794-116 Soil Science

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of this subject is to extend participants' ability to:

• describe the ways in which soil properties can affect the growth of plants;

• describe the ways in which soil composition and behaviour affects the ability of different soils to function as plant growth media;

• describe the ways in which soils are managed to maintain and improve their productivity;

• describe the distribution of important soils in Victoria and the systems used for classifying soils.

The content includes: Soil composition, soil texture, mineralogy of the soil fractions and its effect on soil properties, soil as a physical medium for plant growth, behaviour of water in soils, soil water movement and storage, soil aeration, water use by plants, behaviour of plant nutrient elements in soil, manipulation of nutrient levels, assessment of plant and soil nutrient status, important fertiliser materials, soil organisms, soil profile description and soil mapping, soil classification and soil distribution in southern Australia.

Assessment

Two tests of 45 and 90 minutes (25%, 50%); assignment of 2000 words (25%).