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SLM509Agricultural Sciences2 Unitsintermediate

Waste Management And Soil

This course explores waste generation and its environmental and human impact, linking it to industrial development and population growth. It examines waste sources (residential, municipal, industrial, agricultural) and their varied natures, including global warming potential gases and heavy metal contamination. The course covers waste treatment and disposal techniques, such as waste prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling, landfilling, incineration, and modern technologies like pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion. It also emphasizes composting and integrated waste management methods.

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19.5h

Study Time

13

Weeks

2h

Per Week

basic

Math Level

Course Keywords

Waste ManagementSoilEnvironmental PollutionWaste TreatmentComposting

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level

Builds on foundational knowledge

65%

intermediate

➕

Math Level

Basic Math

🔬

Learning Type

Hands-on Practice

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Waste Sources and Types

2

Environmental Impact of Waste

3

Agricultural Waste Management

4

Municipal Solid Waste

5

Industrial Waste Treatment

6

Soil Organic Matter Decomposition

7

Composting Techniques

8

Waste Incineration and Landfilling

9

Alternative Waste Technologies

10

Integrated Waste Management

Total Topics10 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (2 methods)

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Environmental Consultant

Apply your skills in this growing field

Waste Management Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Sustainability Manager

Apply your skills in this growing field

Environmental Health Inspector

Apply your skills in this growing field

Agricultural Extension Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

Waste ManagementAgricultureEnvironmental ProtectionPublic HealthManufacturing

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week

1

Module 1: Wastes

2h

Unit 1: Wastes

2 study hours

•Define waste and its sources according to professional bodies.
•Identify different items considered as wastes.
•Classify wastes based on their characteristics.
•Understand the various ways waste is generated through human activities.
•Analyze the effects of different waste disposal methods on the environment and human health.

Week

2

Module 1: Wastes

2h

Unit 2: Characteristics of Agricultural wastes

2 study hours

•Identify and describe agriculturally based wastes.
•Understand the different sources of agricultural wastes, including chemical applications, livestock production, and aquaculture.
•Explore ways agricultural wastes can be utilized, such as fertilizer production, biogas generation, heavy metal adsorption, and animal feeds.
•Discuss the environmental hazards associated with improper disposal of agricultural wastes.

Week

3

Module 1: Wastes

2h

Unit 3: Municipal wastes

2 study hours

•Define and identify municipal-based wastes.
•Understand the composition of municipal solid wastes, including residential, commercial, and special wastes.
•Analyze the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of municipal solid waste.
•Explore different ways of managing municipal wastes, such as physical, chemical, and biological transformations.

Week

4

Module 1: Wastes

2h

Unit 4: Industrial waste

2 study hours

•Define and identify industrial-based wastes.
•Know the sources and types of industrial wastes, including solid and liquid wastes from various industries.
•Understand the impact of industrial wastes on human health and the environment, including air and water pollution.
•Discuss the consequences of improper management of industrial wastes.

Week

5

Module 1: Wastes

2h

Unit 5: Hazardous waste

2 study hours

•Define hazardous waste based on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) legislation.
•Know the characteristics of hazardous wastes, including ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity.
•Identify the sources of hazardous wastes from various industries and households.
•Classify hazardous waste into different classes based on EPA, industrial, and quantity generated.
•List the different types of household hazardous waste (HHW) and their proper disposal methods.

Week

6

Module 2: organic matter

2h

Unit 1: organic matter

2 study hours

•Define organic matter and differentiate it from organic material.
•Understand how organic matter is decomposed in the soil through biological processes.
•Identify the components of organic matter, including living organisms, plant residues, and humic substances.
•Know the factors that influence organic matter decomposition, such as climate, vegetation, soil structure, salinity, acidity, and topography.

