Overview of maintaining healthy growth of crops

Unit 206: Maintain the healthy growth of crops

Crop Walking

• Why do we walk crops?

• How often should we walk crops?

Pest Damage

• What do pests do?

• How much damage is tolerable?

• Thresholds

Courtesy of Bayer Crop Science

Diseases

• How are plants affected by diseases?

• Seed

• Leaves

• Stem

• Roots

• Ears/pods

Courtesy of Bayer Crop Science

Weeds

• What is a weed?

• Why are weeds a problem?

• Competition

• Problems at harvest

• Poisonous

Courtesy of Bayer Crop Science

Nutrient Deficiency

• What are the main three major nutrients crops need?

• What other nutrients are needed?

• What happens if not all nutrients are available in enough quantity?

• How can you identify it?

Water-logged Soil

• When all air pores in the soil are full of water

• Depends on how long for

• Why is it a problem?

• What are the main causes?

• Compaction

• Soil type

• Drainage

Drought Stress

• What is this?

• Why is this a particular risk this year?

• What crops may be more susceptible?

• How is it usually avoided?

• What is the situation on your farms?

Equipment

• What equipment does your farm use to look after crops and why?

• Notice the variation between different farms

Legislation

• Food and Environment Protection Act

• Health and Safety at Work Act

• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regs

• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regs

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Environmental Damage

• Nutrients in water courses – eutrophication

• Pesticides in water courses – water quality

• Nutrients in hedgerows

• Ground nesting birds

• Wildlife food sources

• Physical damage to trees and hedges

• Running on margins

• Running on wet soil

Waste

• Waste Regulations 2006

• What types of waste is produced?

• Plastic bags

• Waste fertiliser

• Waste seed

• Waste chemical

• Waste from maintenance

• How is each disposed of?