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

[Brendon Bumpkin]

Workshop with Joel Williams 21st November in London; 7th December in Banbury

Optimising Soil Management for Productivity (6 BASIS points; 2E, 1GM, 3N)

More details and booking (and 1 1/2 hour video) @ http://www.regenag.co.uk/index.php/course-calendar

Shorter video @ http://wn.com/ipcuk_2015_joel_willi...y_and_the_soil_food_web_international_permacu

Proposed Timetable

• 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.

• 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.

• Organic manures and Composts: stabilising nutrients in the landscape while optimising crop supply
  • Manures vs composts.
  • Quality vs Quantity.
  • Manure applications, nutrient content and supplementing soils with additional nutrients.
  • Composting summary – general introduction (temp, O2 etc).
  • Practical account of ‘how to’ to make compost for soil application.
  • Practical manure management and compost making on a time budget.
  • Manure and compost amendments – building carbon and addressing soil deficiencies.

• Making the most of soil: Understanding soil nutrients and amendments
  • Leveraging existing soil fertility and optimising any purchased inputs.
  • Nutrient behaviour in soils, nutrient synergies/antagonisms.
  • Understanding total, exchangeable, soluble nutrient pools.
  • Slow release, fast release.
  • Biostimulants, biofertilisers, chemical inputs – how these inputs influence soil biology and crop quality.
  • The role of carbon and carbon-input complexes.

• Where to next?
  • Rethinking minerals and microbes – balancing nutrient supply and soil agro-ecological health in order to optimise photosynthesis, crop quality, pest and disease pressure.
  • Integrated disease management and novel approaches to managing plant immune responses – biostimulants, bioinoculants, compost extracts.

 

[rob1]

Anyone going ?

 

[The_Swede]

I quite fancy it, just juggling a few things in diary...

 

[parker]

yes hoping to get to the Banbury event

 

[Brendon Bumpkin]

We're into a waiting list for 7th now (though still spaces for 21st - this Sat); if anyone wants to get on that waiting list or express interest so we know to put on another (and where), then please get in touch.

 

[Brendon Bumpkin]

Ok - I'm going to see if I can find a bigger room for 7th December date; if you're interested please do still get in touch.

 

[Barleycorn]

I have just scraped in, but I'm told to put my neighbour on the waiting list if he wants to come. Check if the Albert Hall is free!!

 

[Clive]

yes hoping to get to the Banbury event

Are there places left for Banbury ?

 

[shakerator]

I'm going booked over weekend

 

[Brendon Bumpkin]

Are there places left for Banbury ?

I'm exploring options for creating some more space (currently if all who have signed up confirm we are at waiting list stage); please email via the website (www.regenag.co.uk) if you'd like to be on the waiting list/to get first refusal on any of extra space I can create. Thank you!

(Any suggestions of other appropriate venues near there please let me know - thanks again)

 

[parker]

Are there places left for Banbury ?

yes I believe so

 

[Clive]

yes I believe so

checked diary and its boys nativity at school so going to have to give it a miss

 

[Simon C]

Still place left for this Saturday at Roehampton Uni, booked mine yesterday. Doesn't look a very easy place to get to though, no tube stations nearby, or drive and chance the M25 at 8.30 in the morning!!!

 

[Clive]

Still place left for this Saturday at Roehampton Uni, booked mine yesterday. Doesn't look a very easy place to get to though, no tube stations nearby, or drive and chance the M25 at 8.30 in the morning!!!

would have done that but shooting, you will have to take good notes and post them here for me please !

 

[Brendon Bumpkin]

Still place left for this Saturday at Roehampton Uni, booked mine yesterday. Doesn't look a very easy place to get to though, no tube stations nearby, or drive and chance the M25 at 8.30 in the morning!!!

Yes Simon; sorry about this - though covering the same material, this date was originally scheduled to cater more for small-scale (including London-based) producers who would hear about it due to an article - which was then postponed (I scheduled the Banbury one with farmers more in mind).

We are using it because of Joel's connection there (running the 'edible campus') - and he assured me that though tubes aren't so easy, that busses do work. I hope that helps (hopefully being a Saturday the M25 won't be as bad as a weekday either?)

 

[Simon C]

Yes Simon; sorry about this - though covering the same material, this date was originally scheduled to cater more for small-scale (including London-based) producers who would hear about it due to an article - which was then postponed (I scheduled the Banbury one with farmers more in mind).

We are using it because of Joel's connection there (running the 'edible campus') - and he assured me that though tubes aren't so easy, that busses do work. I hope that helps (hopefully being a Saturday the M25 won't be as bad as a weekday either?)

Could be a new experience, never been on a bus before. How do you know where they are going?

 

[Brendon Bumpkin]

Could be a new experience, never been on a bus before. How do you know where they are going?

Now that is the question! Since Joel is the expert for there and currently in Oz, I was just thinking after I wrote that ^, that I could do with him giving some advice on it so that I can pass that on, since I'm certainly no 'townie' either. Today (or at least his Tues) he has the funeral of a very close relative so I think it's best that we give him until (his) Wednesday to respond. Nag me if I haven't got back to you Thurs? (Have a lot else to organise around this including exploring options on expanding the Banbury one - so nagging is fine in this case...)

 

[Brendon Bumpkin]

So the event on 7th has now been relocated and publicity information will be updated and participants who have already booked advised asap (have to prioritise this weekend's event though).

The new venue (The National Herb Centre, OX17 1DF) should provide us more space and a much better day all round - and is easily accessible and not far from the original one. Please spread the word...

 

[RTK Farmer]

Nether date suits me so would be interested if an extra event was planned.

 

[Brendon Bumpkin]

Please do register for this asap if you are interested; makes it very much easier for me in terms of e.g. making sure you have food, and setting up lift-shares where required (and doing the right amount of publicity to make the most of it without turning folk away) - link again for anyone who wants it: http://www.regenag.co.uk/index.php/course-calendar/soil-health-a-living-perspective-banbury