Tunnel Farming Course - Dicla Training Centre

Tunnel Farming

Course Name:	Tunnel Farming

Description:
The training will consist of theoretical and practical training during to perform basic routine operations in a tunnel farming environment.

Target Group:	Farmers or farm workers that are involved with tunnel farming.

Course Duration:	3 days

Course Fee:	R 3,450.00 incl. VAT (training only) R 2,070.00 incl. VAT (accommodation) *Own transport needed to and from accommodation

Course Presenter:	Patrick Verster

Content of Course:
1. Getting started (planning) 1.1 Water Quality & quantity requirements for tunnel farming 1.2 Management of tunnels 1.3 Marketing of products 2. Tunnel selection 2.1 Tunnels sizes 10.5 x 30 x 4.1 m standard 2.2 Roll up tunnels 10.5 x 30 x 4.1m 2.3 Starter (nursery) tunnels small scale 6.5 x 12 x 3.8m 3. Tunnel maintenance 3.1 Preparing inside tunnel 3.1.1 Laying floor plastic 3.1.2 Packing planting bags 3.1.3 Spacing dripper pipe 3.1.4 Testing dripper system 4. Setting of water schedules 5. Preparing seedlings 5.1 seedling nursery 6. Heating systems 6.1 Coal heaters 6.1.1 Air to air circulation 6.1.2 Hot water circulation 6.1.3 Paraffin heating 6.1.4 Diesel heating 7. Fertiliser programmes 7.1 Soluble fertiliser 7.2 Geranial fertiliser 7.3 Water analysing 7.4 Soil analysing 7.5 Water pH affects availability of plant nutrients 7.6 Soil pH affects availability of plant nutrients 7.7 Growing of tomato with hydroponics and in soil 7.8 Growing of cucumbers with hydroponics and in soil 7.9 Growing of Sweet pepper with hydroponics and in soil 7.10 Seed selection for clients (winter summer productions) 7.11 Tomato disorders 7.11.1 Fungicides 7.11.2 Pesticides 7.11.3 Deficiencies 7.12 Cucumber disorders 7.12.1 Fungicides 7.12.2 Pesticides 7.12.3 Deficiencies 7.13 Sweet Pepper disorders 7.13.1 Fungicides 7.13.2 Pesticides 7.13.3 Deficiencies 7.14 Plant protection 7.14.1 Tomato 7.14.2 Cucumber 7.14.3 Sweet Pepper 7.14.4 Open field crops 7.15 Plant nutrient deficiencies 7.15.1 Nutrient (element) 7.15.2 Function 7.15.3 Symptoms of deficiency 7.15.4 Crops & Pastures most susceptible 7.16 Foliar sprays

Capabilities:
When completing this course you will be able to perform basic routine operations in a defined hydroponic context under close supervision.