walls and a length that is significantly greater than its diameter are referred to as fibres. It is astounding how many different products may be made from fibre crops. Clothing is one of the products made from fibre crops, but there are other building materials, automobile and aerospace parts, body armour, paper, biofuels (ethanol), pharmaceuticals, textile, and geotextile products.   Read the full article

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Cutting Propagation

Learn how to take cuttings from a variety of plants and reproduce them quickly and successfully. What will you learn about cutting propagation? Take and prepare a variety of plant cuttings from various species. Consider taking stem, root, leaf, and bulb cuttings. Understand the distinctions between potting mixes and propagation mixtures. soil analysis Discover the procedures employed in production nurseries. hormonal roots Greenhouses and plant propagation techniques https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CuttingPropagation.mp4 Which direction will this course lead you? work in a nursery, either retail or wholesale. work in a nursery production Create your own, modest nursery. Adapt your methods. Offer you plants for your own garden almost free! Today's nursery industry places a high value on the ability to propagate a variety of plants from carefully selected and prepared cuttings. While no single course will turn you into a master propagator, this training will provide you the required groundwork to develop these talents. Lesson Structure There are 8 lessons in this course: - Introduction. - The principles of propagating plants by cuttings - Importance of cuttings - Phenotype vs genotype - Why choose cutting propagation - Where to get cuttings from - Basic cutting technique. - Stem cuttings - Ease with which tissue forms roots - Types of stem cuttings (softwood, hardwood, semi hardwood, herbaceous, tip, heel, nodal, cane etc) - Treatments (eg. basal heat, mist, tent, etc) - Testing rooting success - Non-stem cuttings - Leaf cuttings - Root cuttings (natural suckering with or without division, Induced suckering, In situ whole root cuttings; ex situ detached root cuttings) - Bulb cuttings, scaling and twin scaling, sectioning, basal cuttage. - Materials and equipment - Selection and maintenance of stock plants - Disinfecting cutting material - Growing media - Propagation media - Biological, chemical and physical characteristics of propagation and potting media - Testing for toxins - Air filled porosity - Potting up cuttings - Soil-less mixes, rockwool, etc. - Factors affecting rooting - Juvenility - Cutting Treatments - Hormones & their application - Anti transparents - Acid/base treatments - Disinfectants - Callusing - Mycorrhizae - Carbon Dioxide enrichment, etc. - Setting up a propagation area - Creating and managing an appropriate cutting environment in terms of: Water; Disease; Temperature; Light and Air Quality - Greenhouses and other structures - Watering methods (mist, fog, capillary etc) - Heating, etc. - Management of cutting crops - Estimating cost of production - Keeping records, etc. Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading. Aims to acquaint the student with the fundamentals of plant cutting propagation to become knowledgeable about how to grow plants from stem cuttings - to gain knowledge on how to grow plants from non-stem cuttings - to gain knowledge of the tools and supplies used for growing plants from stems to comprehend expanding media principles in reference to cutting propagation to comprehend why and how cuttings develop roots. to understand how to control the growth of roots on cuttings to comprehend the fundamentals of creating effective plant propagation regions To comprehend nursery crop scheduling principles How You Plan to Act Create a location close to your home where cuttings can be raised. It only has to be a protected area where you can raise the cuttings you will be required to grow for this course; it doesn't need to be a greenhouse. Choose ten distinct plants that can be propagated using stem cuttings. Unless you are confident that you can prepare various cuts, practise. Samples of your cuttings should be placed in the propagation area with a propagating mix. Keep the mixture moist and watch how the clippings behave. Does it grow new leaves, for instance? Does growth respond to variations in temperature? Do any cuttings pass away?, etc.) Take notes on what you notice. Later in the course, questions regarding your results will be asked of you. Prepare five different plant species' leaf cuttings. Once you feel competent to accomplish this, practise. Five different plant species should have their root cuttings ready. Once you feel competent to accomplish this, practise. Five distinct plant species' bulb cuttings should be prepared. Once you feel competent to accomplish this, practise. Insert cutting samples in a propagation mixture. Find out where they get their propagation material by visiting three plant propagation nurseries. Test and identify soil samples. Find out what rooting hormones are sold by visiting your neighbourhood nursery or garden supply store. Check if you can find out what substances are in the products. See three distinct commercial greenhouses. Make a pot of cuttings, then calculate the production costs for each cutting that is made. DISCUSS THE SPAN AND TYPE OF CUTTINGS Cuttings are used to propagate plants for a variety of reasons, including: Cutting-grown plants resemble their parent exactly. A plant that has developed from a cutting is genetically identical to the parent plant from which the cutting was originally obtained. Plants developed from seeds do not always follow this rule. The most popular method for growing "true to type" plants is by cuttings. This makes sure that the distinctive traits of the parent plant, like leaf variegation or blossom size and colour, are passed on to the offspring. The flower and foliage effects, for instance, can differ from those on the parent plant when a plant is developed from seed. Cuttings make it simpler to grow fresh plants. Production of seeds might be challenging for some plant species for one or more of the following reasons: a) The plant doesn't produce viable seed or produces seed irregularly; b) the seed is difficult to germinate (e.g., Boronia, Eriostemon); c) the seed is difficult to collect, for instance, plants with seed pods that burst open dispersing the seeds widely; d) the seed is produced at a time when seed cannot be collected, or collection would necessitate a second trip to the area (often very difficult for remote areas), or (e.g. plants whose seed matures during wet seasons when access may be limited). generating plants that bloom or bear fruit earlier. A juvenile stage is experienced by many plants that are developed from seeds, during which flowering and subsequent seed production do not take place. Some plants could start flowering 5, 10, or even more years after they are planted. After a plant has bloomed, plants that are grown from it by cuttings will skip the juvenile stage and bloom quickly, frequently just a few months after the cutting was made. When plants are young, they frequently exhibit undesired growth shapes. They consist of incredibly rapid growth, thorniness, or ugly foliage or shape. These unfavourable traits can be prevented by taking cuttings from adult plants. preserving juvenility A plant's juvenile stage occasionally possesses traits that make it more desirable than its mature form. The smaller, juvenile leaves of the Hedera helix varieties is an excellent illustration of this (English Ivy). Cuttings from young material will take for some plants more quickly. Why is Cuttings? Notwithstanding all the challenges associated with other plant propagation methods, cutting is still one of the simplest and most economical ways to create a large number of new plants, whether for domestic or commercial use. This course provides the groundwork for a career as a professional propagator, the launch of a production nursery, or the development of gardening hobbyist skills.   Read the full article

[agritech08]

Diploma in Agricultural Science

Introduction With the help of the Diploma in Agricultural Science, you may better understand and practise agriculture by developing your knowledge and skills from a scientific standpoint. How can we increase food and crop production while preserving our natural resources so that we can feed the growing population of the planet? The Agricultural Science concentration of a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture is one goal of this diploma programme. There are a total of 120 ECTS credits required.   https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/mainvideo.mp4   How will I learn? The complete programme is delivered online. You may start at any time. Within 48 hours after enrolling, you will receive an email containing an access code for our online learning platform. It might be necessary for you to first complete a non-examable orientation course in academic writing. Readings, assigned tasks, and assignments make up a module. You will be required to take an exam and/or submit a project at the conclusion of each module. Learning support You will receive unrestricted email assistance for each module and course of the programme. For each submitted task, feedback is given. In some cases, it is also possible to arrange for telephone support. Progression After receiving this certification, you can start working on your advance diploma. Read the full article

[agritech08]

Certificate in Animal Production

Introduction The Warnborough College Certificate in Animal Production doesn’t shy away from contemporary concerns. However, it addresses the need for industry knowledge by helping students get to grips with the fundamentals of animal production. It forms a pathway to a degree, so there is knowledge and career progression. Our courses are designed for practitioners. Theoretical information is provided as a grounding for the actual practical knowledge that you will be expected of you. Through structured assignments and research tasks, you will learn the key things to give you confidence for a career in  agriculture. How will I learn? The program is conducted entirely online. You can begin ANYTIME. Upon enrolment, you will receive an email with an access code for our online learning system within 48 hours. You may be required to do an orientation course in academic writing (non-examinable) beforehand. Modules are split into readings, set task activities, and assignments. At the end of each module, you will be required to sit for an examination and/or submit a project. Learning support You will get unlimited email support throughout the program, on every module/course. Feedback is provided for every assignment that is sent in. In some instances, telephone support can also be arranged. Progression When you achieve this qualification, you can begin on your Diploma. It is part of a pathway to get a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Read the full article

