See the possibilities below:
Good Agricultural Practices
The actions that are the logical result of observing a situation or problem in a crop, soil or system and solving it with reason based upon collective experience - and not resorting to ways and means that could harm the environment by addressing symptoms only.
Cultivation techniques
The techniques used to manipulate the behaviour of the growth and/or development of a crop above and below the ground and according to good agricultural practices.
Composting & testing for compost maturity
The term compost is derived from the verb decomposing which means breaking down or taking apart. This is achieved by certain sets of organisms. However, merely decomposing the material is not enough. Quality compost is also recomposed, built-up again. The broken-down organic matter should be transformed and rebuilt, into humus. This requires specific sets of micro-organisms. Failing those, the organic matter will not be transformed into humus but merely decomposed to a consistency that is in fact specialised waste. Compost can be tested for maturity in several ways. Its temperature should not be above ambient and the material should not re-heat when piled up. The product should no longer produce CO2 and Sulphur gases. The watercress seed test is a good indicator.
Desk and field research
Desk research is conducted to prepare the ground for field research. This entails preparing the research proposal, the concepts or ideas, the options, possibilities, constraints, and includes a literature study. Field research implements the concepts contained in the desk research report.
Seed propagation
There are many important issues pertaining to the production, handling and storage of organic seeds in a seed bank for multiplication or safeguarding of endangered species, or for commercial purposes.
Post-harvest techniques
All issues pertaining to the management of crops prior to and after the harvest as well as during packaging, storing and transportation to export or local markets, with the aim of reducing losses due to pests & diseases during transport and to increase shelf-life.
Biological control of pests and diseases
Controlling plant and human pathogens in and above the soil with environment- friendly crop protection products obtained from naturally occurring or plant- derived products or with the aid of beneficial predatory insects or micro-organisms.
Soil management
The art of managing the soil and the organisms populating it to the extent that they can function optimally and sustainably in order to maintain fertility, structure, water-holding capacity and disease suppression.