精东传媒app

A knowledge of soils as a resource in both natural and agricultural ecosystems is important to science, arts, education and engineering professionals involved in the sustainable management of biological systems. This introductory course focuses on soils as a medium for plant growth and investigates the nature and role of the soil chemical and physical properties, clay mineralogy, and soil biology as limiting factors on soil fertility. It also provides a comprehensive investigation of the processes of soil formation and the methods of soil description and classification. Both the physical and chemical processes of soil degradation are investigated and management practices to prevent, ameliorate and rehabilitate degraded land are discussed.

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. On completion of this course, student should be able to:

1. describe the processes involved in soil formation and the techniques involved in soil description and classification;
2. explain the soil components and the nature of the interactions between these components;
3. discuss the factors and processes influencing structural stability, water availability and movement, and temperature fluctuations in soils;
4. demonstrate an understanding of the factors and processes influencing fertility and nutrient cycling in soils;
5. analyse the factors and processes that lead to the degradation of soil resources and explain the management practices used to minimise and rehabilitate degraded soils.