ERTH334-18A (HAM)

Soil and Land Management

10 Points

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Division of Health Engineering Computing & Science
School of Science

Staff

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Convenor(s)

Louis Schipper

Louis Schipper
4468
FG.3.03
To be advised
louis.schipper@waikato.ac.nz

Lecturer(s)

Administrator(s)

Placement Coordinator(s)

Tutor(s)

: tanya.o'neill@waikato.ac.nz

Student Representative(s)

Lab Technician(s)

Librarian(s)

You can contact staff by:

  • Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
  • Extensions starting with 4, 5 or 9 can also be direct dialled:
    • For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 9: dial +64 7 837 extension.
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Paper Description

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Soils and land management are fundamental to production of food, fiber and the protection of our environmental resources into the future. This 10 pt paper explores aspects of soil productivity while considering the potential impacts of land use on the environment. There is a focus on New Zealand examples but these are placed within a global context. Students will be expected to develop further skills in laboratory analysis and interpretation of soil properties relating to land and environmental management, broaden their field experience and writing reports.

Major topic areas include:Soil fertility and productivity; Soil degradation and erosion; Soil quality indicators and use; Soil biology and cycling of greenhouse gases; Nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in soil; Effluent treatment and soil/water management; Irrigation and drainage of soil

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Paper Structure

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The paper is composed of lectures, laboratories, a field trip, tutorials and an exam.

There are about 17 lectures and 2 tutorials (see programme for dates when schedule lecture slots are not used)

There are three laboratory practicals and one field trip (please see programme for dates):

  • Practical: Thursday 10:00 am E.1.06 (First two labs), R.1.22 for Overseer lab (Thursday 17th of May starting at 9 am)
  • Field trip: 3 hour field trip to dairy farm currently planned for the 10th of May between 10 am and 1 pm.
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Learning Outcomes

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Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:

  • Describe factors and land management practices that result in the degradation of soil and approaches that are used to avoid or remediate this degradation
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Describe the management of soil nutrients (with an emphasis on nitrogen and phosphorus cycling) and soil pH, including beneficial and adverse effects on the land.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Explain the suitability of different irrigation and drainage management practices for a wide variety of New Zealand soils, including management of effluent.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Explain the sources and sinks of greenhouse gases (nitrous oxide, methane and carbon dioxide) from soil.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Become familiar with Overseer™ to predict nitrogen cycling at a farm scale and apply the Visual soil assessment tool to determine soil health in the field.
    Linked to the following assessments:
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Assessment

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See assessment block below for details but overall there are:

  • three lab reports worth 10% each and one short lab report worth 5%.
  • a test shortly after the mid semester break worth 25%.
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Assessment Components

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The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 60:40. There is no final exam. The final exam makes up 40% of the overall mark.

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 60:40 or 0:0, whichever is more favourable for the student. The final exam makes up either 40% or 0% of the overall mark.

Component DescriptionDue Date TimePercentage of overall markSubmission MethodCompulsory
1. Aggregate stability lab report
13 Apr 2018
4:30 PM
10
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
  • Hand-in: Faculty Information (FG Link)
2. Ecotoxicology lab report
13 Apr 2018
4:30 PM
10
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
  • Hand-in: Faculty Information (FG Link)
3. Overseer lab
17 May 2018
1:00 PM
5
  • Hand-in: In Lab
4. Visual soil assessment field report
28 May 2018
4:30 PM
10
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
  • Hand-in: Faculty Information (FG Link)
5. Test
1 May 2018
2:00 PM
25
6. Exam
40
✔
Assessment Total:     100    
Failing to complete a compulsory assessment component of a paper will result in an IC grade
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Required and Recommended Readings

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Required Readings

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Power point slides given in the course will be available provided on moodle a week before the lecture. There is also a set of one page outlines for each lecture with self-testing questions. These notes are not intended to be a complete collection of reference material for the course. You are expected to research the topics yourself, using the library resources. The following text is available in the library and on course reserve. This is the same text that is recommended for 2nd year soils course ERTH234.

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Recommended Readings

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Highly Recommended

  • McLaren and Cameron 1996 Soil Science. 2nd edition. Oxford Press
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Online Support

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The paper is supported by learning resources accessed via Moodle.

Online support will be provided via Moodle, which is accessible to all students who are enrolled in the paper.

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Workload

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There are 20 lectures, up to two tutorials, a two-hour exam and four three-hour practical sessions. One of the practicals is a short field trip during the lab slot. A 300-level 10 point paper in any of the science subjects offered by the University of Waikato typically involves less than 40 hours of supervised study and it is assumed that up to 60 hours will be spent in private study by an ‘average’ student.

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Linkages to Other Papers

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This paper links to ERTH333 and leads on to graduate papers in soils, ERTH533, ERTH535, and some other graduate papers including ERTH528.

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Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Equivalent(s)

Restriction(s)

Restricted papers: ERTH331

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