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: |
After NSW Government subsidy $270 GST free. |
| 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
