On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1	Understand and explain basic principles underlying the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils in landscapes
2	Correctly quantitatively assess and interpret soil characteristics using relevant technologies
3	Proficiently undertake (individually, in pairs or groups) simple field sampling of soil and laboratory measurements of basic soil physical and chemical properties
4	Give a basic description of a soil profile and broadly assign this within the Australian Soil Classification system
5	Search and find (individually and within a team) relevant scientific and technical information in the context of management of soils for a production enterprise
6	Critically evaluate and confidently interpret soils data, maps and information especially in relation to identifying potential management issues for production enterprises and suggesting potential solutions
7	Communicate effectively to individuals and in groups (orally and written) concerning the application of soil science in landscape management
8	Appreciate the importance of careful planning, research and integration of information when compiling a short report for industry and to a deadline

Protective clothing
Students are required to wear a lab coat and have closed foot wear for the practicals that are in the laboratories.  Stout shoes, suncreen, hat and a waterproof coat are recommended for field practicals .

Books for course (online or held in the Student Reserve Collection in the Waite Library)
 
These books will be useful for following up on lecture material, for exam revision and for your consultancy report assignment.

General textbooks   
Brady NC, Weil RR (2008) ‘The nature and properties of soils.’ (Prentice Hal: New Jersey)

Charman PEV, Murphy BW (2007) ‘Soils: their properties and management.’ (Oxford University Press: South Melbourne)

Isbell RF (2002) ‘Australian soil classification.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne) NOTE: this is also available electronically

McKenzie N, Jacquier D, Isbell R, Brown KM (2004) ‘Australian soils and landscapes: an illustrated compendium’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne). 631.4994 M1571a

White RE (2006) ‘ Principles and practice of soil science.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne) .

Wild A (Ed) (1988) ‘Russell’s Soil Conditions and Plant Growth.’ (John Wiley & Sons: New York)

Consultancy report
Gilkes RJ, Hunt N (1992) ‘Farm monitoring handbook: A practical down-to-earth manual for farmers and other land users.’ (University of Western Australia: Perth)

Hall J, Maschmedt D, Billing B (2010) ‘The soils of southern South Australia’ Bulletin 56, Volume 1 of the Geological Survey of South Australia (Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation: Adelaide)

Hazelton P, Murphy B (2007) ‘Interpreting Soil Test Results What do all the numbers mean?’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Available as an electronic book from CSIRO via the Uni of Adelaide library website.
http://uadel.csiro.patron.eb20.com.proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/Collections/ViewBook/3b2bf8b5-bcc3-4f58-8830-79982b2ac0be

Moore G ( 2004) ‘Soil Guide A handbook for understanding and managing agricultural soils.’ Bulletin 4343 (Department of Agriculture: Perth WA)

Peverill KI, Sparrow LA, Reuter DJ (Eds) (1999) 'Soil analysis:an interpretation manual.' (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)

Addtional materials and references will be available via MyUni including recordings of lectures

Lectures are used to deliver content relevant to the specified course objectives. Lectures inlcude the opportunity foropen discussion, questions and problem solving activities 

Practicals are used to develop and support material covered in lectures as well as providing a forum for acquiring skills and knowledge necessary to complete assessment tasks. Practicals particularly provide an opportunity to acquire hands-on skills, to integrate information from different modules in the course and to increase understanding of concepts.

Workshops are held  in place of three of the practical sessions - these mentored sessions specifically provide time as a small group (12-15 students) for those working on the same consultancy report problem to exchange ideas, interact and benefit from peer input whilst being guided by an academic mentor  

Tutorial sessions provide an opportunity for students in groups or individually to follow up specific issues regarding expectations on workload or assignments or to seek clarification of material from lectures and practicals.  

A student enrolled in a 3 unit course such as this should expect to spend, on average, 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes the formal contac time  (lectures, tutorials and pracs) as well as non-contact time (reading, consultancy report writing, revision)

The course content will include the following (timing may vary from the order shown here):

Lectures 1 & 2:  Function and significance of soils in Earth’s spheres and landscapes – managed and natural. The five soil forming factors

Lectures 3 & 4: Formation of soils from rocks and minerals, the processes involved

Lecture 5: The basics of soil classification and the Australian classification system and relevance to management of soils

 Lecture 6: Overview on the fragile nature of Australian soils, the reasons underlying this and the implications for Australian landscapes

 Lecture 7: Soil primary particles – the building blocks, how they contribute to soil texture and relevance to managing soils

