Module 1: Introduction to Soil Health and Fertility

• Definition of soil health and its importance for sustainable agriculture.
• Components of healthy soil: Physical, chemical, and biological properties.
• The concept of soil fertility and its role in plant nutrition.
• Understanding the soil food web and its functions.
• Global challenges affecting soil health (e.g., degradation, erosion, nutrient depletion).
• Practical session: Visual assessment of soil health from different samples, identifying indicators of good vs. poor soil structure.

Module 2: Soil Physical Properties and Their Management

• Soil texture: Sand, silt, and clay – and their impact on water and air movement.
• Soil structure: Aggregation and its importance for root growth and water infiltration.
• Soil compaction: Causes, effects, and mitigation strategies.
• Soil water relations: Water holding capacity, drainage, and aeration.
• Tillage practices and their impact on soil physical properties.
• Practical session: Conducting a soil texture-by-feel test and evaluating soil compaction using a penetrometer or spade.

Module 3: Soil Chemical Properties and Nutrient Cycling

• Soil pH: Importance, measurement, and adjustment (liming, acidifying).
• Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC): Understanding nutrient retention.
• Essential plant nutrients: Macronutrients and micronutrients.
• Nutrient cycles in the soil: Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.
• Soil organic carbon and its chemical significance.
• Practical session: Interpreting a soil test report, identifying nutrient deficiencies or excesses, and making recommendations for pH adjustment.

Module 4: Soil Biology and the Soil Food Web

• Introduction to soil microorganisms: Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes.
• The role of earthworms and other soil macrofauna.
• Importance of soil biodiversity for nutrient cycling and disease suppression.
• Symbiotic relationships: Mycorrhizae and nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
• Practices that enhance soil biological activity.
• Practical session: Examining soil samples under a magnifying glass to observe soil organisms and discussing their functions.

Module 5: Organic Matter Management and Composting

• Importance of soil organic matter (SOM) for soil health and fertility.
• Sources of organic matter: Crop residues, animal manures, green manures.
• Principles of composting: Aerobic vs. anaerobic, C:N ratio.
• Methods of composting: Windrows, bins, vermicomposting.
• Applying compost and its benefits for soil and crops.
• Practical session: Hands-on demonstration of building a compost pile and assessing compost maturity.

Module 6: Sustainable Nutrient Management and Fertilizers

• Balanced plant nutrition: Meeting crop nutrient demands.
• Organic fertilizers: Manures, compost, biofertilizers.
• Inorganic (synthetic) fertilizers: Types, application methods, calculations.
• Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) strategies.
• Minimizing nutrient losses and environmental pollution (e.g., leaching, runoff).
• Practical session: Calculating fertilizer application rates based on soil test recommendations for a specific crop.

Module 7: Soil Conservation and Erosion Control

• Understanding soil erosion: Water erosion (sheet, rill, gully) and wind erosion.
• Impacts of soil erosion on productivity and environment.
• Contour farming, terracing, and strip cropping.
• Cover crops: Selection, establishment, and benefits.
• Conservation tillage and no-till farming systems.
• Practical session: Designing a basic erosion control plan for a sloped agricultural field.

Module 8: Integrated Soil Health Assessment and Monitoring

• Why assess soil health? (Monitoring trends, identifying problems).
• Basic field tests for soil health: Infiltration, aggregate stability, compaction.
• Introduction to laboratory soil analysis: Chemical, physical, biological tests.
• Interpreting comprehensive soil health reports.
• Developing a long-term soil health monitoring plan.
• Practical session: Performing simple field tests for soil infiltration and aggregate stability, and discussing their implications.

Module 9: Managing Problematic Soils

• Characteristics and management of acidic soils (liming).
• Characteristics and management of alkaline and saline/sodic soils.
• Management of waterlogged and poorly drained soils.
• Reclaiming degraded soils: Erosion, nutrient depletion, contamination.
• Case studies of successful problematic soil rehabilitation.
• Practical session: Discussing and proposing management strategies for hypothetical problematic soil scenarios (e.g., a field with low pH or high salinity).

Module 10: Developing a Holistic Soil Health Plan

• Integrating all learned modules into a cohesive strategy.
• Steps to develop a site-specific soil health and fertility management plan.
• Setting realistic goals for soil improvement.
• Monitoring and adapting the plan over time.
• Economic considerations for soil health investments.
• Practical session: Participants work on developing a preliminary holistic soil health plan for a chosen farm scenario, incorporating various techniques from the course.

Requirements:

·       Participants should be reasonably proficient in English.

·       Applicants must live up to Armstrong Global Institute admission criteria.

Terms and Conditions

1. Discounts: Organizations sponsoring Four Participants will have the 5th attend Free

2. What is catered for by the Course Fees: Fees cater for all requirements for the training – Learning materials, Lunches, Teas, Snacks and Certification. All participants will additionally cater for their travel and accommodation expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.

3. Certificate Awarded: Participants are awarded Certificates of Participation at the end of the training.

4. The program content shown here is for guidance purposes only. Our continuous course improvement process may lead to changes in topics and course structure.

5. Approval of Course: Our Programs are NITA Approved. Participating organizations can therefore claim reimbursement on fees paid in accordance with NITA Rules.

Booking for Training

Simply send an email to the Training Officer on training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com and we will send you a registration form. We advise you to book early to avoid missing a seat to this training.

Or call us on +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588

Payment Options

We provide 3 payment options, choose one for your convenience, and kindly make payments at least 5 days before the Training start date to reserve your seat:

1. Groups of 5 People and Above – Cheque Payments to: Armstrong Global Training & Development Center Limited should be paid in advance, 5 days to the training.

2. Invoice: We can send a bill directly to you or your company.

3. Deposit directly into Bank Account (Account details provided upon request)

Cancellation Policy

1. Payment for all courses includes a registration fee, which is non-refundable, and equals 15% of the total sum of the course fee.

2. Participants may cancel attendance 14 days or more prior to the training commencement date.

3. No refunds will be made 14 days or less before the training commencement date. However, participants who are unable to attend may opt to attend a similar training course at a later date or send a substitute participant provided the participation criteria have been met.

Tailor Made Courses

This training course can also be customized for your institution upon request for a minimum of 5 participants. You can have it conducted at our Training Centre or at a convenient location. For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588 or Email training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com

Accommodation and Airport Transfer

Accommodation and Airport Transfer is arranged upon request and at extra cost. For reservations contact the Training Officer on Email: training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com or on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588