Unit Overview
- Description
This is an advanced unit linking soil chemistry, physics and biology in the soil-water-plant-microbe continuum, emphasising interactions that govern soil health and fertility. It deals with carbon and nutrient cycling in soils with respect to carbon (soil microbes) and nutrient (plant) use efficiency in agricultural products as well as losses to ground- and surface waters and air. Students gain an understanding of soil chemical, physical, and biological processes that underpin carbon and nutrient cycling in managed agricultural ecosystems, including the roles of soil microbiomes and nutrient transport, and the impacts on climate change. They also develop skills to critically analyse experimental data and scientific literature to evaluate sustainable soil and nutrient management in agricultural systems.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
(see Timetable) Availability Location Mode Semester 2 UWA (Perth) On-campus -
The timetable for this teaching period is not currently available. Please see the Important Dates page for the timetable release date and other key date information.
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) describe and evaluate the soil chemical, physical, and biological processes governing the cycling of carbon and nutrients from soils to microorganisms, plants and animals; (2) justify the balance between nitrogen fertilisation to enhance food production and minimisation of reactive nitrogen species from soils; (3) assess the importance of soil microbiome abundance and diversity in organic matter decomposition versus carbon sequestration in soil; (4) evaluate the role of solute transport mechanisms in regulating the availability of plant nutrients; (5) assess the dynamics of soil ecosystems services in the context of climate change; (6) analyse and explain experimental data and scientific literature; and (7) identify relevant soil science information in the context of soil carbon and nutrient cycling in managed ecosystems.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) written reports; (2) in-class test; and (3) seminar presentation. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Associate Professor Louise Barton
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- andor the course coordinator approval
- Contact hours
- 15 x 3 hour workshops during semester. Attendance at workshops is compulsory. The total workload for the unit is 150 hours
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.