Lecture 8: Soil structure and its importance in management of landscapes

Lecture 9: Soil colloids and effects on soil chemistry (e.g cation exchange)
Lecture 10: Soil acidification – what it is and how it can be managed

 Lecture 11: Influence of atmospheric processes on soil water

 Lecture12: Major inputs and outputs of water in soils and how water is stored

 Lecture13: Causes and consequences of landscape salinization in Australia

 Lecture14: Processes of soil erosion (by wind and water) and where it occurs

 Lecture15: Management practices to minimise erosion in farming systems and landscapes

 Lecture 16: Soil organic matter – what is it?  and its major functions

 Lecture 17: The management of soil organic matter in nutrient cycling – includes crop rotations, pasture and grazing

 Lecture 18: How different fertilisers (types and formulations) contribute to soil fertility

 Lecture 19:Fertiliser management of different soils in agricultural landscapes/systems

 Lecture 20: Intro to “Hostile” soils & subsoils as a feature of Australian landscapes – sodicity calcareous soils, traffic hardpan, texture contrast, nutrient toxicities and deficiencies

 Lecture 21: Management options for hostile” soils & subsoils in Australian landscapes

 Lecture 22: Chemicals in soil - pollutants, contaminants and residues  - sources and fate

 Lecture 23: Assessing the impact of chemicals in soils  - control or amelioration strategies

 Lecture 24: Bringing it all together: Case studies: Current challenges for the management of soils in particular land systems in Australia (horticulture, viticulture, broadacre cropping, livestock enterprises, irrigated systems). 

 Practical 1: Introduction to the field observation of soils and position in the landscape – soil pit – short report (per group) on observations made to be handed in on the day

 Practical 2: Laboratory task - hand texturing for a range of soils and soil colour (Munsell chart) plus  – laboratory –short report to be handed in on day plus computer session to familiarise with the layout and format and use of the on-line and hard copy versions of the Australian soil classification system –formative individual task completed at own pace

 Practical 3: Computer lab using Soil Mapper to demonstrate how spatially variable soils are and how sampling strategy influences outcome of a soil property test –  individual formative task completed on day

 Practical 4: Measuring soluble salts in soils – laboratory based prac to give hands-on experience of use of EC and pH meters and familiarise with various units used for measuring these characteristics – short report required on day

 Practical 5: Field and lab practical – soils across a toposequence in the landscape – soil coring and recording texture and samples taken back to lab for class discussion session –formative task -  short report (individual)

 Practical 6: Using nutrient calculators to devise fertiliser budgets for crops and vines – group based formative short task completed during prac

 Practical 7: Computer lab using map databases to integrate information on soil properties and how that relates to position in landscape – individual formative task completed during prac

Consultancy report interactive small group sessions (substitutes for three practical sessions) First session to present the task for the consultancy report and work through tools and information required to achieve this task – includes database searches for journal info and format of the required report. Short prelim draft task set for delivery in next session. Second session to reflect on and improve the short prelim draft task for consultancy report – issues for each landscape and soil type identified and discussed as a group– improved draft report outlines to be handed up after this session for feedback. Third session is allocated time for final amendments to the consultancy report and/or follow up any issues in course material to date prior to submission of the consultancy report for assessment

 1h Ad Hoc Tutorial session each week: 3 sessions will specifically follow up on quiz material. Other tutorial sessions are for clarification of any lecture or practical material

Assessment Task	Task Type	Hurdle	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Consultancy report plan (group activity) and final document (individual)	Formative and Summative	No	20%	5,6,7,8
Practical  exercises and reports completed in class in pairs x 5	Formative and Summative	No	30%	2,3,4,6,7
Quizzes x 3	Summative	No	20%	1,2,4,6,7
Examination	Summative	Yes	30%	1,2,4,6,7

To obtain a pass in this course, students must submit all assessments and gain an overall mark in the course of t least 50%. In addition, students must obtain a minimum of 50% in the examination.

Failure to meet the above minimum requirements for the course may result in a student failing the course or being offered an additional assessment task (or tasks).

You must submit all work in hardcopy unless directed otherwise and attach an Assessment Cover Sheet (dealing with Plagiarism & Collusion) available on Myuni. This sheet will be detached from your assignment and kept by the Course Coordinator, so you must remember to also record your name somewhere on the piece of work, to ensure your graded report can be returned to you. Please note that electronic submission by email will not be accepted, so you will need to plan your time accordingly.