[agritech08]

Cut Flower Bulbs

USE BULBS TO SET UP A FLOWER FARM OR WORK ON A FLOWER FARM - Utilize bulbs as nursery stock, landscaping plants, or cut flowers. - Run a flower farm or nursery, create new varieties, or pursue a passion. - Learn whenever, whenever, and at your own pace. - Well trained horticulturists with years of experience serve as expert educators. https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commercialflowercult.mp4   Choose and grow the right types of bulbs for the circumstances. It teaches you about the plant groups that bulbs are a part of, their cultural requirements, how to avoid and treat pest and disease issues, and the fundamentals of horticulture knowledge, such as soil types and plant nutritional requirements.   Lesson Structure There are 10 lessons in this course: - Introduction to Cut Flower Bulb Production - Overview of floriculture - Information on flower structure - How plants grow - Specialised vegetative structure - Introduction to hydroponics - Classification of hydroponic systems - Cultural Practices - Understanding soil composition, structure and texture - Ways to improve soil - Importance and types of soil water - Soil pH - Nutrient availability and pH - Soil and plant tissue analysis - Soil degradation and rehabilitation (erosion, salinity, acidification etc) - The nutrient elements (major and minor) - Diagnosing nutritional problems - Fertilisers (types, application, etc) - Natural fertilisers - Fertiliser selection - Weed control methods - Flower Initiation & Development - Encouraging plants to flower out of season - Ways to cause controlled flowering - How to modify plant environment - Photosynthesis - Carbon dioxide enrichment - Response of plants to CO2 - General guidelines of planting bulbs - Mulching - Soil mixes and potting media - Pest & Disease Control - Law in relation to chemical used - Disease identification and management in bulb crops - Plant viruses detection and diagnosis - Pest identification and management in bulb crops - Environmental Problems and their treatment - Managing Yield, Greenhouse Culture - Greenhouse growing system - Components of greenhouse facility - Types of greenhouse - Commonly used greenhouse designs - Shade houses - Greenhouse benches and beds - Environmental control in greenhouses - Measurements of environmental factors - Heating, cooling and ventilation systems - Lighting - Horticultural management in a greenhouse (pest and disease, irrigation etc) - Plant and water relation - Growing bulbs in open ground - Irrigating field grown bulbs - Types of irrigation system - Management, Harvest & Post Harvest - Managing market gardens - Factors in Deciding Which Plants to Grow - Production and crop scheduling - Cost efficiency standards - Quality and quantity standards - Farm layout (design of a store) - Marketing bulb crops - The marketing process (supply and demand, market research etc) - Aging in cut flowers - Factors affecting the longevity of cut flowers - Gladiolus and Liliums - Classification of liliums and gladiolus - Growing conditions - Soil and nutrition - Planting and propagation - Pest and diseases - Harvest and post-harvest - Narcissus - Classification of narcissus - Growing conditions - Soil and nutrition - Planting and propagation - Pest and diseases - Harvest and post-harvest - Iris - Classification of Iris - Growing conditions - Soil and nutrition - Planting and propagation - Pest and diseases - Harvest and post-harvest - Other Bulbs - Scented bulbs - Alstroemeria - Amaryllis - Dahlia - Freesia - Hyacinth - Ranunculus - Orchids - Ways of judging flower quality Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading. Aims - Explain the cultural approaches used to produce various cut flower bulbs, taking into account the principles of excellent horticulture such as soil knowledge, plant nutrition, and weed management. - Learn how plants with bulbs, rhizomes, tubers, corms, or other specialised parts initiate and develop blooms. examine the elements influencing the blossoming phases. - Discover how to control any pests and illnesses in the home garden or for a harvest of cut flower bulbs. - Control a crop of cut flower bulbs, both those produced outdoors and those cultivated inside a greenhouse. We also take a close look at the many methods for producing cut flower bulbs in greenhouses in this course, as well as strategies for controlling the environmental conditions there. - Learn about the care, harvest, and post-harvest handling of cut flower bulbs. - Describe how cut flower crops like Gladioli and Lilium are produced. - Describe how cut flower crops of Narcissus are produced. - Describe how the cut flower crops of iris and gladiolus are produced. - We examine the contrasts between several cut flower bulb crops. Discover How to Grow Bulbs for Cut Flowers Every year, cut flowers improve the lives of millions of people. Flowers are always in demand, but there are peak needs around holidays and special occasions like Mother's Day, Easter, Christmas, etc. The kind of flowers needed can vary depending on the occasion, such as red roses on Valentine's Day. Flowers and foliage are produced by cut flower enterprises for a variety of industries, including wholesale flower marketplaces, florists, retail stores, and occasionally export. A large variety of various bulbs, such as lilies, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, iris, and many more, are grown as flowers. The fact that the grower can generate additional income by selling bulbs during the dormant season in addition to harvesting and selling flowers is a significant advantage that bulbs have over other types of flowers. All types of cut flowers, flower seeds and seedlings, bulb cultivation, nursery operations, chemical plant protection, post-harvest processing and storage, and preservative use are all included in the practise of floriculture. Greenhouses have a role in the cultivation of several flower varieties. In addition to flower cultivation in greenhouses, floriculture also includes growing cut flowers and herbaceous plants outdoors. The manufacture of cut flowers is a growing industry globally. It has significant export potential, and even if the majority of flower-producing nations are able to meet the domestic demands of their cut flower markets, many of them might still expand their domestic markets. In some nations, spending on cut flowers is more prevalent than in others (the average Australian, for instance, spends much less on cut flowers than, say, the average German or Frenchman). Up to 70% of Germany's needs for cut flowers are met by imports, with The Netherlands being Germany's top exporter. The markets for cut flowers in Japan and the US are the largest, nearly tripling those in Germany. Production of cut flowers grew quickly in the latter decades of the 20th century. During this time, the export cut flower industries of Colombia, Israel, and, to a lesser extent, Australia, flourished quickly, with China and India having the largest areas under cultivation (but low yields per hectare). The Netherlands has been and remains a significant export market with a sizable domestic market, virtually eclipsing exports. Although having sizable production regions, nations like China and India are still in the developing stage, largely because of the poor quality of their exports and the financial restrictions preventing them from importing. Most of the cut flowers produced with only a modest local market are exported from Colombia and Kenya. Certain countries (such as Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand) can produce out-of-season flowers for the northern hemisphere, where the majority of the world's population lives, due to their southern hemisphere location. How to Raise Jonquils and Daffodils "Narcissus" is the genus-level scientific name for daffodils and jonquils. Depending on whose authority you check, there could be up to 60 genuine species. Moreover, there are thousands of designated cultivars as well as several natural variants and shapes. Although bunch-flowered varieties also appear from Asia, the majority of the actual species are from Europe and North Africa. These bulbs have 35 cm long, 35 cm wide, and rounded tip long, thin strap-like grey to green leaves. Almost all species' flowers feature a central corona that is fashioned like a cup, bell, trumpet, or flattened. The perianth, which consists of the corona's six outer petals, is joined at the base to form a tube. One of the toughest spring-flowering bulbs is the daffodil. With the exception of tropical regions, they thrive in the majority of climates. Before planting, amend the soil with organic matter to make it more productive and well-drained. Plant in either full or partial shade. Early autumn is the best time for planting. Plant bulbs at a depth of 10 cm and a distance of 10 cm (depending on the effect you wish to create). Although they are most often associated with spring, bulbs can flower at any time of year. The earliest varieties appear in early winter, while the later varieties flower in late spring, depending on location and variety. Let the leaves to wither naturally after blossoming because they will serve as the flower's food supply the following