Soil Health; A Living Perspective - Optimising Soil Management for Productivity

Proposed Timetable

1/Introduction: The Living Soil

Introduction of the main microbe groups.
Understanding the role of soil life for soil nutrient supply and crop production.
Functions, roles and interactions of microbes in agro-ecosystems.
Nutrient cycling, availability and extraction by plants.
Influences of plant morphology.

2/ Soil Carbon: The centrepiece of soil health
Plants, photosynthesis, root exudates and microbes.
Carbon sequestration, nutrient access, disease suppression, soil structure, glomalin
How to build AMF via management of environment, agronomics, rotations, inoculations, green manures, how to avoid practices that suppress them.
Fungi:Bacteria Balance.
Soil disturbance/no-till farming – discusses soil carbon sequestration, soil structure, how to offset negative effects of tillage to support soil life.

Plus similar sections on:
3/ Organic manures and Composts: stabilising nutrients in the landscape while optimising crop supply

4/ Making the most of soil: Understanding soil nutrients and amendments

5/ Where to next?

More details at: http://www.regenag.co.uk/index.php/course-calendar/nutrient-management