Soil Ecology

1. Explain the processes involved in soil formation and weathering.
2. Classify soils based on their physical and chemical properties.
3. Describe the roles of soil organisms in nutrient cycling.
4. Analyze soil and plant tissue to determine nutrient availability.
5. Evaluate the impact of soil management practices on soil health.

13 weeks, about 46 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1:

   • Unit 1: Soil Formation · 2 hours

     Read Unit 1: Soil Formation, focusing on factors influencing soil development.. Identify and describe the five major factors controlling soil formation: parent materials, climate, biota, topography, and time.. Explain how each factor contributes to the unique characteristics of different soil types..

   • Unit 2: Soil Taxonomy · 2 hours

     Study Unit 2: Soil Taxonomy, emphasizing the bases of soil classification.. Understand the observable properties used in soil taxonomy, including moisture, temperature, color, texture, and structure.. Differentiate between surface and subsurface horizons and their diagnostic features..

2. Week 2Module 1:

   • Unit 3: Categories and Nomenclature of Soil Taxonomy I · 2 hours

     Review Unit 3: Categories and Nomenclature of Soil Taxonomy I, focusing on soil orders.. Describe the characteristics, distribution, and use of Alfisols, Andisols, Aridisols, Entisols, and Gelisols.. Understand the nomenclature system used in soil taxonomy and how it conveys information about soil nature and genesis..

   • Unit 4: Categories and Nomenclature of Soil Taxonomy II · 2 hours

     Study Unit 4: Categories and Nomenclature of Soil Taxonomy II, focusing on Inceptisols, Histosols, Vertisols, Mollisols, Ultisols, Spodosols, and Oxisols.. Compare and contrast the characteristics, distribution, and use of each soil order.. Understand how soil properties reflect major courses of development..

3. Week 3Module 1:

   • Unit 5: Categories and Nomenclature of Soil Taxonomy III · 3 hours

     Study Unit 5: Categories and Nomenclature of Soil Taxonomy III, focusing on suborders, great groups, subgroups, families, and series.. Explain how soils are grouped into lower-level categories based on environmental controls and soil-forming processes.. Understand the criteria used to identify broad particle size classes, mineralogy, and temperature classes..

4. Week 4Module 2:

   • Unit 1: Chemical Components of Soil · 2 hours

     Read Unit 1: Chemical Components of Soil, focusing on the characteristics of rocks and minerals.. Explain how igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks contribute to soil formation.. Understand the processes of physical and biogeochemical weathering and their effects on soil chemical components..

   • Unit 2: Soil Analysis · 2 hours

     Study Unit 2: Soil Analysis, emphasizing soil sampling techniques.. Understand the importance of composite samples and the factors to consider when sampling soil.. Explain the process of chemical analysis of soil and the interpretation of soil analysis results..

5. Week 5Module 2:

   • Unit 3: Plant Tissue Analysis · 2 hours

     Study Unit 3: Plant Tissue Analysis, focusing on nutrient concentration.. Understand the concept of sufficiency range and its relationship to plant growth.. Explain the precautions to take during tissue sampling and the interpretation of tissue concentration data..

   • Unit 4: Importance of Soil and Plant Tissue Analysis Content · 2 hours

     Read Unit 4: Importance of Soil and Plant Tissue Analysis Content, focusing on applications of plant analysis.. Explain how plant analysis is used for problem-solving and monitoring.. Understand the applications of soil analysis in determining soil acidity, nutrient availability, and fertility status..

6. Week 6Module 2:

   • Unit 5: Plant, Soil and Water Relationship · 3 hours

     Study Unit 5: Plant, Soil and Water Relationship, focusing on soil water content potential.. Explain the relationship between water potential and the amount of water held in the soil.. Understand the effects of soil compaction on matrix potential, aeration, and root growth..

7. Week 7Module 3:

   • Unit 1: Physical Properties of the Soil · 2 hours

     Read Unit 1: Physical Properties of the Soil, focusing on soil color.. Explain how soil color provides clues about soil properties and conditions.. Understand the Munsell color charts and the three components of color: hue, chroma, and gray..

   • Unit 2: Chemical Properties of Soil · 2 hours

     Study Unit 2: Chemical Properties of Soil, emphasizing the chemical nature of soils.. Understand the chemical elements that make up the soil and their importance.. Explain the mineral matrix of inorganic and organic soils and the role of weathering in forming soil minerals..

8. Week 8Module 3:

   • Unit 3: Detritus Organisms-Microflora and Microfauna · 3 hours

     Study Unit 3: Detritus Organisms-Microflora and Microfauna, focusing on the diversity of soil organisms.. Understand the roles of macrofauna, mesofauna, and microfauna in the soil ecosystem.. Explain the factors affecting the growth of soil organisms, including organic matter, oxygen, moisture, temperature, calcium, and pH..

9. Week 9Module 3:

   • Unit 4: Nutrient Resources and Limitations · 2 hours

     Read Unit 4: Nutrient Resources and Limitations, focusing on sources of nutrients.. Explain how the atmosphere, soil or sediments, and decomposition of organic substances contribute to soil nutrient availability.. Understand the factors that limit nutrient availability, including temperature, moisture, soil structure, pH, and biological activity..

   • Unit 5: Cycling of Minerals and Nutrient Pool · 2 hours

     Study Unit 5: Cycling of Minerals and Nutrient Pool, focusing on the characteristics of biogeochemical cycles.. Understand the roles of plants, animals, and microbes in nutrient cycling.. Explain the phosphorus, sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen cycles and the flow of nutrients in each cycle..

10. Week 10Module 1:

    • Module 1 Review · 3 hours

      Review Module 1: Soil Formation, Taxonomy, and Nomenclature.. Focus on understanding the factors influencing soil development and the classification of different soil types.. Practice identifying soil orders and their characteristics..

11. Week 11Module 2:

    • Module 2 Review · 3 hours

      Review Module 2: Chemical Components, Analysis, and Plant-Soil-Water Relationships.. Focus on understanding the chemical properties of soil and their impact on plant growth.. Practice interpreting soil and plant tissue analysis results..

12. Week 12Module 3:

    • Module 3 Review · 3 hours

      Review Module 3: Physical Properties, Detritus Organisms, and Nutrient Cycling.. Focus on understanding the physical properties of soil and their influence on soil behavior.. Practice identifying the roles of detritus organisms and the cycling of minerals and nutrients..

13. Week 13Course Revision

    • Final Revision · 4 hours

      Complete all outstanding assignments and review tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).. Consolidate understanding of key concepts and prepare for the final examination.. Focus on areas of weakness identified during the course..