Course Content (English)

 

Sugar Technology (Training of sugar factory laboratory analysts on ICUMSA Methods for white sugar analysis)

Training topics

• Polarization
• Sugar Moisture By lost on drying
• Solution colour at pH 7.0
• Particle size distribution by sieving
• Conductivity ash
• Reducing sugars by Knight and Allen EDTA Method
• Insoluble matter by membrane filtration
• Sulphite determination by Rosaniline Colorimetric Method
• Turbidity

10-day acid beverage floc test

 

Geographical Information Systems
Training topics

• Introduction to basic concepts of GIS
• File Conversion
• Map Projection
• Hands-on Training

Agricultural Chemistry
Training topics

• Research and development in sugarcane nutrition – an overview
• Nutrient requirements of sugarcane.
• Role of nutrient in sugarcane.

-   Major nutrients
-   Secondary nutrients
-   Micronutrients
-   Symptoms of nutrient deficiency

• Managing NPK requirements of sugarcane
• Philosophy and Methodology of soil testing

-   Sampling techniques and analysis
-   Interpretation of test results and fertilizer recommendations

• Philosophy and Methodology of foliar diagnosis

-   Sampling techniques and analysis
-   Interpretation of test results and fertilizer recommendations

• Integrated approach to nutrient management
• Good nutrient management practices for minimizing environmental impact.
• Sugar analysis

-   ICUMSA methods
-   Pesticide residue analysis

• Quality Management System for testing laboratory – ISO/IEC 17025

Sugarcane Breeding and Physiology
Training topics

• Origin and history of Sugar Cane Breeding
• Introduction to Sugar Cane Genetics
• Breeding Systems
• Hybridisation Programme
• Selection of Varieties
• Description and Identification of Sugar Cane Varieties

Practicals and demonstrations

• Establishment of trials at the Final Phase of Selection and data analysis

-   Policy for establishing Final Phase Selection Trials
-   Objectives/production zones/sites/soil types/resources/multi-location trials
-   Data collection/data validation/organisation/data storage and retrieval
-   Interpretation of results
-   Decision making
-   Industrial trials
-   Participatory approach to selection

• Introductory course with a practical focus on the use of statistical methods in the process of conducting scientific research

-    Data, samples and populations
-    Descriptive statistics (numerical and graphical)
-    Probability (basic)
-    Normal distribution and sampling distributions
-    Hypothesis testing and confidence intervals
-    T-tests
-    Analysis of Variance
-    Multiple Comparison Tests
-    Correlation and Regression
-    Non-Parametric Statistics
-    Sampling
-    Chi-Square and Contingency Analysis

• Plant Physiology

-   Sugar Cane Botany
-   Basic Physiological Processes
-   Sugar Cane Physiology
-   Sugar Cane Production
-   Practical Sessions

Biotechnology
Training topics

• Introduction to Biotechnology
• Plant Tissue Culture techniques and disease elimination
• Molecular plant disease diagnosis
• Molecular plant breeding techniques including molecular markers, genetic mapping, QTL identification,  diversity studies
• DNA fingerprinting of varieties
• Plant genetic transformation, regulations and biosafety
• DNA barcoding
• Both theoretical and practical training can be provided.

Cultural Operations and Weed Agronomy
Training topics

• Weed Science/Weed Agronomy:
• Weed identification and classification
• Weed control methods
• Weed competition and mechanisms of competition
• Herbicide testing and registration
• Spraying techniques
• Non-chemical methods of weed control and weed management

Cultural Practices of sugar cane:

• Land preparation and minimum tillage practice
• Planting of sugar cane
• Cane row spacing and sett density
• Green cane harvesting and trash blanketing
• New cropping systems for sugar cane
• Ratoon management
• Farm planning and soil conservation
• Farm planning for mechanized harvest
• Use of Digital Terrain Modelling (DTM) for farm planning
• Soil erosion and RUSLE model

Entomology
Training topics

• Overview of Entomology
• Basic insect morphology and biology
• The main groups of insects
• Important orders and families
• Pests and their populations
• How do pest populations arise?
• Distribution and origins of sugar cane pests
• Pest   management
• Management of sugar cane pests in Mauritius
• Laboratory rearing of pests and their natural enemies

Agricultural Extension and Communication
Training topics

• Theoretical aspects in Extension

-    Definitions of Agricultural Development and Extension
-    Role of Agricultural Extension
-    The practice of Agricultural Extension worldwide
-    Extension approaches and methodologies
-    The role of the Extension Agent and his/her training needs

• Development of extension programmes - problem identification and planning
• Monitoring and evaluation of extension programmes
• Use of IT in Extension and Development of Communication media for extension
• On-farm experimentation and establishment of trials (including visits to MSIRI Experiment Stations)

Mechanization
Training topics

• Land Preparation, Farm planning and Field layout

-   Principles of soil tillage
-   3 Point Linkage
-   Equipment for soil tillage – Principles and settings

• Mechanization of cultural practices

-   Principles and calibration of mechanical spreaders
-   Application of fertilizer and Soil amendments, herbicides and pesticides

• Harvesting and Transport

-   Mechanical harvesters
-   Mechanical loaders
-   Cost effective transport systems

 

Plant Pathology
Training topics

• Introduction to diseases
• Important concepts in plant diseases
• Diseases and their causal agents
• Distribution of diseases
• Symptomatology
• Diseases caused By bacteria, fungi, viruses, phytoplasmas and nematodes
• Techniques of disease diagnosis and identification
• Transmission of diseases
• Disease management

Practical/demonstrations

Irrigation
Training topics

• Soils of Mauritius and their physical properties
• Soil moisture holding capacity
• Crop water demand and Irrigation water requirement
• Irrigation scheduling - soil water balance and other techniques
• Principles, operation and maintenance of Irrigation Systems:
• Drip irrigation
• Overhead irrigation – high pressure gun, center pivot & dragline
• Surface irrigation
• Choice of systems
• Irrigation software

The training consists of theoretical presentations, practical work and demonstrations.

MSIRI Training Centre