year. Propagation Every three to four years, lift and divide offsets to increase bulbs. The little child bulbs will readily detach from the bigger parent bulb. They can also be produced from seeds sowed in the summer, but it could take them three to seven years to bloom. Moreover, they can not be very true to type and be of lower quality. Health They are vulnerable to several illnesses and pests. Viral infections, such as cucumber mosaic virus and arabis mosaic virus, can be particularly troublesome. They frequently cause weak flowers and chlorotic leaves or yellow spotting on the foliage. Early in the growing season, dry soil can produce blindness in bulbs, which causes the shoots to develop but quickly turn brown and wither away. Grey mould, which frequently follows narcissus fire, a condition in which leaves and blooms develop brown spots and rot during humid weather, may attack and destroy above ground components. The narcissus fly, whose maggots eat into the bulbs, is a common nuisance. Tarsonid mites may also worm their way between the scales of the bulb and obstruct growth. Moreover, eelworms can invade the bulbs and result in stunted growth or bulb death. Slugs prefer the bulbs as well. Uses Daffodils have more promise as cut flowers because of their bigger blossoms. Nonetheless, jonquils are still farmed for cut flower arrangements. Create a formal appearance by planting single kinds in massed beds, a relaxed appearance by scattering other plants across the garden bed in clusters or drifts, or a naturalised, "wild" appearance by scattering plants under deciduous trees. Cultivars/Species In accordance with the type of blossom, narcissus are categorised into a number of groups. The above varieties are offered by specialised bulb growers. Division 1. Trumpet Daffodils   the 'traditional' daffodil. The trumpet (also called corona or cup) is at least as long as the perianth (the surrounding petals). They are early to mid-season flowering. N. 'King Alfred' - an older trumpet daffodil variety favoured by many for its early flowering and gold blooms. N. 'Aztec Gold' - a trumpet daffodil with golden yellow, serrated cups. N. 'Golden Harvest' - a trumpet daffodil with extra large golden yellow flowers. N. 'Glacier' - a trumpet daffodil with large white flowers. They are late flowering.Division 2. Large cupped Daffodils   the corona is over one third but less than half of the petal length. They flower in early to mid-season and are generally vigorous and long lasting varieties. N. 'Emerald' - a large-cupped daffodil with large a ruffled lemon yellow cup and white perianth. N. 'Salmon Trout' - a large-cupped daffodil with a salmon pink cup and white petals. N. 'Poached Egg' - a large-cupped daffodil with an orange yellow cup and yellow petals. Division 3. Small cupped Daffodil (Short-cupped)   the corona is less than one third of the length of the petals. They flower in mid-season.  They are good for clump or drift plantings in the garden bed, or for naturalising under trees. N. 'Cascade'- a short-cupped daffodil with white flowers with a frilled flat cup. N. 'Lemonade' - a short-cupped daffodil with greenish lemon flowers maturing to creamy yellow. Division 4. Double flowered Daffodils   the cups are "filled". They may need more protection than other varieties. These generally flower in mid to late season. N. 'Acropolis' - a double-flowered daffodil with tall, broad white petals interspersed with small red petals. N. 'Double Event' - a double-flowered daffodil with white and lemon yellow flowers. N. 'Erlicheer' - a double-flowered daffodil with multi flowered stems of ivory and primrose yellow flowers. N. 'Texas' - a tall double-flowered daffodil with large yellow and orange flowers. Division 5. Triandrus Daffodils - these have two to three pendent flowers per stem with and trumpet-shaped cups reflexed perianth petals. N. 'April Tears' - a triandrus daffodil with yellow flowers having rounded cups and petals. N. 'Rippling Waters' - a vigorous-growing triandrus daffodil with a white cup and petals. Division 6. Cyclamineus Daffodils - these have one pendent flower per stem with long trumpet-shaped cups and notably reflexed perianth petals. They are small growing, and so especially suitable for rockeries, containers, or planting along border edges. They are early to mid-season flowering. N. 'Titania' - a cyclamineus daffodil with creamy white trumpet-shaped flowers. N. 'Beryl' - a cyclamineus daffodil with primrose yellow petals, and a deep orange trumpet-shaped cup. Division 7. Jonquilla Daffodils (including Apodanthus Daffodil Cultivars) - these have often multi headed, fragrant flowers and broad reflexed petals and a typically shallow corona which may be funnel-shaped, trumpet-shaped or flared. They flower in mid-season. N. 'Cragford' - a jonquilla daffodil with creamy white petals and orange red cup. N. 'Sweetness' - a jonquilla daffodil with golden yellow, broad petals with a long cup. Division 8. Tazetta Daffodils (including Poetaz cultivars)   these have a sweet scent and multi flowered stems.  The small flowers have a short cup and petals are often crinkled. N. 'Geranium' - a poetaz variety of tazetta daffodil with white petals and orange red cups. N. 'Scarlet Gem' - a tazeta daffodil with golden yellow petals with an orange red cup. Division 9. Poeticus Daffodils   these are fragrant, late-flowering narcissi. They have white petals with a small, flat, red edged cup.  They are excellent for 'wild' or natural gardens. N. 'Actaea' - a poeticus daffodil with large flowers with uneven white petals and a yellow flattened cup with red edge. N. 'Sea Green' - a poeticus daffodil with white petals and a large, pale green eye with a red band. They tend to flower in very late spring. Division 10. Bulbocodium Daffodils - these usually have just one flower per stem. They are often short with dominant coronas and insignificant perianths. They flower early in the season and can become naturalised in grass. N. 'Little Soldier' - a bulbocodium daffodil with dark yellow shortened cup-shaped corona and petals which are slightly pointed. Division 11. Split-corona Daffodils - these have a corona which is split for at least one third but often more than one half of its length. Included here are the Collar varieties which have the corona segments opposite the perianth segments and often in whorls of three. Another group are the Papillon varieties which have the corona segments alternate to the perianth segments and often in a whorl of six and having a much flatter surface. N. 'Colorama' - a split-corona daffodil with orange cups and yellow petals. N. 'Canasta' - a split-corona daffodil with yellow cups and white petals. Division 12. Miscellaneous daffodils - a mixed group including those which do not fit well into any of the other groups. There are not many in this group and few which are widely used for garden use. Division 13. Species Daffodils - these include wild Narcissus species, forms and hybrids. WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THIS COURSE? Depending on what is cultivated, how it is grown, how it is harvested, and how it is sold, the work can vary. Bulb cultivation on open paddocks can be rather simple. Lifting and dividing bulbs, developing paddocks, planting, weeding, watering, spraying for pests, picking flowers, packing, adding chemicals to extend the life of the flowers, and shipping are examples of routine tasks. Growing in a greenhouse can be a high-tech process that requires both theoretical and practical technological expertise. Some producers adjust flowering timings and the climate with sophisticated technology. Others might utilise a greenhouse to cover their produce instead of growing their crops on an open field.   Opportunities Flowers are always in demand, especially if you can develop something that is different from what is now commonly available to florists, can be transported easily, and has a long shelf life. The best prices for flowers can be obtained when supply and demand are both low. Although there is always a desire for flowers, there is a higher demand on particular days of the year (e.g. Christmas, Mothers Day, Weddings, Funerals). Many cut flower producers have created profitable businesses based on offering flowers outside of the typical season because particular flowers are seasonal in various parts of the world. Some farmers have had success by discovering and introducing a variety of flowers that are not frequently seen on the market. Some types of flowers are consistently in short supply and high demand, and these are frequently the ones that are not only simpler to sell but also yield the highest profits. But, in order to know what to grow, you must first have an understanding of flower cultivation and then relationships with the business to increase your awareness. But unless you first master flower cultivation, you won't be able to relate to the industry. For this reason, taking a course like this is a wonderful place to start. - production of cut flower bulbs in agriculture - Production of cut flower bulbs under greenhouse conditions - directing the creation of commercially viable cut flower bulbs - Garden displays' maintenance of blossoming bulbs   Read the full article

[agritech08]

