If the study of soil is new to you, this module is an opportunity to learn for the first time the way we characterize and describe soils. For those of you who may have studied soil science before, it is an opportunity to revise your understanding of what soil is and how it is important in determining forest productivity. The module covers basic aspects of soil description, soil structure and the development of soil profiles. Students are then encouraged to work through the supplementary readings to revise further aspects of soil chemical and biological properties, especially as they relate to the cycling and availability of nutrients in soil for plant growth. Soil biology, the living organisms in the soil, are crucial in the decomposition and mineralization of soil organic matter, and the activity of these organisms positively influences a range of soil properties to improve the productivity of plants growing in soil.
Video Lecture
Lecture Video & Powerpoint
Topic 2.1 Soil and Its Properties
[2.1 Lecture ppt to be embedded here.]
Supplementary Readings
Textbooks
Attiwill, P. & Weston, C. (2006). Soils. In P. Attiwill, & B. Wilson (Eds.), Ecology: An Australian Perspective (pp 141-160). Cambridge University Press.
Perry DA, Oren R, Hart SC (2008) 'Forest Ecosystems. 2nd Edition, The John Hopkins University Press: Baltimore, Maryland, Chapter 14
Topic Quiz
Topic Quiz 2.1
The topic quiz is designed to check your understanding of important learning concepts for this topic. The quiz contains 10 multiple choice questions. When you are ready, start the quiz at Topic Quiz 2.1.
Online Discussion
Online Discussion 2
For this week's online discussion activity,
Instructor will post a discussion question based on this week’s learning on Monday.
You are expected to response to the posted discussion question with a paragraph not exceeding 150 words in corresponding discussion forum on course Canvas site not later than Friday of the week.
You are also required to critically comment on at least 2 peer’s responses not exceeding 100 words (each comment) by day 7 of each week.
Please see Course Schedule for details on due dates and check out the specific requirements and grading criteria on the Online Discussions page.
Assignments
No other assignments for the week.
Topic Self-review
Reflection Questions 2.1
Please use the self-reflection questions below as a study guide to conduct self-review for the topic.
Imagine that you are a consultant evaluating the suitability of a degraded forest estate for conversion to a plantation enterprise. You have been asked specifically to identify the 5 most important aspects of the soil on the site that will influence the productivity of the plantation that is yet to be established. Assuming the rainfall at the site is evenly distributed throughout the year, and is usually 50mm or more each month, what five soil factors will you recommend be collected in a site survey as part of an overall evaluation of the sites’ suitability for a plantation enterprise? Explain the reasons for your choice of these five factors.
The project manager is very pleased with your report in answer to question 1. Congratulations! Consequently you have been invited to prepare a data collection sheet for the soil survey team. Draw up the survey sheet and include detail on exactly what soil information will be collected for each of the 5 soil parameters on your list. Remember that soil survey is expensive and be realistic in the sort of information that you recommend be collected.