Dates & locations
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Course details
Syllabus
Building soil fertility through better rotations in combinable crops
Code
SW05
Designed for
Individuals who wish to understand how to manage rotations and build soil fertility to optimise crop yield, cost and margin.
Entry requirement
Accomplished practitioner
Dates and locations
Register Interest
Price
£245 + VAT
Duration:
A one day classroom-based course
CPD points
To be awarded
Author:
Ron Stobart, Former Head of Agronomy Knowledge Transfer & Training, NIAB TAG
Content
Classroom module 1 (half day) – Building rotational systems:
- an overview of soil function including the maintenance of soil structure, the need for fertility and the value organic matter/types of organic matter;
- the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of cultivation and establishment in arable systems;
- matching establishment systems to crops and specific farm scenarios;
- building arable rotations – the structure of crop rotations and how rotational intensity can impact on performance, e.g. in oilseed rape;
- rotational performance – using long term data sets from large scale arable rotation studies to consider agronomic constraints and practical considerations as well as yield, cost and margin.
Classroom/field module 2 (half day) – Building system fertility:
- why we need fertility and the approaches that can be used to build fertility and organic matter in arable systems;
- the use of different soil amendments (similarities, differences and impacts);
- the value and benefits of straw incorporation in arable systems;
- cover crops – the process for choosing the right option and other aspects that need to be considered;
- key soil indicators – structure, worms and assessment;
- case studies of the performance of cover crops and soil amendments in long term projects – quantifying impacts on soils, yields and margins.
Trainers are accredited by ARTIS
Participants receive an ARTIS Accredited Certificate
Syllabus
