Soil Survey And Land Evaluation
- Agricultural Sciences
- 500 level
- 2 credit units
- 194 pages
- 31 units
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.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 150 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical, practical, case study
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of SLM510, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
- UNIT 1 SOIL SAMPLING AND ANALYSISPage 109
- MODULE 4Page 111
- UNIT 2 SOIL CORRELATIONSPage 117
- MODULE 4Page 119
- UNIT 3: SOIL SURVEY REPORT WRITINGSPage 125
- MODULE 4Page 127
- UNIT 4 SOIL INTERPRETATIONSPage 131
- UNIT 1 THE NATURE AND PRINCIPLES OF LAND EVALUATIONPage 143
- UNIT 2: THE CONCEPT OF LAND EVALUATIONPage 150
- UNIT 3: LAND SUITABILITY CLASSIFICATIONPage 160
- UNIT 4 LAND EVALUATION PROCEDURESPage 169
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
SLM510 · UNIT 2 THE PRINCIPLES AND PURPOSE OF SOIL SURVEY
Soil surveys increase general knowledge about soils and serve practical purposes. They provide soil information about specific geographic areas needed for regional or local land use plans. These plans include resource conservation for farms and ranches, development of reclamation projects, forest management, engineering projects, as well as other purposes.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the purpose and types of soil surveys.
- Carry out soil morphological investigations.
- Interpret laboratory determinations and soil correlations.
- Write soil survey reports and interpretative reports.
- Carry out land evaluations and suitability classifications.
What it prepares you for
- Soil Scientist
- Land Surveyor
- Environmental Consultant
- Agricultural Planner
- Conservation Officer
- Agriculture
- Environmental Management
- Land Development
- Urban Planning
- Natural Resource Conservation
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Soil Morphological Investigations
Unit 3: Soil Colour
Understanding the complex relationships between soil color, drainage, and redox processes requires a strong foundation in soil chemistry and environmental science.
- Module 4: Soil Sampling and Analysis, Soil Correlations, Soil Survey Report Writing, Interpretations and Land Evaluation
Unit 1: Soil Sampling and Analysis
Accurately interpreting the results of various laboratory analyses requires a deep understanding of soil chemistry and physics.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 32 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Definition, Description, Purpose and kinds of Soil Survey
Unit 1: Definition and Description of Soil Survey · 2 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 2Module 1: Definition, Description, Purpose and kinds of Soil Survey
Unit 2: Purpose of Soil Survey · 2 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 3Module 1: Definition, Description, Purpose and kinds of Soil Survey
Unit 3: Methods of Soil Survey · 2 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 4Module 1: Definition, Description, Purpose and kinds of Soil Survey
Unit 4: Kinds of Soil Survey · 2 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 5Module 1: Definition, Description, Purpose and kinds of Soil Survey
Unit 5: Users of Soil Survey · 2 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 6Module 2: Soil Maps, Mapping Processes and Mapping Units
Unit 1: Soil Maps · 2 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 7Module 2: Soil Maps, Mapping Processes and Mapping Units
Unit 2: Types of Soil Maps · 2 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 8Module 2: Soil Maps, Mapping Processes and Mapping Units
Unit 3: Mapping Units · 2 hours
Define a mapping unit and its components.. Explain consociation, association, complexes, and undifferentiated mapping units.. Discuss aggregated data in soil map units..
- Week 9Module 2: Soil Maps, Mapping Processes and Mapping Units
Unit 4: Remote Sensing · 2 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 10Module 2: Soil Maps, Mapping Processes and Mapping Units
Unit 5: Photographs in Soil Survey · 2 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 11Module 3: Soil Morphological Investigations
Unit 1: Soil Morphology · 2 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 hours
Identify surface diagnostic (master) horizons.. Explain subordinate distinctions within master horizons.. Identify transitional and subsurface horizons..
- Week 12Module 3: Soil Morphological Investigations
Unit 3: Soil Colour · 2 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 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 13Module 3: Soil Morphological Investigations
Unit 5: Soil Structure · 2 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 hours
Discuss soil consistence, root abundance, pH, effervescence, and special features in soil morphology study.. Explain the importance of these properties in soil assessment..
Preparing for the exam
- Create detailed summaries of each unit, focusing on key definitions and concepts.
- Practice identifying soil horizons and their characteristics using real-world examples or virtual simulations.
- Develop flowcharts to illustrate the steps involved in soil survey and land evaluation procedures.
- Review laboratory analysis techniques and their applications in soil assessment.
- Work through case studies to apply land suitability classification principles to different scenarios.
- Focus on understanding the relationships between soil properties, land use, and environmental factors.
- Use the Munsell color chart to practice identifying and describing soil colors accurately.
- Practice solving problems related to soil erosion and conservation measures.
Questions students ask about this course
What is SLM510 about?
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.
How many units does SLM510 have?
SLM510, Soil Survey And Land Evaluation, has 31 units across 4 modules, over 194 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is SLM510?
SLM510 carries 2 credit units, at 500 level in Agricultural Sciences.
Is SLM510 hard?
SLM510 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.
How long does SLM510 take to study?
About 150 hours of study, spread across its 31 units.
How is SLM510 assessed?
SLM510 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with SLM510?
Soil Scientist, Land Surveyor, Environmental Consultant, Agricultural Planner and Conservation Officer.