sludge: a thick wet substance, especially wet mud or snow; the solid or semi-solid part of sewage. Proper management of sludge ensures it can be used as a valuable resource for soil fertility and waste management, promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
salivate: To produce saliva. Farmers benefit from observing salivation patterns to detect potential health issues in livestock.
sclerotinia: A soil-borne disease affecting many crops, including potatoes, oilseed rape and peas. Farmers benefit from managing sclerotinia to protect crop health and prevent yield losses.
spray lines: a method of distributing irrigation water using flexible hose, mainly used for horticultural crops. Using spray lines ensures efficient water distribution, promoting healthy crop growth and sustainable water use.
sorghum: a drought-resistant cereal plant grown in semi-arid tropical regions such as Mexico, Nigeria, and Sudan. Latin name: Sorghum vulgare. Growing sorghum provides farmers with a resilient crop suitable for dry conditions, supporting food security and economic stability.
sickle: A curved knife-edged metal tool with a wooden handle, used for harvesting cereals. Farmers benefit from using sickles for manual harvesting and grass cutting.
straw burning: a cheap method of disposal of straw, which helps to control diseases. Properly managing straw burning ensures effective disease control while adhering to environmental regulations, supporting sustainable farming practices.
standard: something which has been agreed on and is used to measure other things by; a plant grown on a single long stem that is kept from forming branches except at the top; a type of fruit tree or rose tree where the stem is about two metres high, on top of which the head is developed; a large tree in a woodland. Using standard practices ensures consistency and quality in agricultural production, supporting market value and consumer trust.
sprayer: a machine which forces a liquid through a nozzle under pressure, used to distribute liquids such as herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and fertilisers. Using sprayers ensures efficient application of agricultural inputs, promoting healthy crop growth and better yields.
scion: A piece of a plant which is grafted onto a rootstock. Farmers benefit from using scions for grafting to propagate desirable plant varieties.