Week

7

Module 2: organic matter

2h

Unit 2: Soil Biota

2 study hours

•Know the various types of soil organisms and their functions in the ecosystem.
•Classify soil organisms based on their sizes: microorganisms, microfauna, mesofauna, and macrofauna.
•Identify the organisms that are beneficial and harmful to agriculture.
•Understand the role of soil biota in decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil structure.

Week

8

Module 2: organic matter

2h

Unit 3: Role of organic matter in soil fertility

2 study hours

•Explain how organic matter influences nutrient management in soil.
•Describe how organic matter stabilizes soil particles and improves soil structure.
•Discuss the impact of organic matter on water infiltration and water-holding capacity in soil.
•Understand the role of organic matter in promoting biological activities in the soil.

Week

9

Module 2: organic matter

2h

Unit 4: Effect of organic matter on soil properties

2 study hours

•Learn the influence of organic matter on soil biological properties, such as microbial biomass and mycorrhizal fungi.
•Learn the influence of organic matter on soil chemical properties, including cation exchange capacity and pH buffering.
•Learn the influence of organic matter on soil physical properties, such as soil structure and water-holding capacity.
•Discuss how organic matter contributes to overall soil health and fertility.

Week

10

Module 2: organic matter

2h

Unit 5: Composting

2 study hours

•Define and understand what composting is and its importance in waste management.
•Conceptualize the processes involved during composting, including heating, cooling, and maturation phases.
•Understand the art of composting, including material selection, microorganism activity, air circulation, and moisture control.
•Explore different methods of composting, such as the Indore method.
•Know the benefits of composting for soil health and waste reduction.

Week

11

Module 3: General Impact of Waste on Environment

2h

Unit 1: General Impact of Waste on Environment

2 study hours

•Gain a general insight into the effect of wastes on human health and the environment.
•Learn the impact of industrial effluent on human health and the environment, including water and soil contamination.
•Also, learn the impact of agricultural waste on human health and the environment, including air and water pollution.
•Discuss the long-term consequences of waste mismanagement.

Week

12

Module 3: General Impact of Waste on Environment

4h

Unit 2: Waste Treatment and Disposal

2 study hours

•Learn how to minimize waste production through waste reduction strategies.
•Know the processes of waste reuse, including product changes and process changes.
•Learn how to recycle waste through collection, separation, and processing of recyclable materials.
•Understand the benefits of waste reduction and recycling for environmental sustainability.

Unit 3: Waste incineration

2 study hours

•Understand the advantages and disadvantages of landfilling as a waste management technology.
•Differentiate between different types of landfills, including hazardous waste landfills, non-hazardous waste landfills, and inert waste landfills.
•Discuss the environmental concerns associated with landfilling, such as leachate production and greenhouse gas emissions.

Week

13

Module 3: General Impact of Waste on Environment

4h

Unit 4: Waste Land filling

2 study hours

•Learn about incineration of waste as an alternative to landfilling.
•Compare incineration with landfill in terms of environmental impact and cost-effectiveness.
•Learn the advantages and disadvantages of incineration over landfills, including energy recovery and air pollution concerns.

Unit 5: Other Technologies

2 study hours

•Learn different methods of waste management strategies that are safer than conventional ways, such as pyrolysis, gasification, anaerobic digestion, and integrated waste management.
•Learn how to use all the technologies available as an integral unit for waste management strategies.
•Understand the benefits of alternative waste treatment technologies for environmental sustainability.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create detailed summaries of each unit, focusing on key definitions, processes, and impacts.

2

Develop diagrams illustrating waste treatment technologies (pyrolysis, gasification, anaerobic digestion) and their differences.

3

Practice solving numerical problems related to moisture content and waste composition from Unit 3 of Module 1.

4

Prepare case studies on successful waste management initiatives in different regions, highlighting key strategies and outcomes.

5

Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and focus on areas where you had difficulty.

6

Allocate specific study time for each module, prioritizing areas with higher weightage in the final examination.

7

Form study groups to discuss complex concepts and share insights on practical applications of waste management principles.

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