Soil Management (Agriculture)


Soil Management (Agriculture)

Course Code BAG103
Qualification Statement of Attainment
Payment Options Upfront & Payment Plans
Delivery Online & Correspondence
Duration 100 Hours

Soil Management Agriculture
 

Learn how to improve your soils and benefit from them. 

This course examines:

  • The properties of soil
  • Testing
  • How to manage and improve soil
  • Soil problems
  • Sustainability of soils and much more.

Soil is the foundation for profitable farming. There are many things that can be wrong with soil (eg. poor nutrition, chemical imbalance, structural problems such as drainage, lack of microbial life etc). Often minor and relatively inexpensive treatments can make a huge difference to productivity, but the problems need to be identified first, and that requires a solid understanding of soil theory and management practice.

There are 8 lessons in this course:

  1. Introduction: Soils And Soil Classification
    • Soil health and Agricultural soils
    • What is soil health?
    • Soil Composition and Formation
    • Classifying Soil Groups and Soil Landscapes
    • Soil Profiles
    • Soil Horizons
    • Key Properties of Selected Soil Groups
    • Parent Materials
    • Classifying Soils According to Hydrological Properties
    • Soil hydrology Groups: Uniform Coarse-textured Soils, Permeability Contrast Soils; Cracking Clays; Medium to Fine Textured soils
  2. Properties of Soils and Plant Nutrition
    • Understanding Soils
    • Mineral and Rock
    • How Soils Develop Naturally
    • Mechanical Weathering
    • Chemical Weathering
    • Geo-chemical Weathering Processes
    • Pedo-chemical Weathering
    • Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
    • Organic Carbon
    • Soil Colour
    • Texture and its Effect on Plant Growth
    • Structure and its Effect on Plant Growth
    • Consistence and its Effect on Plant Growth
    • Depth of Profile and how it Relates to Plant Growth
    • PH and Plant Growth
    • Porosity and Plant Growth
    • Plant Nutrition and Nutrient Toxicity
  3. Soil Testing Methods
    • Tilth and Organic Matter
    • Soil Sampling for Chemical Analysis
    • General Principles of Soil Analysis
    • Tools for Field Sampling and Soil Investigation
    • Digging a Sample Pit or Hole
    • Finding Out about your Soil
    • Settlement Activity
    • Soil Structure Activity
    • Recording Soil Colour
    • Testing Consistence
    • Describing Texture
    • Test for Free Carbonates
    • Soil pH Testing
    • Stability of Clods to Wetting (Slaking and Dispersion)
    • Bulk Density Testing
    • Measurement of Organic Matter Content of Soil
    • Measuring Salinity
    • Measuring Water Content
    • Fertiliser Solubility
    • Affect of Lime on Soil
    • Laboratory Testing of Soils
  4. Land Degradation and Other Soil Problems
    • Soil Structure Decline
    • Water Repellence
    • Erosion
    • Hard-Layers in Soils
    • Transient Bonding; Compaction; Cementation; and Natural Rigidity
    • Sub-Soil Compaction: Compression, shearing and smearing
    • Soil Acidification
    • Alkalinity and Sodicity
    • Water-logging
    • Salinity
    • Chemical Residues
  5. Soil Management on Farms
    • Conservation Farming
    • No-Tillage (Zero tillage)
    • Minimum Tillage
    • Trap Cropping
    • Cover Crops and Green Manure Cropping
    • Alley Farming (AF)
    • Contour Farming and Strip Farming
    • Controlled Traffic Farming
    • Stubble Management
    • Establishing Water and Nutrient Management Plans
    • Soil Conservation Earthworks
    • Integrated Pest Management
    • Direct Drilling in Pasture Establishment
    • Soil Management in Orchards
    • Soil Management in Market Gardens
  6. Crops: Soil and Nutrient Requirements (Part A)
    • Wheat
    • Oat
    • Barley
  7. Crops: Soil and Nutrient Requirements (Part B)
    • Narrow-Leafed Lupins
    • Canola
    • Faba Beans
    • Grapes
  8. PBL Soil project - Soil Investigation and Report
    • Aim is to:
    • evaluate a range of soils for a given situation
    • determine soil problems or limitations that exist for a given land use
    • decide on suitable soil management strategies for the selected land
    • prepare and present a report

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

For more information on this course, please request your free course information pack.

 

 

Finance options

If you are an Irish citizen you may be eligible to receive financial support, meaning you can defer payment of your course fees. Additionally, if you are a resident of Ireland, you may also be eligible to receive a student grant under the Student Grant Scheme

Student support

We live in a society where the pressures of daily living are high with financial expenses, personal and work commitments, and mortgage and rental obligations. Then there are the unexpected life challenges that also get thrown our way. With this in mind the thought of taking on study can be daunting for most people. Here at Learning Cloud we understand that life doesn’t run in a straight line it has many ups and downs.

As an enrolled student at Learning Cloud, you are entitled to access a variety of non-academic support services from the Student Services Unit. These supports are designed to walk beside you throughout your studies they will assist you in life’s ups and downs to provide you the best opportunity to successfully complete your chosen course.

STUDENT SERVICES PROGRAMS INCLUDE:

  • Careers Counselling Service
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  • E Counselling
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  • Parent support
  • Reasonable Adjustment Plan (RAP)

Call our student support today on 041 214 0000 or Email Faculty

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How will this course advance my career?

Learning Cloud programs have been developed in response to industry demand and are specifically designed to equip graduates with work-ready skills. Each participant will be trained and assessed in theory and in practical tasks and Real-world exercises are used throughout the program.

Studies prove, time and again, that college-educated workers earn more than those with only a high school qualification. College graduates often enjoy additional benefits, including greater job opportunities and promotions. Though the proof for greater earning potential exists, some might wonder whether the cost of the education warrants the overall expense in the long run.

College Graduate vs. Non-Graduate Earnings

The National Centre for Education Statistics (NCES) analyses employee earnings data biennially, according to education level. Findings indicate that workers with a qualification earn significantly more than those without. Since the mid-1980s, education has played a large part in potential wages, with bachelor's degree holders taking home an average of 66% more than those with only a high school diploma do. While college-educated workers' wages have increased over the past two decades, those with only a high school education have seen decreases in annual salaries in the same time period (nces.ed.gov).

How else will I benefit from studying with Learning Cloud?

  • Studying online or distance means you can study where you want and at your own pace.
  • Receive career-focused training with practical, hands-on learning.
  • All course materials are provided and all digital platforms are interactive, work on any device and designed to be fun.
  • Recognition of Prior Learning or Skills Recognition may be available for previous work experience, formal training or qualifications in this field.

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