Healthy soils and healthy landscape
Course details
| Name: |
Healthy soils and healthy landscape |
| Description: |
A course designed for farmers and land managers to improve soil health and soil nutrient management. |
| Cost: |
$340 GST free.
This course is registered under the Commonwealth Government's FarmReady program. Eligible primary producers can be reimbursed for the cost of this course. See the FarmReady website for more details. |
| Course aims: |
To improve understanding of soil physical, chemical and biological properties, including the ability to interpret soil test results and develop nutrient budgets and soil based management plans. |
| Learning outcomes: |
- Develop skills and knowledge in managing soil health and soil nutrients
- Interpret soil tests
- Develop nutrient and amelioration plans
- Describe soil physical, chemical and biological properties
- Identify restraints to production and determine management options
|
| Length: |
4 days |
| Course program/structure: |
Workshop 1/ Day 1
- Understand the influence of landscape on soils - geology of soils
- Understand indicators of land capability and limitations on activity
- Understand representative sampling techniques & selection of core sites
- Understand how to use corer, aggregate samples and label sample bags
- Understand how to use GPS reader to record location of paddock
- Recognise land capability & landscape impacts: aspect, topography, geology & soils, vegetation & human influences
- Landholders able to recognise best places in paddock to take soil samples & use corer for sampling
Workshop 2/ Day 2
- Recognise soil horizons & understand characteristics of common soil types
- Understand soil particle size & it’s relation to texture
- Understand common texture assessment method & practice
- Understand the effect of texture on water holding ability
- Understand effect of poor soil structure on water holding capacity, infiltration & drainage & root growth
- Understand how to undertake simple soil structure test & recognise well structured soils & dispersive soils
Workshop 3/ Day 3
- Understand the significance of the law of the minimum
- Understand common soil test parameters
- Understand the effects of soil chemistry on nutrient availability
- Improved understanding of biological activity in the soil
Workshop 4/ Day 4
- Understand the water cycle
- Recognise & understand the causes of soil acidity, salinity & nutrient leaching
- Understand the role of lime as an ameliorant used to rectify top-soil acidity
- Understand the effect on soil structure of tillage practices & the advantages of minimum tillage & direct drilling
- Understand the role of gypsum & organic matter in relation to maintaining & improving soil structure
- Understand the benchmarks for major nutrients such as phosphorous & sulphur for plant growth
- Understand how to develop nutrient programs to match product removal
- Understand the effect of timing on nutrient application & minimising the risk of leaching or nutrient transfer through run-off
- Develop and implement amelioration and fertility programs to maximise sustainability
|
| Resources and method of delivery: |
Participants receive course notes and manual.
This course is delivered using indoor and out door instruction. |
| Accreditation: |
This course has been mapped to the national unit of competency RTF3503A Sample soils and analyse results. |
Register
Tocal College, CB Alexander Campus
Phone: 1800 025 520
Email: profarm@tocal.com
