agr3ls land and soil management
LAND AND SOIL MANAGEMENT
AGR3LS
2017
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.
SchoolSchool of Life Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorCaixian Tang
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 3 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites AGR2ILM, AGR2ILS or AGR2SS
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjects AGR3LSM, AGR3SS
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | A Guide to Scientific Writing, 2nd edition | Recommended | D.R.Lindsay | LONGMAN 1995 |
| Readings | Soils: Their properties and management | Recommended | Charman PEV and Murphy BW 2007 | 3RD EDN, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS |
| Readings | Elements of the nature and properties of soils | Preliminary | Brady, NC and Weil, RR 2008 | 3RD EDN REVISED, PEARSON PRENTICE HALL. |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Conduct a 10-week study on the effects of lime on soil properties and legume growth and involve soil/plant measurements and analysis and field observations.
- Activities:
- In lectures, students will be instructed in major soil properties and their measurements, the importance of nutrient recycling and carbon dynamics in sustainable land use, and their impacts on the environment, land degradation and management. Students will be instructed in sources of variation in soil with depth and across the field and how these affect soil sampling procedures, plant growth and land-use. In laboratory classes, students will measure major properties of soils sampled from the lime plots and link these measurements with management of soil acidity in regular lab reports. Results of the study are presented in a group paper.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Writing(Writing)
02. Work in a team to conduct the lime project and give a group oral presentation of the results and write a group scientific paper about the study.
- Activities:
- Students are allocated to groups and given instruction on group/team dynamics. The skills required for a group oral presentation are outlined. Ability to work as a team is indicated by the cohesiveness of the oral presentation and the group scientific paper and, students peer review each team member.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Speaking(Speaking)
- Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)
- Writing(Writing)
- Teamwork(Teamwork)
03. Explain the development and variation of soil properties (chemical, subsoil constraints, acidity, salinity) and processes (nutrient cycling, carbon dynamics, water-logging) and their management in farming systems/sustainable land use, in laboratory reports, the lime project report and in essay style exam questions.
- Activities:
- In lectures, students will be instructed in major soil properties and their measurements, the importance of nutrient recycling and carbon dynamics in sustainable land use, and their impacts on the environment, land degradation and management. Students will also be instructed in contemporary land degradation issues, and the relevance to plant growth and agricultural production. These concepts will be further explored in the lime project and scientific paper discussion session.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
- Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
- Writing(Writing)
04. Compute basic mathematical calculations and prepare graphic presentations of soil testing for laboratory reports.
- Activities:
- Lectures and laboratory classes. In lectures, students will be instructed in a) the needs of plant growth as provided by soil, and b) nutrient cycles and assessment of nutrient availability, and their relevance to agriculture and the environment. These concepts will be reinforced in laboratory classes.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Quantitative Literacy/ Numeracy(Quantitative Literacy/ Numeracy)
Subject options
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Melbourne, 2017, Semester 2, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentNo
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorCaixian Tang
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 31 - 43
Three 1.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
PracticalWeek: 31 - 43
One 3.0 hours practical per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
Computer LaboratoryWeek: 31 - 32
One 3.0 hours computer laboratory per week on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 32 and delivered via face-to-face.
"The computer room needs to be close to the lab of practical classes (in Reid Building"
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 hour end-of-semester exam | 50 | 01, 03 | |
| Contribution to a scientific paper discussion session (in groups) | In-class assignment | 3 | 03 |
| Four laboratory reports (250 words each) | Individual written submissions. | 24 | 01, 04 |
| One group oral presentation on lime project | Marks for teamwork are included in this component. | 8 | 02 |
| One group scientific paper on lime project (800 words) | Students may write and sumit the paper individually. | 15 | 01, 02 |