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The Soil Fundamentals module is designed to provide participants with a refreshed understanding of soil functions, ecosystem services, soil classification methods, and soil-threatening processes in an agricultural and environmental context. Participants will learn about the various functions and ecosystem services delivered by soil, such as food production, water storage, habitat support, pollutant filtration, nutrient cycling and more.

The course will cover practical aspects of soil description, identification of soil development factors, field and data-based soil classification, and understanding the causes, impacts, and mitigations of soil-threatening processes. Additionally, participants will gain knowledge of the basic physical, chemical and biological properties of soil and their relevance in an agricultural, agronomic and environmental settings.

The full course consists of:

Topic 1:  Soil Functions and Ecosystem Services

Topic 2:  Soil development factors and soil profile description

Topic 3:  Soil Classification Methods

Topic 4:  Basic Physical,Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil Section 1 - Organic Components

Topic 4:  Basic Physical,Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil Section 2 - Inorganic Components

Topic 4:  Basic Physical,Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil Section 3 - Soil liquid, gases and solids

Topic 4:  Basic Physical,Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil Section 4 - Soil Water

Topic 4:  Basic Physical,Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil Section 5 - Nutrient Cycles and Soil Organisms

Topic 4:  Basic Physical,Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil Section 6 - Soil Structure

Topic 5:  Nutrient Cycles and Soil Organisms

Topic 6a:  Soil Chemical Degradation

Topic 6b:  Soil Physical Degradation

Soil Fundamentals Quiz

Please note:  The four modules must be completed before attendance at the field days.

Who is it for?

• Practitioners - agronomic, environmental, civil industry and commercial
• Policy advisors and regulators

What are the core concepts?

• Identify and explain soil functions delivered by soil
• Identify and explain ecosystem services delivered by soil
• Demonstrate knowledge and practical experience with regards to describing a soil profile, include the ability to find and describe relevant soil development factors
• Demonstrate the ability to classify soil both a. in the field and b. from a data set
• Demonstrate understanding - including causes, key impacts and limitations for a least two processes
• Demonstrate broad experience and understanding with regards to basic physical, chemical and biological soil properties and an ability to explain these properties
• Describe basic soil properties including physical properties, chemical properties and biological properties

What are the prerequisites:

The training assumes that applicants have operational knowledge of soil management through formal or informal (on the job) training. There are no formal prerequisites for this training. It is expected that trainees have a working knowledge of soil fundamentals, have been involved with soil sampling and soil sampling regimes and have some experience with soil analysis reports.

How is it assessed?

• A timed multiple choice quiz with a pass requirement of 70%.

Can I apply for accreditation when completed?

Undertaking the assessment does not guarantee accreditation, as prior experience is a prerequisite e.g. at least three years professional work experience in soil management.