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SLM510Agricultural Sciences2 Unitsintermediate

Soil Survey And Land Evaluation

This course provides an understanding of soil survey and land evaluation, offering solutions to soil classification problems in the field. It explores the values, purpose, and types of soil surveys, including the assemblage of maps, photos, and imageries. The course covers soil morphological investigations, laboratory determinations, soil correlations, report writing, and interpretative reports. It also delves into the nature and principles of land evaluation, land suitability classification, and evaluation procedures.

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150h
Study Time
13
Weeks
12h
Per Week
basic
Math Level
Course Keywords
Soil SurveyLand EvaluationSoil ClassificationSoil MappingLand Use Planning

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

Soil Survey

2

Land Evaluation

3

Soil Mapping

4

Soil Morphology

5

Remote Sensing

6

Soil Classification

7

Land Use Planning

Total Topics7 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 (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

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

Soil Scientist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Land Surveyor

Apply your skills in this growing field

Environmental Consultant

Apply your skills in this growing field

Agricultural Planner

Apply your skills in this growing field

Conservation Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

AgricultureEnvironmental ManagementLand DevelopmentUrban PlanningNatural Resource Conservation

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Definition, Description, Purpose and kinds of Soil Survey

2h

Unit 1: Definition and Description of Soil Survey

2 study hours
  • •Define soil survey and its importance.
  • •Identify sources of information used in soil surveys.
  • •Describe the characteristics of soils in a given area.
Week
2

Module 1: Definition, Description, Purpose and kinds of Soil Survey

2h

Unit 2: Purpose of Soil Survey

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the principles of soil survey.
  • •Explain the fundamental and applied purposes of soil survey.
  • •Differentiate between special-purpose and general-purpose soil surveys.
Week
3

Module 1: Definition, Description, Purpose and kinds of Soil Survey

2h

Unit 3: Methods of Soil Survey

2 study hours
  • •Discuss pre-field, field, and post-field operations in soil survey.
  • •Explain free and grid surveys.
  • •Identify field observations during soil survey activities.
Week
4

Module 1: Definition, Description, Purpose and kinds of Soil Survey

2h

Unit 4: Kinds of Soil Survey

2 study hours
  • •Differentiate various classes of soil survey based on purpose, regularity of observation, and scale of mapping.
  • •Identify kinds of soil survey based on scale of published map.
  • •Explain the procedures involved in detailed soil survey.
Week
5

Module 1: Definition, Description, Purpose and kinds of Soil Survey

2h

Unit 5: Users of Soil Survey

2 study hours
  • •Identify the users of soil survey information.
  • •Discuss the different uses of soil survey information for farmers, researchers, and engineers.
  • •Explain how soil survey information benefits development organizations.
Week
6

Module 2: Soil Maps, Mapping Processes and Mapping Units

2h

Unit 1: Soil Maps

2 study hours
  • •Define soil mapping and its importance.
  • •Explain the process of delineating natural bodies of soils.
  • •Discuss the development of concepts and models for landform formation.
Week
7

Module 2: Soil Maps, Mapping Processes and Mapping Units

2h

Unit 2: Types of Soil Maps

2 study hours
  • •Identify different kinds of soil maps based on density, precision, scale, and objectives.
  • •Explain maps of agronomic applications.
  • •Differentiate between pedological maps and regional planning maps.
Week
8

Module 2: Soil Maps, Mapping Processes and Mapping Units

2h

Unit 3: Mapping Units

2 study hours
  • •Define a mapping unit and its components.
  • •Explain consociation, association, complexes, and undifferentiated mapping units.
  • •Discuss aggregated data in soil map units.
Week
9

Module 2: Soil Maps, Mapping Processes and Mapping Units

2h

Unit 4: Remote Sensing

2 study hours
  • •Discuss remote sensing and its methods for soil survey and mapping.
  • •Explain optical, thermal infrared, microwave, and hyperspectral remote sensing.
  • •Identify key components of remote sensing.
Week
10

Module 2: Soil Maps, Mapping Processes and Mapping Units

2h

Unit 5: Photographs in Soil Survey

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the importance of photos in soil survey and mapping.
  • •Explain aerial photography and its uses.
  • •Identify equipment for obtaining good photos and imageries.
Week
11

Module 3: Soil Morphological Investigations

4h

Unit 1: Soil Morphology

2 study hours
  • •Discuss morphological and micro-morphological properties of soil.
  • •Identify soil properties in the field.
  • •Explain the importance of field descriptions and sampling.

Unit 2: Horizons and Boundaries of Soil

2 study hours
  • •Identify surface diagnostic (master) horizons.
  • •Explain subordinate distinctions within master horizons.
  • •Identify transitional and subsurface horizons.
Week
12

Module 3: Soil Morphological Investigations

4h

Unit 3: Soil Colour

2 study hours
  • •Examine how color is impacted on the soil during soil forming processes.
  • •Discuss how to use soil color to determine soil horizon boundaries.
  • •Explain how to use the Munsell color chart to determine soil colors.

Unit 4: Soil Texture

2 study hours
  • •Discuss soil texture and its importance to soil fertility and productivity.
  • •Explain the significance of soil texture and its relationship with soil fertility.
  • •Use the textural triangle to determine soil texture.
Week
13

Module 3: Soil Morphological Investigations

4h

Unit 5: Soil Structure

2 study hours
  • •Classify soil structure into grade, form, and sizes.
  • •Discuss how structure is formed in the soil and its influence on biological activities.
  • •Explain the impact of soil structure on root growth, water, and air movement.

Unit 6: Soil Consistence, Root Abundance, pH and Effervescence and Special Features

2 study hours
  • •Discuss soil consistence, root abundance, pH, effervescence, and special features in soil morphology study.
  • •Explain the importance of these properties in soil assessment.

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

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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 and concepts.

2

Practice identifying soil horizons and their characteristics using real-world examples or virtual simulations.

3

Develop flowcharts to illustrate the steps involved in soil survey and land evaluation procedures.

4

Review laboratory analysis techniques and their applications in soil assessment.

5

Work through case studies to apply land suitability classification principles to different scenarios.

6

Focus on understanding the relationships between soil properties, land use, and environmental factors.

7

Use the Munsell color chart to practice identifying and describing soil colors accurately.

8

Practice solving problems related to soil erosion and conservation measures.

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