SOIL MANAGEMENT - CROPS BHT303

COURSE STRUCTURE

1.   Physical & Chemical Properties Of Soils
-How soil develops naturally
-The main rock forming minerals
-Types of rock 
-Understanding soils
-Soil structure
-Water and air
-Soil temperature
-Organic matter
-Cation exchange capacity
-Conductivity
-Nutrition
      Major elements
      Minor elements
      Salts
-Diagnosis of nutritional problems
-Improving soils
-Fertilisers
-Composting
-Indore Method
-14 day Method
-Sheet composting
-Worm Digester Method
-Trench composting
-The finished product

2.   Soil Testing Methods
-Naming the soil
-Soil sampling
-Checklists for sampling soil
-Common soil tests
-Methods for measuring:
      pH
      Organic matter contents of soil
      Water contents of soil
      Solubility of fertilisers
-Testing the effects of lime in soil
-Laboratory testing of soil
-Sampling in greenhouses
-Measuring salinity
-Colorimetres
-Bulk densities of soils and potting mixes
-Checking the drainage rate of potting mixes
-Understanding soil analysis, including when, what and how to test

3.   Sustainable Soil Management
-What is organic growing
-Eco gardening
-The use of organic principles to help overcome soil problems
-Natural plant nutrition:
      Major elements
      Minor elements
      Trace elements
-A quick guide on nutrient deficiencies in plants
-Earthworms
-Mycorrhizae
-Laying mulch
-Nutrition management
-Fertilisers:
      Factors affecting fertiliser application
      Application of liquid fertilisers
      Organic fertilisers
      Natural fertilisers
      Mineral rock fertilisers and soil conditioners

4.   Soils & Managing Earthworks
-Earth forming
-Drainage
-Improving drainage after construction
-Points to remember when designing a drainage system

5.   Land Degradation & Other Soil Problems
-What can go wrong, including:
      Chemical damage
      Rubbish and soils
      Salinity
      Dogs or cats urinating
      Gardening in dry areas
-Soil degradation
-Erosion
-Soil adicification
-Compaction
-Chemical residues
-A few hints with planting
-Physical plant protection methods

6.   Soil Science & Health
-Organic carbon
-Phosphorus
-Soil colour,pH, porosity, texture, consistence and its effects on plant growth
-Soil profile, classification and description
-Factors of soil formation
-Weathering processes of soil formation

7.   Soil Management
-The use of legumes
-Soil management in orchards
-Soil management in market gardens
-Determining the kind and quantity of fertilisers to use
-Planning a vegetable growth site
-Soil management for vegetables

Aims

• Explain soil physical and chemical properties and processes including forms of soil nitrogen and nitrogen cycles in soil, soil humus, texture, soil water, and pH.
• Explain the principles and procedures of soil testing in domestic and professional situations
• Discuss principles of sustainable soil management
• Explain soil fertility and the practical development of natural soil fertility
• Explain earthworks management
• Explain land and soil degradation processes; and the prevention or amelioration of land degradation

What You Will Do

• Identify evaluate soil structural problems in the field
• Build a compost heap and monitor its decomposition process
• Perform simple experiments to evaluate fertilisation rates and methods
• Define and describe soil properties and processes
• Perform simple tests and field analyses on soil
• Identify nutrient deficiencies
• Evaluate the attributes of various mulches
• Analyse the impacts of earthworks and earth working machinery on soil and landscape
• Analyse the effects of different soil management methods.
• Identify soil and land degradation
• Propagate and grow plants in containers
• Identify and evaluate soil degradation minimisation programs and methods

REASONS TO STUDY WITH ACS DISTANCE EDUCATION

• Reputation:
    -teaching Horticulture since 1979
    -exceptional faculty staff (see below)
• Hands on: develop practical as well as theoretical skills
• Uniqueness:
    -successful people are always those who can offer a skill or service that others can't
    -this course is different; our graduates have different skills to set them apart.
• Relevance -curriculum developed in response to industry needs
• Lots of help: personal, prompt attention from tutors
• Holistic Courses: We teach more than just "facts"
    -success is only 20% about intelligence (and what you know)
    -you also need to build networking, problem solving & communication skills, and more!
    -this course helps you develop all of these things and more
• Value: courses compare very favorably on a cost per study hour basis
• Up to date: courses under constant review
• Student amenities: This school is backed by over one of the most unique and comprehensive private collections of intellectual property in the horticultural industry. The principal and staff have written and published over 50 books and 150 gardening magazines, as well as 20,000 hours horticultural study programs. A team of 5 horticultural writers continue to develop and update new material continually. These resources together with web sites, an online student room, social media etc. provide a unique and comprehensive facility to support students studying with the school.

Marie Beerman  B.Sc., M.Hort.