Agronomy II - Grains

Discover How to Grow Grains WHY UNDERSTAND GRAINS? Cereals, pulses (like beans), and fake grains are covered in this subject (e.g. quinoa). - Discover the many varieties of grains. - Improve your selection of species and cultivars to grow. - For better harvests, grow better crops utilising better practises. https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Agronomy.mp4   Cereals, pulses (like beans), and fake grains are covered in this subject (e.g. quinoa). Worldwide, farming is a large component, and grains are an important food for both human and animal consumption. This is a fairly extensive industry that includes dozens of other grain crops in addition to the more popular grains, like wheat and rice (e.g. amaranth and soybeans). Grain production on a vast scale and with a lot of mechanisation is done on very large farms all over the world. The production of many staple foods occurs in this manner. Though by no means the only method, this can be used to cultivate grains. Success in grain cultivation, whether on a small or large scale, is always based on the following conditions: - good germination rate and high-quality seed - Defend seeds from insects and disease - good seedbed preparation - adequate soil nourishment - Sowing at the right time under ideal climatic, moisture, and temperature conditions   Lesson Structure There are 9 lessons in this course: - Introduction to grains - Cereal/grain infrastructure and machinery requirements - Wheat, triticale, spelt, barley, oats, rye. - Maize, Sorghum, millet - Rice - Pulse crops - Pseudo cereals - Processing grains for human consumption - Grains for livestock consumption Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading. Aims - Classify significant current and emerging grains or cereals farmed around the world, and describe the large- and small-scale production processes used for producing, harvesting, and storing grains in various nations. - Identify key farm buildings, machinery, supplies, and natural resources needed for the successful cultivation of cereal and grain crops. - The qualities and production methods of the main "cool season" cereals, including wheat, triticale, spelt, barley, oats, and rye, should be discussed and compared. - Explain and contrast the characteristics and farming practises of the three main "warm season" cereals: maize, sorghum, and millet. - Provide an explanation of the various production methods employed within each of the four main habitats where rice is grown. - The production methods and applications of significant cool- and warm-season pulse crops farmed worldwide are described and compared. - Explain the development of "non-grasses" like chia, quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat that are currently available or are on the verge of becoming significant "cereals." - Examine the numerous sales techniques in use and describe the post-harvest handling, processing, and storage techniques for cereals intended for human consumption. - Explain how essential warm- and cool-season grasses that are utilised for forage and livestock feed are produced. - Explain how to store, prepare, and sell cereals for use in livestock, and show how to calculate some example stock feeds. Harvest To get the best yield and quality from the harvest, grains must be harvested at the proper stage of their growth cycle. For thousands of years, subsistence farmers have manually harvested grain crops, and some still so today. However the majority of commercial grain crops will be gathered by machines. Large farming enterprises may own machine harvesters, but smaller operations may contract out the harvesting to someone who has the necessary equipment. Harvesting the crop when it is at its best is one of the primary concerns. It is when the moisture content is at the highest permissible level but not so high as to compromise quality or storage. Weather damage is another problem that might arise during harvest. Whenever rain falls on a ripe crop, crops are extremely sensitive to quality loss. Wind, hail, or heavy rain can cause crops to drop grain or shatter pods. A windrower is frequently used to lay the crop on the ground to reduce the chance that pods will shatter from bad weather. As a general rule, pulse crops such as chickpeas weather quite well for a short period of time because the grain is protected inside a pod. However, with canola, the pods become very brittle when ripe and can shatter very easily. Certain varieties of wheat can weather rather well, whereas barley has a relatively soft straw and can lodge (fall over) if too much rain falls onto a crop that is about to ripen. Because of this, farmers frequently have a grain storage facility. Keeping grains in storage can create a variety of marketing opportunities. Farmers can keep their harvests and sell them at a period when markets are priced more favourably if crop prices are not particularly favourable during harvest, which frequently occurs. In light of this, let's examine some fundamental storage alternatives for a farmer of grains. Silos Silos are the most durable way to store grains. Some silos have flat bottoms, but most are huge steel cylinder structures with cone bases. The cone base facilitates the flow of grain into a hopper at the bottom of the silo, where an auger can pump it onto a truck. Silos are a common feature of big grain farms (a number of silos for seed storage as well as grain storage during harvest). In order to operate grain dryers, silo complexes are typically powered. When a farmer needs to harvest grain at a higher moisture content to get the crop out of the field—whether because bad weather is predicted or because there are large areas of crop that need to be harvested—grain dryers are used to reduce the moisture content to a level that is acceptable to the grain receiver. Most contemporary silos have aerators installed. They are tiny fans that are attached to the silo's base and push air upward. They aid in maintaining the grain's quality by keeping the temperature steady. It is a good idea to conceive of grain as a living organism because poor storage conditions, such as high humidity levels, would destroy any grain preserved for seed viability. If you're going to build new silos, grain dryers are an excellent investment because they are particularly good at keeping grain insect-free. Silo Bags Silo bags are huge, bulky, sausage-like plastic bags that have a capacity of 220 tonnes for wheat. They can survive outdoors for up to 18 months. The grain must have the proper moisture content or it will sweat in the bag and become mouldy. They are especially handy for storing grain on the sides of fields after harvest. They are easy to use and work well for short-term storage, but if you place them on the edge of a field, you can have access problems when it comes time to unload them (as opposed to permanent silos that usually have a heavy gravel pad around them allowing for all weather access). They also need a specialised bag unloader, and if you intend to leave them in the field for an extended amount of time, you'll need to surround them with an electric fence because pigs and other animals can tear them apart like a ladder in a stocking, which can result in significant grain loss. Bunkers Grain storage facilities are known as bunkers. Often a plastic tarp is used to cover bunkers, which are vast piles of grain placed on the ground or a cement slab (which is most desirable to reduce weather damage). Grain is typically transported out of bunkers as rapidly as possible because they are only used as a very short-term type of storage. Raised ground is great for bunker sites because it directs water away from the grain. The majority of farmers would have a grader build up this area, known as the pad, and pack the ground firmly. Pest control for insects in grain storage In stored grain, grain insects can grow swiftly provided the correct conditions are present. Temperatures of roughly 20°C or less are ideal for grain storage because most grain pests may multiply quickly at those levels. This may be challenging to accomplish in some areas, although silo aeration can help. It is frequently required to use a combination of protectants because grain insects in some countries have already evolved resistance to some chemical grain protectants. The usage of protectants depends on the product's withholding period, therefore in some cases they won't be appropriate if grain needs to be sold within the withholding period. Protectants are intended to be applied to grain when it enters storage; they are not intended to be applied to grain that already has a noticeable insect infestation. We urge you to become familiar with the grain insects that are resistant. We also advise you to look into the primary grain pests in your country or region.   Milling Grain is flattened or ground during milling, sometimes referred to as grist milling. In the past, mills were powered by water and wind; currently, most mills are electric steel roll mills. In order to shatter the grains, they are rolled between two steel rollers with roughened edges or teeth. The endosperm (white flour) is then separated from the bran layers and germ by sieving the grains. The endosperm is then processed once more until it reaches the appropriate level of fineness. To create brown and wholemeal flours, in some situations, bran layers and germ are additionally ground more finely and incorporated back into the endosperm powder. WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS COURSE? - Farmers and agricultural labourers - Agricultural supply companies and related services - Agricultural professionals and students - Owners of small farms or hobby farms are thinking about developing "niche" crops - Livestock managers and owners who seek to make animal feed MORE COURSES IN AGRONOMY This course will be followed by other agronomy courses, tentatively: Agronomy -Fibre Crops Agronomy - Oil Crops Agronomy -Pulses (legumes) Agronomy -Biofuels Agronomy - Root Crops   Read the full article

[agritech08]

