Nut Production

DESCRIPTION

“It’s interesting how much you take for granted when eating those tiny creations that are so well loved. This course will give you an overview of what nuts are commonly grown, and some insight into those that are not.” - Tracey Morris Dip.Hort., Cert.Hort., Cert III Organic Farming, Tutor.

LESSON STRUCTURE

There are 9 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction
2. Identify different nut crop varieties
3. The Most Commonly Grown Varieties
4. Compare the culture of different commonly grown varieties of nuts.
5. Culture of Nuts
6. Determine the cultivation practices appropriate to a range of different nut crops.
7. Planting, staking, mulching, watering, pest & disease, feeding, pruning, protection from wind, salt, air, etc.
8. Less Common Nuts
9. Describe the culture of different less commonly grown varieties of nuts
10. Propagation
11. Determine how to propagate a range of different nut plants.
12. Harvest & Post-harvest of Nuts.
13. Determine appropriate techniques for harvesting a nut crop.
14. Specify an appropriate post-harvest treatment for a nut crop.
15. Marketing Nuts
16. Develop marketing strategies for nuts.
17. Workplace Health and Safety
18. Identify risk issues specific to the nut production industry.
19. Plus - Special Assignment - On one selected nut group or variety.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

AIMS

Identify different nut crop varieties.

Determine the cultivation practices appropriate to a range of different nut crops.

Determine how to propagate a range of different nut plants.

Determine appropriate techniques for harvesting a nut crop.

Specify an appropriate post-harvest treatment for a nut crop.

Develop marketing strategies for nuts.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Distinguish between common and scientific perceptions of the term nut.

Compare the botanical characteristics of the fruits from five different nut genera.

Describe the botanical classification of twenty different species of nut plants, including where appropriate, botanical interrelationships.

Prepare a plant collection of twenty-five different nut varieties, including the following details on each plant:

Plant names (Common and scientific)

A photo, illustration or pressed specimen

Cultural details

Harvest & Post-harvest

Uses (eg. valuable products).

Develop a resource file of forty items of information relevant to the nut growing industry, including:

Suppliers of nut plants

Trade or grower associations

Publications

Perform simple tests on three different soils to determine:

Soil type

pH

Drainage

Water holding capacity

Evaluate three different soils tested in 2.1 to determine nut varieties suitable for growing in each.

Explain soil management requirements for at least ten different nut varieties, including:

Nutrition

Soil structure

Physical attributes

Explain the control of twenty different pests and diseases on ten different nut varieties.

Develop guidelines for the culture of a specified variety of nut, in the learner's locality, including:

Watering

Weed control

Soil management

Fertilising

Pest control

Disease control

Prepare a twelve month plan for cultural practices on a specified nut plantation.

Explain different methods of propagating five different nut species, including:

Seed

Grafting

Layering

Cuttings

Determine propagation methods for fifteen different nut species, including where applicable, rootstock variety names.

Demonstrate how to prepare cuttings for two different nut species.

Demonstrate three different types of grafts, suitable for propagating nut varieties.

Determine seed germination procedures for ten different nut genera.

Prepare a production schedule, for nursery production of a specified type of nut.

Propagate two different nut plant varieties.

Explain the operation of a mechanical harvester which can be used for nuts.

Determine when to harvest four different specified nut species.

Compare the efficiency of four different techniques for harvesting nuts.

Describe two different storage techniques for a specified nut variety.

Determine the optimum environmental conditions for the storage of three different nut species.

Evaluate three different samples of nuts, which have been stored using three different techniques.

Determine the commercial processing techniques used for five specified nut species.

Explain post-harvest handling of a specified nut species, by a commercial plantation in a specified locality.

Determine different ways in which nuts can be consumed.

Compare different ways nuts are packaged for retailing, with reference to different factors including:

Physiological impact on the nut

Cost of packaging

Presentation

Explain the marketing of two different specified nut products, in your locality.

Develop a marketing plan for one specified type of nut.

DELIVERY

Correspondence

Online