Course CodeBAG311Fee CodeS3Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested. Learn the Fundamentals of Fibre Crop Production Fibre crops are typically grown for fibre but also have other benefits. The multitude of product options that can be produced is impressive for eg: building materials, automotive and aviation components paper bio-fuels (ethanol) textile and geo-textile products This course will help you understand the production of the raw products like cotton, jute, hemp, flax and more Lesson Structure There are 10 lessons in this course: Scope and Nature of Fibre Crops Introduction Fibre Properties Fibre Uses Types of Fibre Crops Commercial Viability Assessing Land Characteristics Assessing land suitability Broad Acre Farming Crop Production Considerations Production Systems Crop Rotation and Management Cover Crops Crop Islands Cotton – Part 1 Cotton Production Sustainable Agriculture Crop Rotation Conservation Tillage Insects and Diseases Insects Aphids Armyworm Cotton bollworm Cotton Diseases Fungal Diseases Viral Diseases Bacterial Diseases Pesticides and insecticides Cotton Life Cycle Types of Cotton Better Cotton Initiative Genetic modification Cotton - Part 2 Cotton Fibre Properties Improving Properties of Cotton Fibre Flexural testing Industrial Use of Cotton Cotton Fibre in Clothing Wicking Cotton - Milkweed blends Ginning Coloured Cotton Textile Dyeing Load Bearing Materials Harvesting Cotton Pickers Cotton Strippers Cotton Ginning Uses of Cotton Jute Types and Properties of Jute Jute Production Climatic requirements for Jute Jute Characteristics Genetic Yield Improvements Pests and Diseases Harvesting Uses and Consumption Industrial Hemp Terminology Types and Properties Cultivation Countries of Production Climate Soil Fertility Water Pests and Diseases Cost Genetic Modification Harvesting Uses and Consumption Geotextiles Fabric Carbon Capture Phytoremediation Hempseed Building Paper Cannabidiol Sunn Hemp and Kenaf (Deccan Hemp) Sunn Hemp Properties Cultivation Soil Fertility Water Cost Phytoremediation Pests and Diseases Genetic Modification Harvesting Retting Uses Fibre Weed Control Green Manure Biofuel Kenaf (Deccan Hemp) Types and Properties Cultivation Countries of Production Climate Soil Fertility Water Requirements Pests and Diseases Harvesting and Processing Uses and Consumption Textiles Food Sustainable Material Soil Structure Paper Flax Types and Properties Cultivation Countries of Production Climate Soil Water Requirement Pests and Diseases Genetic Modification Harvesting Processing Uses and Consumption Fabric Bio Composites and Industrial Materials Paper Bioplastic Food Leaf Fibres and Grass Fibre Abaca and sisal fibres Abaca Types and Properties Production and Cultivation Pests and Diseases Harvesting and Processing Uses and Consumption Sisal Sisal Cultivation Harvesting and Processing Uses and Consumption Grass Fibres – sugarcane and bamboo Sugarcane Properties Sugarcane Culture Growing & Production Soil Conditions Ratooning Tillage Crop Rotation and Break Crops Harvesting Burn-offs Sugarcane Straw Sugarcane Yield Limitations Pests and Diseases Pathogens Uses and Consumption Sugar Energy Bioethanol Bioplastics/Biomaterials Paper and containers Other Uses Alcohol – Rum Bamboo Types and Properties Cultivation Pests and Diseases Harvesting and Processing Uses and Consumption Food Fuel Medicine Building Material Furniture, Household Items and Accessories Clothing Paper Fruit Fibre - Coir Types and Properties of Coir Coir Production and Cultivation Countries of Production Climate Soil Fertility Water Requirement Cultivars Pests and Diseases Harvesting and Processing Uses and Consumption Cordage Horticulture Construction material Biocontrol Fibre Processing and the Fibre Future Fibre Quality Retting Biological Retting Dew Retting Water Retting Enzyme Retting Chemical Retting Mechanical Retting Physical Retting Drying Fibre Future Hybrid Composites Geotextiles Building Industry Car Interiors Genetic Improvements Other Fibre Sources What Makes a Good Fibre Crop? While all plants may produce fibres, some plants produce better fibre, that is more suited to processing than others. Fibres can be obtained from various parts of plants including leaves, fruits and seeds. The dimensions of these fibres, especially fibre length, depends mainly on fibre location within the plant. Fibres from stems and leaves tend to be much longer than fibres obtained from fruits and seeds. Stem and leave fibres contain many sclerenchyma elongated cells that have tapered ends and are very thick, usually with heavily lignified cell walls. Sclerenchyma gives mechanical strength and rigidity to the plant since it is usually a supporting tissue. Common plant fibres, also known as lignocellulosic fibres, are obtained from a range of plants and crops, many of which are discussed throughout this course. The main advantages of these fibres are that they are biodegradable, economical, and available in abundance. They also provide employment to thousands of people living in the rural areas where many fibre crops are native. Different fibre plants have different characteristics: Surface fibres, soft, hard or structural fibres Insulation/ temperature/heat and moisture resistance or water retention capability Who is this course for? Anyone with an interest in growing plants for fibre production; whether on a small or large scale Farmers, farm workers, agriculture industry Cottage industries, growing, harvesting and making things from plant fibre Students, researchers, innovators, academics, agricultural media, or anyone else HOW TO ENROL Click box below on left hand side -follow instructions. IF YOU NEED ADVICE - click here to use our FREE ADVISORY SERVICE