Cut Flower Orchids

Cultivate Orchids for Cut Flowers: A Guide Tropical or temperate regions are suitable for growing orchids. Commercial orchid farms have proven successful outside of the tropics in locations like southern Australia and Europe. In cooler regions, you might need a greenhouse and should be more selective about the species you plant.   https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commercialflowercult.mp4   Lesson Structure There are 10 lessons in this course: - Introduction. - Covers plant names - Basic plant classification - Information on plant flower structure - Culture. - Looks at soil cultivation - Container growing - Hydroponics - Baskets - Epiphytes - Potting mixes - Pruning orchids - Propagation A. - Propagation materials and equipment - Seed - Miscellaneous propagation techniques - Propagation B. (Tissue Culture). - Materials necessary for tissue culture - Types of tissue culture - Plant hormones - Diseases - Plant nutrients - Greenhouse Management A. - Greenhouses and other growing structures - Environmental controls - Benches and beds - Effects of carbon dioxide - Yields - Greenhouse Management B. - Growing plants in greenhouses - Plant needs - Temperature control - Greenhouse irrigation - Cooling - Pest and Disease Control. - Horticultural Management in greenhouses - Sterilisation - Pests and diseases - Management, Harvest and Post Harvest. - Harvest and post-harvest - Managing a market garden - Crop scheduling - Standards - Farm layout - Nursery costs - Marketing. - Marketing your produce - Economically valuable orchids - International flower markets - Special Project. - An in depth study of a specific group of orchids. Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading. Aims - Describe the system for naming plants, list the components of flowers, and gather materials - Explain the cultural practises that can be used to grow orchids. - Explain the methods for orchid propagation. - Describe the procedures for tissue culture propagation. - Provide an outline of orchid-friendly protected plant producing facilities. - Describe how a greenhouse is managed on a daily basis. - controlling diseases and pests in an orchid flower crop - Describe how to manage an orchid business and how to harvest and process an orchid crop. - Describe the marketing strategies used for orchids used as cut flowers. - Name a significant orchid group. Where Are Orchids Grown? Both epiphytic (also known as lithophytes) and terrestrial (also known as geophytic) orchids are the main focus of growing media for orchids. Epiphytic orchids are those that grow on living, dead, and tree fern trunks. Rock outcrops are the natural habitat for lithophytes. Orchids that grow on the ground are referred to as terrestrial orchids, albeit some of these orchids really grow in leaf litter rather than the mineral soil below. With soilless mixes, some terrestrial orchids will also grow pretty easily. Several of the orchids that are raised for cut blooms are lithophytic. They are typically cultivated in pots filled with a mix of rocks and bark. The same cultural methods used for epiphytic orchids will work for many lithophytic orchids. In general, composted bush debris, peat moss, medium- to coarse-grade sand, and modest amounts of soil (often only 15-20% of mix) can be used to cultivate the majority of terrestrial orchids. Reduce the sand component if the soil you're utilising is particularly sandy. Sand should make up roughly 50% of the mixture overall. The mix should have adequate aeration, and should almost completely dry out before watering. Sometimes substances like perlite, charcoal, and fine gravel are used to help with drainage. Orchids that grow epiphytically can be grown on wood slabs, cork, or bark. Many epiphytic orchids can be grown effectively in pots as well. Pots made of unglazed terracotta and plastic are both often used. Unglazed clay pots are particularly well suited to orchids that need adequate drainage because they are quite porous; nevertheless, they are also pricey and can be difficult to lift.   WHAT CAN YOU ACHIEVE FROM THIS COURSE?   If orchid cultivation is already your passion, you might wish to expand on it by opening a business. Even if you already have experience in the field, you might need to take a course or acquire new information. This course will assist you in achieving your objectives in the orchid growing sector with the assistance of our skilled instructors.   Read the full article

[agritech08]

