Growing Food: A Guide to Food Production

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. Storage

SECTION 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 / Pawpaw, Watermelon
G. Under exploited Crops: Amaranth, Bambara Groundnut, Buffalo Gourd, Leucaena, Lupin, Tepary Bean, Winged Bean / Four-angled Bean

SECTION 3
3A Naming and Classification of Food Crops
3B Seed Purchase Procedures
3C Conversion Tables and Statistics
3D Some issues to consider when planning or assessing agricultural projects

Bibliography

Index