Growing Food

SECTION 1: THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES USED IN AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE
A. Plant Growth: a. Plant Propagation; b. Plant Population; c. Leaf Area Index ;d. The Root System ;e. The Nitrogen Cycle
B. Arid Regions: a. Plant / Soil / Water Relationships, b. Plant Reaction to Stress; c. Crop Management in Arid Regions
C. Soil: a. Saline Soils; b. Soil Analysis; c. Acid Soils / pH value; d. Trace Elements
D. Fertiliser
E. The Plant: a. Annual / Biennial / Perennial; b. Botanical Classification; c. Cultivar / Variety; d. Photosynthesis / Respiration; e. Transpiration; f. Wilting; g. Shade Plants / Sun Plants; h. Vegetative Reproduction; i. Determinate / Indeterminate; j. Day length / Photoperiodism; k. Growth Period; l. Tuber; m. Rogue Plant; n. Volunteer Plants
F. The Seed: a. Germination;b. Seed Rate; c. Hybrids; d. Composite Varieties; e. Inoculation / Nitrogen Fixation; f. Seed Treatment (Dressing); g. Vernalisation
G. Crops: a. Cropping Calendar; b. Break Crops; c. Catch Crops; d. Climbing Crops; e. Companion Crops; f. Cover Crops; g. Pioneer Crops; h. Smother Crops; i. Shade Crops
H. Farming Systems: a. Rotation; b. Mixed Cropping; c. Alley Cropping; d. Green Manure; e. Mulch; f. Silage; g. Hay; h. Land Area Measurement
I. The Harvest: a. Maturity; b. Yield; c. Haulm
J. Insects
K. Diseases
L. Weeds
M. Tools
N. Irrigation
O. StorageSECTION 2: DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAIN FOOD CROPS
A. Cereals: Barley, Buckwheat, Maize, Millet, Oats, Rice, Sorghum, Teff , Wheat
B. Legumes: Broad Bean / Horse Bean / Field Bean, Chickpea, Cowpea, Field Pea, Groundnut / Peanut, Haricot / French Bean, Lentil, Lima Bean, Mungbean, Pigeon Pea, Soybean, Vetch / Grass Pea / Chickling Pea
C. Oilseeds: Castor, Linseed, Niger Seed, Sesame, Sunflower
D. Root Crops: Cassava /Manioc, Irish Potato, Sweet Potato, Taro, Yam
E. Vegetables: Cabbage, Carrot, Cucurbits, Okra , Onion , Pepper, Tomato
F. Fruits: Avocado, Banana, Citrus, Guava, Mango, Papaya /

Tony Winch was born and raised on an agricultural research farm in Kent. After graduating in 1971 from Wye College (London University) with a BSc (2.1) in Agricultural Economics he worked for a number of years in the commercial seed trade in the UK, Brazil, Canada and North America.Since 1980 he has worked in the agricultural aid and development sector, employed by a number of agencies to work as an agricultural consultant in Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Angola and Afghanistan. When he is not overseas he liv es in Herefordshire, UK and attempts to feed his family as far as possible from the garden.