LAND AND SOIL MANAGEMENT

AGR3LS

2020

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

This subject covers chemical, physical and biological aspects of soil and uses a field study of lime plots at the university farm to illustrate concepts. The importance of nutrient recycling and carbon dynamics in sustainable land use, and their impacts on the environment are studied. Management of land degradation including soil acidification, subsoil constraints and soil contamination is also an important component.

School: Life Sciences (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Caixian Tang

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: No

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: AGR2ILS

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: N/A

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: Merit based quota management

Quota-conditions or rules: Priority is given to students admitted in SBAG, SBS (Agricultural Science or Environmental Geoscience major), SZAGB, SZAGID and LZCAG for which this subject is core, then all other degrees by order of enrolment

Special conditions: N/A

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Learning resources

Soils: Their properties and management

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Charman PEV and Murphy BW

Year: 2007

Edition/Volume: 3RD EDN

Publisher: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Scientific writing = Thinking in words

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: David Lindsay

Year: N/A

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: CSIRO Publishing

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

The nature and properties of soils

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Brady, NC and Weil, RR

Year: 2016

Edition/Volume: 14th EDN revised

Publisher: PEARSON PRENTICE HALL

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: No

Work-based learning: No

Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A

Entire subject or partial subject: N/A

Total hours/days required: N/A

Location of WBL activity (region): N/A

WBL addtional requirements: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

Intended Learning Outcomes

01. Analyse soil properties as affected by long-term lime application and relate to strategies for management of soil acidity to improve plant growth and nodulation of legume plants.
02. Work effectively as a team member to communicate scientific results in oral and written formats.
03. Explain the development and variation of soil properties and processes and critically review their management in farming systems/sustainable land use.
04. Generate and critically evaluate datasets and effectively communicate scientific results using tables and graphs.

Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Semester 2, Day

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: 65

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Caixian Tang

Class requirements

Computer LaboratoryWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.00 hours computer laboratory per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.

LectureWeek: 31 - 43
Three 1.00 hour lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.

PracticalWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.00 hours practical per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

2 hour end-of-semester exam

N/AN/AN/ANo50SILO1, SILO3

Three Laboratory reports and quizzes (300-words equivalent each, total 900-words equiv.)Individual written submissions.

N/AN/AN/ANo27SILO1, SILO4

One group oral presentation on lime project (400-words equivalent per student)Marks for teamwork are included in this component.

N/AN/AN/ANo8SILO2

One group scientific paper on lime project (800-words equivalent per student)Students may write and submit the paper individually.

N/AN/AN/ANo15SILO1, SILO2