Agronomy IV -Legume Crops

a training for those involved in the production of food crops with the legume family, including farm workers, managers, and suppliers.   https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Agronomy.mp4   What can you expect from this course? - Develop your ability to grow a greater range of pulse (legume) crops, such as various kinds of peas, beans, lupins, soybeans, chickpeas, etc. - Choose more wisely what to plant, where to grow it, and when. - Increase sustainability by diversifying farm production How Legume Crops Can Benefit Agriculture - In fact, legumes increase soil fertility. They have the capacity to raise nitrogen levels in the soil. - Changing the types of crops planted has a positive impact on biodiversity and can help control pest and disease populations. - Increased crop diversity helps farms diversify their sources of income. There is a lower likelihood of experiencing serious financial problems if income is sourced from many crops. Prices may remain stable or increase for a different crop when they decline for one crop. Market Diversification for Legumes They are the cornerstone of human meals devoid of meat because of their high protein content. Legumes including beans, peas, and other varieties are crucial parts of vegan and vegetarian diets. Even meat eaters often use them as a substantial source of protein. The addition of pulses to animal feed is highly valued. Fresh or value-added crops can be sold on or off the farm. They are either dried out or frozen to preserve them, or they are processed into a variety of goods. Consider the following: roasted pulses as a snack, peanut oil, vegetarian sausages, refried beans, chilli con carne, etc.         Lesson Structure There are 10 lessons in this course: - Scope and Nature of Legume Cropping - Taxonomy of legumes - Brief history of legume use - Significance of Legume Crops - Food plants for people - Food plants for animals - Soil improvers - Amenity plants - Industrial crops - Weeds - Legume cover crops - Inoculation of Legumes - Legumes today - Shade & Salt Tolerant Cover Crops - Peas - Introduction - Cultivars - Snap Peas - Green Peas - Appearance - Cultivation - Climate - Soil and Fertility - Land and Seed Bed Preparation - Planting Material - Inoculation - Plant Spacing - Trellising - Nutrient Management - Irrigation - Weed Control - Harvesting - Growing Beans - Introduction - Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) -Classification, Growing Conditions, Climate, Soil, Planting, Irrigation, Nutrition, Weeds, Pest and Disease - Management - Varieties – bush, climbing - Harvesting - Storage - Runner Beans (Phaseolus coccineus) - Growing Conditions, Climate, Soil, Planting, Irrigation, Nutrition, Weeds, Pest and Disease, Varieties - Lima Beans (Phaseolus lunatus) – Growing Conditions, Planting, Harvesting, Varieties. - Broad Bean (Vicia faba)- Growing Conditions, Soil, Planting, Irrigation, Nutrition, Weeds, Harvesting, Crop Rotation, Pest and Disease, Varieties - Hyacinth Bean (Lablab purpureus) - Growing Conditions, Climate, Planting, Irrigation, Nutrition, Weeds, Pest and Disease, Varieties - Snake Bean (Vigna unguiculate ssp sesquipedalis) - Growing Conditions, Climate, Planting, Irrigation, Nutrition, Weeds, Pest and Disease - Mung Bean (Vigna radiata) Growing Conditions, Climate, Soil, Land preparation, Sowing, Planting, Irrigation, Nutrition, Weeds, Harvesting, Drying, Storage, IPM, Pest and Disease, Land Management - Growing Lentils - Introduction - Planting Lentils - How to Plant - Soil, Watering and Fertiliser - Nurturing the Plants - Diseases - Pests - Harvesting - Growing Lupins - Introduction - Lupin plant structure -leaves, stem, branches, roots, flower, pod, seed - Lupin Growing Cycle -germination phases - Benefits of Lupin Crops - Factors affecting Lupin Growth - Seed Quality - Sowing Lupins - Pod Growth - Harvesting - Sources for seed growth - Factors Affecting Seed Development – moisture, temperature - Fertilisers - Pests - Growing Alfalfa - Introduction - How to grow alfalfa at home - Lucerne Cropping - Soil type - Fertility Management - Plant Variety - Planting Crops - Seeding Depth - Crop Management - Irrigation - Disease and Insect Management - Harvesting Lucerne - Soybeans - Introduction - Planting Soybean Crops - Modern Farming Practices (eg. Zero tilling) - Soil Management - Variety Selection - Planting Soybeans - Plant Growth and Physiology - Nutrition and Fertiliser - Nutritional Deficiency - Weed Control - Pest Control - Harvesting Soybeans - Growing Chickpeas - Introduction - Crop Preparation - Weed Control - Soil Preparation - Soil Moisture - Diseases - Chickpea Varieties -Desi Type, Kabuli Type - Planting Chickpeas - Plant Growth and Physiology - Nutrition and Fertiliser - Harvest - Other Legumes - Peanut - Inga (Ice Cream Bean) - Tamarind - Carob - Acacia (Wattle seed) - Clovers and Annual Medics - Growing Clovers - Clover Species - Medics - Processing and Using Legumes - Introduction - Storage Planning - Silo Options - Grain Storage Bags - Bunkers - Underground Pits - Calculating Costs - Variable Costs of On Farm Storage - Aeration Cooling - Repairs and Maintenance - Time & Labour - ROI Investment Analysis - Safety - Grain Storage and Insect Management - Storing Lentils - Storing Soybeans - Storing Chickpeas - Storing Peanuts - Storing Faba Beans - Storing Field Peas Each lesson ends with an assignment that is sent in to the school, graded by the tutors there, and returned to you with any pertinent comments and suggestions—and, if necessary, additional reading—if they are applicable. Aims - Discuss the production of legumes for market. - Describe the various varieties of pea plants and how to grow beans. - Describe how to raise lupins for eating. - Describe how to raise an alfalfa crop. - Describe the value of and methods for raising soybean crops. - Describe the process of growing chickpeas. - Describe how to grow many different food crops that are legumes. - Describe the methods used to process and use legume crops. What You Will Do - Do some research on the readily available legumes and goods made from them in your area. - See videos about crops with legumes. - Ask a close friend or relative if they eat any kind of beans and if so, which ones and why. - Make a note of everything you can on the nutritional advantages of beans. - Examine the effects of two micronutrients on the health of pea crops. Look for information on how these nutrients are applied excessively or insufficiently to peas. - Learn how to sprout peas, then try it out and add some to your meals. - See and record your sprouting project. - Look about the significance of peas as a crop in your nation. - Learn more online about the differences between peas chosen for various processing methods, such as fresh, canned, frozen, or dried/dehydrated. - Ask someone who has cultivated beans for an interview. - Take notes as you watch online footage of combine harvesters picking beans. - Make lentils ready to eat. - Online videos of lentil growth should be viewed and noted. - Watch online videos about sustainable agriculture and lentil production. - Harvest while paying attention to information on the sustainability and health of the soil. When you watch, be careful to take notes. - Look at the value of lupins as a feed crop for animals. - Read up on the practise of planting lucerne alongside other crops. - Choose two lucerne-related illnesses, and conduct additional research on these two illnesses. - Online sources for soybean suppliers in your nation. - Search online for soy suppliers in your nation. - Examine the various selections that are offered online. - Examine the various varieties of chickpeas that are offered in the nearby marketplaces and grocers. - Make a recipe with chickpeas that you have never tried. Make dhal, roasted chickpeas, hummus, power bowls, or roasted chickpeas. - Search online for agricultural feed providers and look at their selection of clover. - Examine the techniques for gathering peanut crops. Online silo choices research WHY GROW LEGUMES? Some of the most significant agronomic crops farmed worldwide are legumes. They are eaten as side dishes of vegetables or in soups, stews, savoury pies, salads, sauces, and spreads. To get rid of toxins, fresh legumes including peas, beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, and soybeans should be soaked in water for a standard 12-hour period before cooking. Certain varieties of green peas, such as sugar snaps, can be consumed uncooked. While many beans and peas are harvested before they are fully mature and consumed fresh, there are those that are harvested at the proper time and are then dried before consumption. Moreover, sprouted legumes are frequently consumed as microgreens. Microgreens are the young vegetable plant shoots that are consumed right after the first leaves appear on a growing plant. When moisture and temperature conditions are ideal, the food stored in the seed will be enough to trigger germination. This makes it possible to grow a sprout on a clean surface, like a tray with good drainage, without any soil. Legume sprouts are a popular raw food that is very nutrient-dense and is used in salads, stir-fries, and other dishes. Being high in protein, legumes are perfect for vegetarian diets, which are frequently poor in protein due to the lack of meat. They can be made into synthetic meats or milled into flour that can be used in cookery. Moreover, they can be consumed as dried seeds for wholesome snacking. Furthermore rich in fibre, legumes' slow-digesting carbs help people feel satiated for longer after eating them. They aid in lowering blood pressure and can reduce the chance of developing diabetes. Legumes are common in organic farming because, unlike other crops, they do not deplete the soil of nitrogen. Legumes can range from short-lived annuals in meadows to shrubs and trees and can be grown as fodder for animals. Some must be avoided because of their poisons, and others are inappropriate because of their spines. These crops offer soil stabilisation and erosion prevention when cultivated as livestock fodder. Although animals have long used legumes as food in their natural habitats, cultivating them as animal fodder is a relatively new development. Forage legumes are frequently cut up and used as animal feed. This could be a byproduct of growing legumes to harvest the grains for human use, or it could be a crop planted particularly as an animal feed or as a cover crop. The dried, pelletized, or fed to animals as hay form of these legumes. They are occasionally fermented in silage and fed to animals.   WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE THIS COURSE? Find out more about the legumes you are already familiar with and learn about new ones. If you work as a farmer or in another capacity in the food sector, you may want to learn this and put it to use in your profession. You might merely be passionate about legumes or have a scholarly interest in them. This course offers much more than just information about various legumes, whether you plan to produce them for your own consumption, as a valuable crop to sell, or just to provide advice to others (such as as a consultant, writer, broadcaster, or teacher). It will provide you a professionally designed learning experience that aides in understanding and retaining the essential information so that you are better prepared to deal with legumes in the future.   Read the full article

[agritech08]

