AGRONOMY III - ROOT CROPS BAG310

Learn how to grow root vegetables

Increase crop diversity or start a new enterprise with root crops. Discover new varieties of root vegetables, learn best growing practices and understand different harvesting techniques.

Root crops provide an essential source of carbohydrates for populations all over the world. Many root crops are also protein-rich. Important for both livestock and human consumption, these resilient, easy-to-grow crops are an excellent alternative to heavily water-dependent grains such as rice.

Root crops include:

  • potatoes
  • sweet potatoes
  • yams
  • turnips
  • carrots
  • swedes

 

Growing root crops will enable farmers to improve their farm's output and sustainability, aid world food security (for both people and animals) and grow crops that require less water than many others.  

  • Learn important differences and growing practices for many root crops, including - potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, salsify, turnips, carrots, daikon.
  • Understand the difference between culinary root vegetables and true root vegetables.
  • Learn how to distinguish between different pests and diseases.
  • Learn about managing soils, scheduling crops, and much more.


Course Structure and Contents

There are 10 lessons in this course:

  1. Scope and Nature of Root Cropping and the Botany of Roots
  2. Cultural Practices A: Soil Management, Crop Scheduling and Soil Water
  3. Cultural Practices B: Weed control, Pest Management
  4. Potatoes
  5. Carrots and their Relatives
  6. Turnips and their Relatives
  7. Beets
  8. Taro, Yams and Sweet Potato
  9. Other Root Crops
  10. Harvest and Post-Harvest Management

 

Duration: 100 hours

 

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.

In developing countries, some types of root crops (for example yams and cassava) which are relatively high in protein (about 6%), contribute to the diet as a substitute for other, less obtainable, protein foods such as fish or meat; root crops are also becoming very popular in the developed world as people begin to understand the benefits to their health and to the environment by growing and eating root vegetables.


WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM DOING THIS COURSE?

  • Farmers and farm workers
  • Farm equipment and service suppliers
  • Agriculture students and professionals
  • Small farm or hobby farm owners considering new 'niche' crops
  • Livestock owners/managers, wanting to produce animal feeds

 

 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE?

ENROL TODAY!


Just go to the top of this page for pricing and enrolment options. If you have any questions you can contact us now, by:
Phone (UK) 01384 44272, (International) +44 (0) 1384 442752, or

Email us at [email protected]