ACE3038 : Soil Fertility and Management in Organic Systems (2009)
| Semester 1 | 10 Credits |
| ECTS Credit Value | 5.0 |
Summary
Not available
Aims
To introduce the concept of natural soil fertility and show how this can be adapted so that crops can be grown in rotation while maintaining the future productive capacity using only natural renewable resources. To use the scientific literature to obtain information on organic management of soil and related health and environmental issues, assess this and report it clearly.
Outline Of Syllabus
Introduction and history of organic food production
Nutrient cycles - in natural and managed soil
Seminar topic/project
Nutrient cycles - organic matter dynamics and nutrients
Nutrient supply - mineral phosphate and potassium
Soil organic matter - AWC and soil structure
Soil biology - nutrient cycling through animals
Legume practical
Soil fertility - permitted substances
Legume crops - N fixation
Nutrient budgeting - flows of nutrients
Nutrient budgeting software practical
Environmental impact of organic farming
Manure management - flows of nutrients between crops
Composing
Rotating design - grassland and arable components of the rotation
Intended Knowledge Outcomes
An understanding of the sustainable management of soil so as to produce plants and animals profitably without the use of artificial fertilisers and at the same time maintaining or improving soil fertility.
Intended Skill Outcomes
To use published information and laboratory results to plan an efficient crop rotation for a particular area of land so as to ensure that the soil fertilty for all of the crops within the rotation is maximised.
Teaching Rationale And Relationships
The concept of organic soil management is new to the students and this justifies the predominance of direct lecturing. The seminars, in which small groups of students research topics suggested to them and present their findings to the class, expand the range of material and provide experience in literature search, preparation of material for presentation and in techniques of presentation. The assignment also provides the opportunity for library research and in the presentation of a word-processed report, which is assessed. The students therefore are introduced to the material on organic management by a range of techniques and are provided with the ability to extend this knowledge by individual research.
Reading List
- Organic Farming (Essential reading)
Author: Lampkin, N.
Notes: Farming Press
Staff
| Dr Elizabeth Stockdale |
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| Dr Robert Stanley Shiel |
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