Cut Flower Production

Commercial flower cultivation Learn how to grow cut flowers to enter the thriving cut flower industry or to increase your chances of moving up in this growing area of the horticulture sector. learning through experience throughout your course. https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Commercialflowercult.mp4   - Discover how to grow flowers for a living. - Determine and contrast the relative commercial viability of various flower harvests. - Cut Flower Farming teaches you about horticulture and business. Growingly wealthy nations have seen a tremendous expansion of cut flower farming. Due to this, there is now a greater need for training in the knowledge and skills that the sector demands. The course offers a solid foundational education for commercial growers of cut flowers.   Comment from an ACS Graduate: I believe that my current achievement is directly due to the instruction I received from the ACS. The tutors were outstanding, and the materials were perfect. (Learn more about Lana's remarkable journey, which includes owning the breeding rights to a particular Flannel Flower and operating a flourishing export company.) Comment from an ACS student: I'm enjoying my course and it's helped me realise what I need to do after it's over. The course has been a worthwhile educational experience for me. Since I have young children, I can do it on my own schedule, and the material is intriguing. Australian Melanie Sumpter is taking a course in cut flower production.   Lesson Structure There are 10 lessons in this course: - Introduction to Cut Flower Production - Scope and Nature of the Flower Industry - International Flower Market - Succeeding in the Trade - Flower Structure - Development of a Flower - Introduction to Hydroponic Culture - Understanding plant growth, roots, stems, flowers, leaves - Types of flowers, perennials, bulbs. - Review of Flower Crops, Alstroemeria, Antirrhinum, Amaryllis, Anigozanthos, Aster Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Freesia, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Iris, Narcissus, Orchids, Rose, Stock and others. - Soils and Nutrition - Soil composition - Soil texture - Soil structure - Colloids - Peds - Characteristics of clay, sand and loam soils - Naming the Soil - Improving Soil Structure - Improving fertility - Benefits of adding organic matter to soils - Soil life, earthworms, mycorrhizae, nitrogen fixing, etc. - Soil Water - Understanding dynamics of water loss - Improving soil water retention - Types of soil water (Hygroscopic, Gravitational) - Soil analysis - Plant tissue analysis for soil management - Measuring pH - Other soil testing (testing salinity, colorimetry, etc) - Measuring Water availability to plants - Soil Degradation and rehabilitation (Erosion, Salinity, Acidification, etc) - Soil Chemical Characteristics - Nutrient availability and pH - The nutrient elements, major, minor, total salts - Diagnosing nutritional problems - Fertilisers (types, application, etc) - Natural Fertilisers - Fertiliser Selection - Composting methods - Soil mixes and potting media - Cultural Practices - Site selection - Production - Cultivation techniques - Using cover crops - Green manure cover crops - Nitrogen Fixation in legumes - Crop rotation - Planting procedure - Staking - Bare rooted plants - Time of planting - Mulching - Frost protection - Managing sun - Managing animal pests, birds, etc. - Pruning - Water management and Irrigation - When to irrigate - Period of watering, cyclic watering, pulse watering, etc - Sprinkler irrigation - Trickle irrigation - Sprinkler systems, portable, permanent, semi permanent, travelling - Types of sprinkler heads - Sprinkler spacings - Selecting surface irrigation methods - Weed control - Preventative weed management - Hand weeding - Mechanical weeding - Chemical weed control - Classification of weedicides - Natural Weed Control Methods - Review of common weeds - Flower Initiation and Development - How flowers Age - Managing flower longevity - Effects of Carbon Dioxide - Getting plants to flower out of season - Types of flower response to temperature - Ways to cause controlled flowering - Narcissus flower management - Managing Azalea flowering - Seed sources - Hydroponics for controlled growth - Pest and Disease Control - Integrated Pest Management - Chemical Methods of Pest Control - Chemical labels - Non Chemical methods of pest control - Pest and Disease Identification and Management on flower crops - Anthracnose - Blight - Canker - Damping off - Galls - Leaf Spot - Mildew - Rots - Rust - Smut - Sooty Mould - Virus - Wilt - Caterpillars - Leafhoppers - Mealy Bugs - Millipedes - Mites - Nematodes - Scale - Slugs or Snails - Thrip - Whitefly - Viruses, - Others - Environmental Problems - Australian Natives and Related Plants - Proteaceae Plants (Aulax, Banksia, Dryandra, Grevillea, Hakea, Isopogon, Leucadendron, Leucospermum, Macadamia, Mimetes, Persoonia Protea, Serruria and Telopea.) - Culture of Proteaceae cut flowers - Proteaceae propagation - Anigozanthos - Other Australian Cut Flowers - Greenhouse Culture - The greenhouse business - Greenhouse system - Components of a greenhouse - What can be grown in a greenhouse - Siting greenhouses - Types of greenhouses - Shadehouses - Cold frames - Heated propagators - Framing and cover materials - Thermal screens - Wind breaks - Benches and beds - Environmental control; Temperature, moisture, irrigation, shading -both natural and with blinds/curtains, light-including supplemented light if needed, ventilation, levels of CO2, mist/fogging - Photosynthesis - Plants that respond to Carbon dioxide - Day length manipulation - Lighting and heating equipment - Horticultural management within the greenhouse - Harvest and Post Harvest - Harvesting - Flower deterioration - Post harvest - Shelf life - Major factors that affect shelf life - Post harvest treatments - Other treatments - Grading standards - Conditioning flowers for market - Harvesting and grading carnations - Harvest and post harvest of selected orchids; Bud opening, transport, storing flowers - Cost Efficiency Standards - Quality Standards - Quantity Standards - Judging flowers - Developing a Production Plan - Managing a cut flower farm - Deciding what to grow - Production plans - Decisions that need to be made - Farm layout - Design of a store - Export Marketing - International flower marketing system - Aspects of export - Flower Exporting case study - Understanding marketing your produce - Consider your markets - Market research - What to research - How to sell successfully Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading. Aims - Describe the physiological mechanisms that have a role in plants' bloom development. - Locate plant species that can be used to produce cut flowers for sale. - Examine the viability of various plants as crops for cut flowers. - Identify the nutrients and soil conditions needed for the growth of cut flowers. - Find out what cultural conditions must exist for a crop of cut flowers to be produced commercially. - Establish harvest and post-harvest management procedures for crops producing cut flowers. - Create a production strategy for a crop of cut flowers. - Analyze potential export markets for cut flowers. How You Plan to Act - Provide an explanation of the botanical processes involved in the commencement of flowers in each of the plant genera. - Provide an explanation of how a specific plant species' flowering is affected by carbon dioxide enrichment. - Identify the causes of flower ageing in several genera of cut flowers produced for commercial purposes. - Examine the effects of glycerine, drying, and pressing, three alternative methods for preserving cut flowers after harvest. - Establish methods for producing cut flowers outside of the season for various cut flower species. - Put together a list of publications, seed and/or planting stock suppliers, industry associations, relevant government contacts, and other information sources about commercial cut flower varieties. - Describe the herbaceous perennials that grow in a certain area and are good for cutting flowers. - List the annuals and biennials that can be grown for flowers in a certain area. - Explain the bulbs, corms, rhizomes, or tubers that are best for growing cut flowers in a certain area. - Explain the plant species that are frequently utilised as fillers in the floristry industry. - The following information will help you distinguish between 20 different plant varieties that are suitable for use as cut flowers: *Family, genus, species, and variety name (if applicable); *a description of the plant's physical characteristics; and *a description of the flower, as well as the flowering season and duration. - Create criteria for choosing the plant species that will be raised as cut flower crops on a certain piece of property. - Identify Australian native plants that may be grown for cut flowers in a particular area. - Find many exotic plants that might be grown locally as cut flower crops. - Describe the reasons why certain Australian plant kinds are successful as cut flowers. - Explain various plant species that are suitable for flower cultivation, including their family, genus, species, and variety names (if applicable) a description of the plant's physical attributes, including the flower's description, flowering season, and duration. - Examine the commercial viability of various cut flower crops produced in a certain environment. - To determine: *Soil type *pH *Drainage *Water holding capacity, perform easy tests on various soils. - Examine how a particular cut flower variety performs in various types of soil. - Discover the best cut flower varieties to grow in the various soil types in your area. - Provide advice on how to prepare the soil for a certain cut flower crop at a particular location. - Examine the compatibility of various fertiliser kinds with various cut flower varieties. - Examine the nutritional management strategies used by various producers on particular cut flower crops. - Recognize vitamin deficiencies on various cut flowers. - Describe the outcomes of a plant tissue investigation to offer fertilisation advice. - With planting and staking, compare plant establishing methods for five different cut flowers. - Describe the uses of various irrigation system types for the production of cut flowers at the locations you visit. - Explain the differences between growing a certain cut flower crop in a given location in a greenhouse and in an open field. - Create regulations for pruning various flower harvests. - Find out what pest and disease issues affect certain cut flower harvests in your area. - Develop pest and disease control strategies for various cut flower crops for a year (or the duration of the crop). - Examine the methods of commercial propagation that are available for the many types of cut flowers. - Analyze the efficacy of using both groundwater and tap water on a particular cut flower crop. - Create an integrated pest management strategy for a particular crop of cut flowers. - Explain the standard methods for cutting flowers. - Compare different cut flower post-harvest storage locations. - Describe the methods used in the commercial grading of various kinds of cut flowers. - Use a common judging system to assess the quality of five different cut flowers that the learner has examined. - Explain techniques for preserving the life of cut flowers during storage and delivery. - Analyze the market worth of various crops of cut flowers. - Find the cut flower harvests in the learner's area that have untapped economic potential. - Provide examples of effective post-harvest methods for a particular flower crop. - Identify the elements that affect a chosen flower crop's marketability. - Provide examples of effective marketing strategies for a particular flower crop. - Create a management plan for three chosen flower crops that includes: *materials and equipment lists *schedules of crop husbandry duties *estimates of production expenses *marketing strategies *contingency plans. - Provide details on the manufacturing needs for exporting cut flowers to a certain nation. - Explain the market criteria for exporting cut flowers to a certain nation. - Analyze the present cut flower export market, taking into account the following factors: *quantities and varieties of flowers exported *destinations to which cut flowers are exported *prices growers are receiving *trends in the market. A VERY GROWING AND DYNAMIC GLOBAL INDUSTRY In some ways, the flower business has always been a luxury that has expanded along with economies. This sector appears destined to expand as the developing world continues to become more wealthy. Flowers are always in demand, but there are peak needs around holidays and special occasions like Mother's Day, Easter, Christmas, etc. The kind of flowers needed can vary depending on the occasion, such as red roses on Valentine's Day. For a variety of markets, including wholesale flower marketplaces, florists, retail establishments, and in certain cases for export, floriculture firms produce fresh and dried flowers and leaves. Roses, carnations, orchids, native flowers, bulb and annual flowers, and tropical flowers are just a few of the many varieties of flowers and greenery that are grown. For their essential oils, some flower farms also grow flowers in open fields. All types of cut flowers, flower seeds and seedlings, bulb cultivation, nursery operations, chemical plant protection, post-harvest processing and storage, and preservative use are all included in the practise of floriculture. Greenhouses have a role in the cultivation of several flower varieties. In addition to flower cultivation in greenhouses, floriculture also includes growing cut flowers and herbaceous plants outdoors. EMPLOYMENT IN THE FLORIST INDUSTRY The labour involved in growing cut flowers can vary greatly based on the type of plants planted, the growing methods employed, and the harvesting processes. Crop Choices - Annual or Perennial herbaceous flower crops (e.g. carnations, sunflowers, poppies, stock, statice). - Bulbs (e.g. tulips, daffodils, gladioli, iris) - can sell both the bulbs and the flowers. - Woody perennial plants (e.g. roses, proteas, heathers). - Tropical or greenhouse plants (e.g. orchids, gingers, heliconias). Production Methods may include: - Row crops in open paddocks. - Greenhouse Production. - Hydroponic Growing - Potted colour (growing pots of flowers) - Harvesting from the wild or gardens A huge rose garden may draw tourists who pay to enter the garden, purchase meals at a café, and the flowers may subsequently be picked and sold as cut flowers through a flower market. Such gardens may serve two purposes in garden settings. Cut flowers are sometimes grown by rural farmers in addition to other things as a commercial crop. For example, a market gardener who grows vegetables primarily might have a hedge of banksias or proteas surrounding their property serving as a windbreak and producing flowers that can be sold for extra cash. Depending on what is grown, how it is grown, how it is harvested, kept, and marketed, different duties may be required. It might be rather simple to grow annual flowers, herbaceous perennials, or bulbs in open paddocks. Lifting and dividing bulbs, developing paddocks, planting, weeding, watering, spraying for pests, picking flowers, packing, adding chemicals to extend the life of the flowers, and shipping are examples of routine tasks. Flowers can be cultivated hydroponically or in a greenhouse, which can be a pretty high-tech operation needing a high level of technical know-how. In order to adjust flowering times, some flower farms employ highly sophisticated machinery to regulate light, temperature, and humidity conditions. By growing plants in this manner, both potted and in-ground plants can produce flowers all year long or during seasons of the year when they are not typically available. The workers on these more advanced farms will occasionally still need to get their hands "dirty," but due to the high level of automation, they may occasionally feel more like factory managers than farmers in their roles. A different daily schedule will apply to individuals who operate with perennial flowers cultivated as row crops, as hedges, or in garden beds. For instance, pruning plays a significant role in rose cultivation, although it may only be done sometimes or never with some annual flowers. Before you can start harvesting from a planting of woody perennials, it may take one to several years to get them established. But, once they start producing, you do not need to replant every year. Opportunities There is always a demand for cut flowers. You might already be cultivating flowers or have plans to build something on the land you already own. - Sometimes farmers will grow cut flowers as a side business to supplement their income and spread out their risk. - Newcomers entering the field can be looking to purchase an existing farm or start a new one. - If you are using technology (such hydroponics or greenhouse growing) to increase output, or if you are cultivating exceptionally productive cultivars, even tiny properties of an acre or less can be big enough for a sustainable cut flower farm. Flowers are in demand all throughout the year, especially for weddings, funerals, and other special occasions, but demand is particularly high during holidays like St. Valentine's Day. Many cut flower producers have created profitable businesses based on offering flowers outside of the typical season because particular flowers are seasonal in various parts of the world. Some farmers have had success by discovering and introducing a variety of flowers that are not frequently seen on the market. Certain flowers are always in short supply and high demand. Lavender, orchids, and roses are popular flowers that are always very sellable, but the farmer must be careful not to oversupply the market. Do You Need This? A cut flower producer needs land, expertise, and a market. With the help of this course, you may get started on the proper path to learning more and locating potential clients. If you already own some land, you are already ahead of the game; however, if you don't, don't let that discourage you. Growing a flower that is strong after harvest and in perfect health is a valued ability. Once you realise that, any flower farm looking for staff will find you to be a desirable candidate. While other producers might sell through an agent, some will sell their produce directly at the farm gate and to merchants (perhaps through a wholesale market stand or off a truck). An advanced greenhouse or hydroponic flower farm will often require a larger initial investment, but they can produce a lot of products per acre each year. If the cut flower farm is to make an adequate profit for the investment made, the owner must be an excellent manager of the firm and hire highly qualified technical employees.   WHY STUDY THIS COURSE? Read the full article

