100% satisfaction guarantee Immediately available after payment Both online and in PDF No strings attached
logo-home
Previously searched by you
Previously searched by you
logo
Principles of Organic Crop Production £7.01   Add to cart
Quickly navigate to
Preview
  2.  
  3. Organic Crop Production
  4.  
  5. Organic Crop Production

Exam (elaborations)

Principles of Organic Crop Production
 7 views  0 purchase
  • Module
  • Organic Crop Production
  • Institution
  • Organic Crop Production

Unit 34: Understand the Principles of Organic Crop Production Unit code: D/600/9849 QCF Level 3: BTEC National Credit value: 10 Guided learning hours: 60 Aim and purpose This unit aims to provide learners with an understanding of the principles of organic crop production and how these can...

[Show more]

Preview 2 out of 12  pages

Document information

  • July 29, 2024
  • 12
  • 2023/2024
  • Exam (elaborations)
  • Questions & answers

Subjects

  • organic
  • organic crop production

Written for

  • Organic Crop Production
  • Organic Crop Production

Seller

avatar-seller
scottgrades

Reviews received

Content preview

Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Horticulture
– Issue 2 – September 2011 © Pearson Education Limited 2011 1Unit 34: Understand the Principles of Organic Crop Production
Unit code: D/600/9849
QCF Level 3: BTEC National
Credit value: 10Guided learning hours: 60
Aim and purpose
This unit aims to provide learners with an understanding of the principles of organic crop production and how these can be applied in practice. This unit is primarily aimed at learners within a centre-based setting looking to progress into the sector or further education and training.
Unit introduction
The need to review attitudes to soil health, crop production and the relationship between man and nature is becoming more important with the development of increased environmental awareness and the demand for organically produced food. This unit develops the skills and knowledge practitioners of organic horticulture need and an understanding of the issues involved in marketing and establishing a commercial organic venture.
Learners will examine the background, philosophy and aims of the organic movement and the role of regulating standards, as well as covering practical horticultural skills and the value of crop rotation. Opportunities to market organic produce will be investigated, together with the practical and economic issues that need to be addressed when setting up an organic growing business.
Learners will have the opportunity to observe and examine different soils, compost making and soil improvement methods. The relationship between plants and soil micro-organisms will be covered. Methods of pest, disease and weed management suitable for use within an organic system, and the value of good environmental husbandry, will be discussed and learners will look at beneficial insects and predators and ways of promoting environmental diversity and habitats.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit a learner should :
1 Understand the principles of organic crop production
2 Understand the importance of soil fertility in an organic system3 Understand growing methods and markets for organic crops4 Understand methods of pest, disease and weed management in organic systems. Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Nationals specification in Horticulture
– Issue 2 – September 2011 © Pearson Education Limited 2011 2Unit content
1 Understand the principles of organic crop production
History, philosophy and aims of the organic movement : history; the relevance of ancient and traditional agricultural practices; leading figures and organisations eg Sir Albert Howard, Eve Balfour, Lawrence D Hills, The Soil Association, Garden Organic (Henry Doubleday Research Association); the law of return (Howard); the importance of sound science; characteristics of organic systems; the development and consequences of artificial chemical use in non-organic crop production
Related systems : biodynamics; agroforestry; permaculture
Organic standards and certification : European Union (EU) regulations; aims of national and international organisations, standards and certifying bodies eg The Soil Association; registration procedures and costs; conversion; timing; inspection; derogation; record keeping; labelling regulations; organic seeds
2 Understand the importance of soil fertility in an organic system
The living soil : soil analysis; structure; fertility; humus; earthworms; the soil nutrient cycle (decomposition of organic material, action of soil organisms, non-biological reactions, soil micro-organisms, protozoa, bacteria-feeding nematodes, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza)
Soil erosion: causes; preventative measures; soil conservationBuilding and maintaining soil fertility : cultivation; crop rotation; intercropping; supplementary nutrients; rooting depths; mulching; compost; aerobic; anaerobic; ideal conditions; carbon—nitrogen ratio; types of compost heap; soil improvers; animal manures; green manures; nitrogen fixers; fertility builders; rhizobia; comfrey and liquid teas; wormeries
3 Understand growing methods and markets for organic crops
Crops and growing: organic growing methods for a selection of crops eg potatoes, brassicas, alliums, beets, cucurbits, salads, legumes, soft fruit, top fruit; types and varieties; seed and sowing; companion planting; modules; crop care; irrigation; weeds; diseases; pests; harvest; storage; health and safety; personal protective equipment (PPE); relevant current legislation and codes of practice
Marketing and economics: retail outlets; packers; supermarkets; wholesalers; direct marketing; box schemes; farmers’ markets; community-supported agriculture (CSA); cooperatives; net sales; farm shops; processing; consumer contact; presentation; packaging; economics; business planning; machinery; equipment; facilities; labour; transportation
4 Understand methods of pest, disease and weed management in organic systems
Pest and disease management : monocultures, biodiversity; plant health; crop rotation; variety selection; companion planting; cultural control; biological control; permissible biocides; life cycles and preferred habitats of beneficial insects and predators; bio-fumigation
Weed control: tillage; direct control (mechanical, manual, thermal, mulching); crop rotation; tools and machinery; identification of major annual and perennial weed species; the value of weeds as indicator plants (soil quality, characteristics, nutrient availability, dynamic nutrient accumulators)
Creating a diverse ecology : habitat diversity; creation, development and maintenance; beetle banks; environmental grants; relevant current legislation and codes of practice

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller scottgrades. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for £7.01. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

70840 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now

Start selling
£7.01
  • (0)
  Add to cart