Plant Nutrition at the Organoponics Garden

Plant Nutrition

at Saba Reach Foundation's

Organoponics Garden

The Organoponics System

Urban agriculture describes crop and livestock production within cities and towns and surrounding areas. It can involve anything from small vegetable gardens in the backyard to farming activities on community lands by an association or neighborhood group.

Part 1.

What is agriculture?

The Organopónic method of urban agriculture practiced at the Social Workplace garden is a Cuban urban organic system of farming whereby low-leveled concrete or wooden walls are filled with organic matter and soil along with irrigation drips running along the surface of the beds and throughout the crops.

The science of cultivating land, producing crops, and raising livestock.

About the course:

2 Different agriculture methods:

Agriculture produces

fruits & vegetables

Organic and agro-ecological agriculture

• No chemical fertilizers, diesel, tractors
• Self-sufficient
• Focus on causes
• The situation and needs of community are central
• Respect for nature, its cycles, and potentials

Industrial 'Green Revolution' Agriculture

• Low biological diversity
• High potential crop breeds and species - poorly adapted to local conditions
• Use of fertilizers, machinery, chemicals,
• High productivity - very high energy costs
• Vulnerability - low resilience

Target group> Informal agriculture education for lower secondary vocational school students.

This course should be used as a

teacher's aid before a class visit to the

Organoponics Garden

The importance of our fruits and

vegetables at the Organoponics Garden:

Vegetables are important protective foods and highly beneficial for the maintenance of health and prevention of disease. They contain valuable food ingredients which can be successfully utilized to build up and repair the body.

www.wikipedia.org

www.heart2heartfarm.org

www.abcplus.biz photo

Why fruit & vegetables?

Found in:

Needed for:

Vision, skin, immune system,

growth, cancer prevention >

< Carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato, spinach, greens, peppers, tomato,

< Melons, sweet potatoes, mango, passion fruit

Blood vessel strength,

healing wounds,

immune system, growth >

Cancer prevention >

< Tomatoes, kale, squash, corn, cabbage, lettuce, beets, broccoli, avocado,

cauliflower, sweet peppers

Digestion, cholesterol

reduction >

< Green beans, okra, broccoli, egg plant

Cell division, wound healing,

birth defect prevention >

< Spinach, lettuce, kale,

cabbage, swiss chard,

bok choy

Learning Objectives> Students have a basic idea about agriculture

production and plant nutrition. After the course, students know:

- Difference between two major agricultural practices

- The importance of vegetables

- Basic plant nutrition principles

< Okra, green beans,

kale, spinach, sun flower

seeds

Strong bones, blood

clotting prevention,

muscle, curve

functions >

wedoitallforkids.com

Content> 1. What is agriculture, why agriculture?

2. Plant nutrition

- Dictionary use encouraged

- Content should be reinforced with

a visit to the Organoponics Garden

Assessment> Multiple choice quiz on

Basic plant anatomy

knowledge gained. To be taken before or after visit to the Organoponics Garden

• Leaves produce oxygen and collect sunlight, CO2, and water which are converted into energy needed for plants to grow
• Fruits are produced by flowers to protect and spread seeds for later reproduction
• Flowers are the plants' reproductive organs through which it carries on its kind
• Stems store and transport food to the different parts of the plant
• Roots collect water, minerals, and organic substances and also function as the plant's anchor

biology.tutorvista.com

Part 2.

Plant Nutrition

Soil elements

The soil profile shows

various horizons that vary according to their composition, color, and texture:

-Horizon A is the top dark layer where the roots are embedded

- Horizon B is the second layer

- Horizon C is the bottom light and rocky layer

As the roots grow and extend through horizon A of the soil, they make space for air to circulate through the soil. The roots also absorb air and collect nutritional particles that are shared to the rest of the plant.

How our plants get nutrients

Good soil structure should consist of the following composition:

Soil

particles

Water

Organic

Material

Air

You have completed the 'Plant Nutrition at the Organoponics Garden' course and are now ready for a practical visit.

Complete the

Nutrition Elements

The most important nutrients for plants are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium which are necessary in high quantities. Additional nutrients that plants need are listed below. There are necessary in lower quantities.

Deficiencies of these nutrients are most easily detected by leaf structure and growth.

Multiple Choice Quiz

before or after your visit to test your knowledge and refresh your memory.

- Plant anatomy

- Soil

- Nutrition elements

- Organic fertilizers

- Inter-cropping & crop rotation

- Water

hydroponicsequipment.org

Organic fertilizers

There are 12 questions. Upon completion, your teacher will guide you through the correct answers

Optimal nutrient source-

Crops collect necessary nutrients best from animal and organic waste because these organic matter create better conditions for the soil which allow the roots to absorb the nutrients more efficiently.

Worm culture

Animal waste

Soil, manure/ animal wast, vegetable waste/compost layers

Good Luck!!!

Collection of animal waste

Inter-cropping

The inter-cropping method involves planting different species of crops within the same area.

Benefits:

- Better use of space per m2

- Pest control

- Weed control

- Prevents erosion

1. What is agriculture?

a. The science of cultivating land, producing crops, and raising livestock.

b. The activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land.

c. The process of preparing for and forming buildings and building systems.

Crop rotation

The crop rotation method involves planting different crops on the

same area of soil at different times:

Benefits:

- Prevents nutrient depletion in the soil

- Controls pests

- Particular crops are planted in appropriate seasons

2. Choose the correct option:

a. Industrial agriculture considers environmental factors

b. Industrial agriculture uses chemical fertilizers.

c. Organic agriculture has low bio-diversity

d. Organic agriculture has high productivity annd energy costs

Water

Crops should be watered regularly to keep them hydrated and to

prevent the soil from becoming dry, but too much water risks reducing the oxygen in the soil.

3. Urban agriculture takes place:

a. in forests

b on beaches

c. in cities & towns

d. on large plantations

Different plants need different amounts of water everyday. As a general rule, small plants should be watered frequently but in small amounts. Large plants should be watered less frequently but in larger amounts.

4. The Organoponics method of farming was developed in:

a. Italy

b. Alaska

c. Columbia

d. Cuba

Plants at the Organoponics Garden are watered manually with a hose and through a drip irrigation system.

Picture example, at different times in the year, each bed will have particular crops. When these crops are harvested, different crops will be planted in the different bed in their stead.

5. Fruits

a. produce oxygen and collect sunlight

b. collect water minerals and organic substances

c. protect and spread seeds for later reproduction

d. store and transport food to the different parts of the plants.

10. Inter-cropping

a. controls pests

b. is an irrigation system

c. should only be done during the rainy season

d. involves one crop

7. Horizon A is

a. the deepest layer of soil

b. is the second layer of soil

c. is the rockiest layer of soil

d. is the top and darkest layer of soil where roots are embedded

6. You need fiber for:

a. digestion

b. strong bones

c. vision

d. cell division

11. Crop rotation

a. prevents nutrition depletion in soil

b. is when two farmers exchange land

c. is not practiced at the Organoponics Garden

d. does not control pests

8. A deficiency in phosphate makes leaves

a. dark

b. light

c. whither & fall

d. turn red

9. Organic fertilizers include:

a. vegetable, cow, & worm waste

b. chemical products

c. rocks

d. whole tree branches

12. Plants should be watered

a. every thirty minutes

b. by rainfall only

c. to keep hydrated

d. in order for the soil to dry