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Certificate in Animal Production

Introduction The Warnborough College Certificate in Animal Production doesn’t shy away from contemporary concerns. However, it addresses the need for industry knowledge by helping students get to grips with the fundamentals of animal production.   https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Science.mp4   It forms a pathway to a degree, so there is knowledge and career progression. Our courses are designed for practitioners. Theoretical information is provided as a grounding for the actual practical knowledge that you will be expected of you. Through structured assignments and research tasks, you will learn the key things to give you confidence for a career in  agriculture. How will I learn? The program is conducted entirely online. You can begin ANYTIME. Upon enrolment, you will receive an email with an access code for our online learning system within 48 hours. You may be required to do an orientation course in academic writing (non-examinable) beforehand. Modules are split into readings, set task activities, and assignments. At the end of each module, you will be required to sit for an examination and/or submit a project. Learning support You will get unlimited email support throughout the program, on every module/course. Feedback is provided for every assignment that is sent in. In some instances, telephone support can also be arranged. Progression When you achieve this qualification, you can begin on your Diploma. It is part of a pathway to get a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Read the full article

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Certificate in Psychology and Counselling

Introduction The Certificate in Psychology and Counselling gives you the requisite knowledge of these two important disciplines to begin your career.   https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CareerDevelopment.mp4   This Certificate program is part of the pathway to achieving a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, specialising in Psychology and Counselling. It is accredited by the ACCPH. How will I learn? The program is conducted entirely online. You can begin ANYTIME. Upon enrolment, you will receive an email with an access code for our online learning system within 48 hours. You may be required to do an orientation course in academic writing (non-examinable) beforehand. Modules are split into readings, set task activities, and assignments. At the end of each module, you will be required to sit for an examination and/or submit a project. Learning support You will get unlimited email support throughout the program, on every module/course. Feedback is provided for every assignment that is sent in. In some instances, telephone support can also be arranged. Progression When you achieve this qualification, you can begin on your Diploma. Read the full article

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Certificate in the Psychology of Children and Young People

Introduction The Certificate in the Psychology of Children and Young People gives you the requisite knowledge of these two important disciplines to begin your career.   https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CareerDevelopment.mp4   This Certificate program is part of the pathway to achieving a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, specialising in the Psychology of Children and Young People How will I learn? The program is conducted entirely online. You can begin ANYTIME. Upon enrolment, you will receive an email with an access code for our online learning system within 48 hours. You may be required to do an orientation course in academic writing (non-examinable) beforehand. Modules are split into readings, set task activities, and assignments. At the end of each module, you will be required to sit for an examination and/or submit a project. Learning support You will get unlimited email support throughout the program, on every module/course. Feedback is provided for every assignment that is sent in. In some instances, telephone support can also be arranged. Progression When you achieve this qualification, you can begin on your Diploma. It is part of a pathway to get a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Read the full article

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Certificate in Organisational Psychology (Business)

Introduction You can start your career from a business viewpoint by gaining the necessary knowledge of these two crucial fields through the Certificate in Organisational Psychology. The typical career paths for this are company coaching, employee motivation, and career counselling.   https://agritech.college/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BusinessandManagemen.mp4   The Organizational Psychology concentration of the Bachelor of Science in Psychology is one of the goals of this Certificate programme. It has received ACCPH accreditation. How will I learn? The complete programme is delivered online. You may start at any time. Within 48 hours after enrolling, you will receive an email containing an access code for our online learning platform. It might be necessary for you to first complete a non-examable orientation course in academic writing. Paraphrase: Modules are broken into readingss are tasks activitiess. You will be required to take an exam and/or submit a project at the conclusion of each module. Learning support You will receive unrestricted email assistance for each module and course of the programme. For each submitted task, feedback is given. In some cases, it is also possible to arrange for telephone support. Progression After receiving this certification, you can start working on your diploma. Read the full article