Soil Management - Crops

This course covers the physical and chemical properties of soils and how to test them, along with sustainable soil management practices. You will learn about managing earthworks, land degradation and other soil problems, building toward practical soil management specifically for crop production. Suitable for anyone growing crops who wants a solid understanding of soil science.

Learn about soil maintenance and management for crops. We offer exceptional tutor support. Our horticulture faculty includes a dozen university trained professionals with decades of industry experience. You have unlimited access to tutors over the phone or email during the course. Course Duration: 100 hours of self paced study. Start at any time and work at your own pace. COURSE STRUCTURE There are 7 lessons as follows: Physical & Chemical Properties Of Soils Soil Testing Methods Sustainable Soil Management Soils & Managing Earthworks Land Degradation & Other Soil Problems Soil Science & Health Soil Management AIMS Develop a broad understanding of the physical and chemical properties of soils. Develop skills in sampling and field testing soils for basic physical and chemical properties. Understand the principles, methods and techniques of sustainable soils management. Understand the principles and practices of earthworks. Understand causes and remediation methods of land degradation and soil problems. Develop a broad knowledge in the use of growing containers for agriculture. Develop strong understanding of soil science and its impact on plant growth. Develop practical knowledge about managing soil for particular cropping uses. WHAT YOU WILL DO Define terms related to the production and management of agricultural soil, such as manure, micorrhyzae, ameliorant, pore space, micro-nutrient, denitrification, ammonium fixation, chemo autrophic organisms, colloids, buffering capacity, leaching, compaction. Create a compost heap. Discuss ways that human activity can destroy soil structure. Explain how pH affects nutrient availability. Explain the function of different nutrients in soils/growing media, such at nitrogen and phosphorus. Analyse a soil test report in order to evaluate the soil for horticultural or agricultural use. Describe appropriate soil testing methods for different situations. Compare the use of organic and inorganic fertilisers in different situations. Develop a detailed nutritional management plan for a particular crop, following organic principles. Identify suitable earth moving equipment for different tasks, and the conditions of use. Explain various methods for assessing drainage at a site. Evaluate the use of earthworks to refurbish or improve a specific site. Research Environmental Protection Agency (or equivalent) recommendations for cleaning up chemical spills and for disposing of old household chemicals and their containers. Discuss advantages and problems of importing soil from elsewhere for crop production. Explain appropriate methods of stabilising an unstable or erosion-prone slope. Remove a soil profile, describe the different soil layers, and compare the effects of different soil treatments on the soil profile. Report on prevention and control methods for soil degradation, and development of sustainable soil management practices in a case study. Soil Quality Can Change without You even Realizing To the untrained eye, soils can undergo big changes, without looking much different at all. If you don't understand the soil fully; you can find that crop production quantity or quality, can change over the course of a year or two, before it is even noticed. Consider Chemical Changes Chemicals can end up in crop areas, often without us realising it. These can get there in several ways including: Spillages e.g. petrol spilled when using machinery or pesticides spilt during mixing. Leaching e.g. pesticides sprayed elsewhere may be washed off roads, driveways, footpaths, through water, etc. into other areas. Leaks e.g. machinery such as cars and ride on mowers, etc. may leak oil. Discards e.g. used water thrown out onto a crop growing are Overspray e.g. weed killer sprays carrying further than you want. Overcoming Chemical Damage The first step to overcoming chemical damage is to prevent it occurring in the first place. Leaky machines can be fixed. Spills can be prevented by taking more care, or by filling machines and preparing chemicals, such as weed killer, in an area where a spill won't be a problem. For example, on a driveway where any spilt petrol would evaporate before being washed into a growing area. Overspray damage can be avoided or minimised by being careful about not spraying on windy days and by making sure you use well maintained and suitable spray equipment. Damage from discarded chemicals can simply be avoided by being careful about what you throw out, and where you throw it. Once damage occurs, however, there are a number of ways to overcome or control the amount of damage that might occur. These include: Carefully following any instructions relating to spills, etc. that may be supplied with the container in which the chemical was supplied. Seek further advice from the product manufacturer or from a local Environment Protection Authority (or its equivalent in your country). Leaching or flushing the contaminated area thoroughly with water. If the chemical is present in small quantities then this may reduce the concentration of the chemical to a level which will cause little or no damage. In some cases, however, particularly when heavy concentrations of the chemical are present, flushing the area with water will simply spread the problem. Replacing damaged soil - areas can be carefully dug up and removed. Fresh topsoil is then used to fill in the excavated area and the area replanted, seeded or re-turfed. The soil removed from the damaged area should be disposed of carefully so that any chemicals won't create further damage. Contact your local council health officer or your state Environmental Protection Agency or your country's equivalent to find out where contaminated soil may be safely disposed. Soaking up spilt chemicals with absorbent materials e.g. sawdust, sand. Growing tolerant plants. Growing a plant can help extract and break down some types of chemicals. When you understand soils and nutrition better, you will have improved your capacity to grow crops better. You ability to be a profitable and sustainable farmer of horticultural crops will be improved. HOW THE COURSE WORKS You can start the course at any time. It is studied by distance learning, so you can study in the comfort of your own home. But this doesn't mean you are all alone in your studies. Our highly qualified and friendly tutors are there to help you every step of the way. If you have any questions at all, they are always happy to help. THE ADVANTAGES OF STUDYING WITH ACS You can start the course at any time and study at your own pace. Fit your studies around your own busy lifestyle - we provide full tutor support for all the time you are studying. Study where you want to - online studies offer the flexibility for you to determine where and when you study. WHAT NEXT? Enrol Go to “It’s Easy to Enrol” box at the top of the page and enrol now. Get Advice Email us at info@acsedu.co.uk or use our FREE COUNSELLING SERVICE to contact a tutor.