Course Outline
Recycling organic manures such as food waste, biosolids, digestate and compost can provide significant benefits to agricultural land. These benefits include a supply of essential crop nutrients, soil conditioning and provision of organic matter which can then lead to further benefits including enhanced soil biodiversity, reduced pests and improved crop health. Effectively utilising organic manures can therefore be an integral part of developing a sustainable crop production system.
This course will cover non-livestock organic manures and wastes as nutrient sources, their practical application to land, any associated environmental issues and Quality Standards, Protocols and Relevant Codes and Regulations. An understanding of the surrounding regulation is extremely important in this industry as should any applications exceed crop or soil requirement this can lead to pollution of watercourses, damage to soil structure and negative effects on the wider environment.
The waste to land course covers all aspects of organic material applications, ensuring that successful candidates can maximise the benefits achieved from applications for both crops and the wider environment. This starts by looking at the different organic manures and wastes available for application to land, with a focus on them as a nutrient source. The application of these manures and wastes is then covered, as well as the potential environmental issues which are associated with them.
Finally, candidates will learn about the standards, protocols and relevant codes of practice and regulations which must be adhered to when applying organic materials to land.
Who Is This Course For?
The BASIS Certificate in Plant Nutrition – Waste to Land, will be particularly useful for any advisers who are involved in the recycling of organic materials to agricultural land such as biosolids, compost and anaerobic digestate. This could include individuals who work for water companies, biogas suppliers or waste material recyclers. However, this course will also be extremely beneficial to anyone who is involved with the application of organic materials on to farmland, whether that is farm managers, advisers or agronomists. This could also include individuals who are interested in the applications of organic materials in a wider context such as Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers and farm inspectors
Course Contents
- Non-Livestock Organic Manures and Wastes as Nutrient Sources
- Application of Organic Manures and Wastes
- Environmental Issues Associated with Organic Manures and Wastes
- Quality Standards and Protocols
- Relevant Codes and Regulations
Entry Requirements
- Candidates must be FACTS Qualified
- It is strongly recommended that candidates should have had at least two years experience of on-farm practical agronomy before attempting any of the modules which contribute towards the BASIS Diploma in Agronomy, but in particular before taking the Plant Protection Award.
Duration
Short course delivered over a minimum of 3 days
Other Relevant Courses
- Level 6 – 15 credits
- Nutrient Management Planning
- BASIS Diploma in Agronomy
- Plant Protection Award
- Soil & Water Management Certificate
- Crop Protection Certificate
- Conservation Management
