Agronomy III (Root Crop Production) 100 Hours Certificate Course

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1 Scope and Nature of Root Cropping and the Botany of Roots

• Introduction
• What are Root Vegetables?
• Human Nutrition and Root Vegetables
• Botany of Roots

2 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 Growth
• Plant Nutrition
• Choosing the Right Feriliser
• Diagnosis of Nutritional Problems
• Should you have your Soil Laboratory Tested?
• A Look at Organic Fertilisers
• Compost
• Growing Root Crops from Seeds
• Crop Scheduling
• Planting Vegetables
• Soil and Water
• Types of Soil Moisture
• Suggested Reading

3 Cultural Practices B: Weed control, Pest Management

• Weeds and Weed Management (Root Crops)
• Methods of Weed Control
• Safety Procedures When Using Agricultural Chemicals
• Law in Relation to Chemical Use
• Pest and Diseases Management (Root Crops)
• Entomology
• Toxicity
• IPM
• Pests and Diseases
• Diseases
• Plant Viruses
• Pests
• Environmental Problems

4 Potatoes

• Growing Conditions
• Nutrient Requirements
• Planting
• Care
• Watering
• How to Extend the Storage Life of Potatoes
• Potato Cultivars

5 Carrots and their Relatives

• Introduction
• Carrot
• Parsnip
• Bulb Fennel
• Turnip Routed Chervil
• Skirret
• Celriac

6 Turnips and their Relatives

• Introduction
• Turnip
• Rutabaga (Swede)
• Radish
• Daikon
• Kohlrabi

7 Beets

• Growing Conditions
• Planting/ Propagation
• Nutrient Requirements
• Harvest and Post-Harvest
• Varieties
• Uses

8 Taro, Yams and Sweet Potato

• Sweet Potato
• Yams
• Chinese Yam
• Taro

9 Other Root Crops

• Salsify
• Scorconera (Black Salsify)
• Jerusalem Artichoke
• Potato Bean
• Arrowroot
• Oca (New Zealand Yam)
• Dandelion
• Water Chestnuts
• Yacon or Jicama
• Root Chicory
• Ullico
• American Groundnut

10 Harvest and Post-Harvest Management

• Harvesting Root Vegetables: Harvesting Hints, Curing, Post-Harvest Treatment of Vegetables
• Cooling: Room Cooling with Forced Air, Water (Hydro) Cooling, Icing, Vacuum Cooling, Evaporative Cooling, Storage requirement of some root crops

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.