Event
Bioindicators: What can weeds teach us?
What is a weed? We generally think of it as the wrong plant in the wrong place. But what if these plants are telling us something about our soil, or perhaps even our management decisions on farms? What if instead of viewing these plants as weeds, we began to think of them as Bioindicators? Might certain plants warn us of mineral deficiencies or surpluses, pH conditions or biological activity?
This afternoon practical workshop, led by Dr. Chris Maughan, will give you a new way of looking at farming landscapes while providing you with a quick and easy way to diagnose problems in the field without the time and financial costs often associated with lab-based tests.
We’ll begin by introducing the concept of bioindicators and how this term can apply to ‘weeds’ before heading out onto the farm to find out what the weeds at FarmED can tell us. While in the field you’ll be led through a simple surveying methodology to enable you to try for yourself at home.
