Unit Outline

In this unit you will develop understanding of how soil properties and characteristics support and inform the development of soil management strategies. You will investigate how agricultural activities influence soil form and function. You will assess various soil management practices and approaches. This knowledge will underpin your ability to identify challenges associated with soil management and enable you to develop sustainable soil management strategies.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Explain how soil characteristics underpin and inform management strategies.
2	Assess the impact of agricultural production activities on soil characteristics.
3	Propose strategies that maintain and improve soil form and function in different ecological landscapes.
4	Analyse factors that influence soil management decisions.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	ZAB203

Alterations as a result of student feedback

To be determined.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	AT 1: Soil Characterisation	Week 3	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	AT2: Soil Management Scenario Analysis	Week 7	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	AT3: Soil Management Plan	Week 12	45 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: AT 1: Soil Characterisation

Task Description:

You will use practical hands-on techniques to collect and assess the texture of soil samples. You will identify and describe characteristics of your soil samples and explain the relevance of the characteristics to agricultural production.

Task Length:

800 words plus references and photos or images with captions

Due Date:

Week 3

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Conduct tests to identify soil texture for different soil types.	LO1
2	Describe typical characteristics of different soil textures.	LO1
3	Describe relationships between soil characteristics and agricultural production.	LO2
4	Explain how the texture of soil influences management strategies.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: AT2: Soil Management Scenario Analysis

Task Description:

You will be provided with information on a range of scenarios of agricultural production enterprises to review. You will analyse the information provided in the scenarios and explain how soil management strategies and practices influence soil form and function. You will also explore factors that influence soil management decisions.

Task Length:

1000 words plus references

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain how soil characteristics underpin and inform management strategies.	LO1
2	Explain relationships between soil characteristics and agricultural production.	LO2
3	Communicate how soil management strategies and practices influence soil form and function.	LO3
4	Analyse factors that influence soil management decisions.	LO4

Assessment Task 3: AT3: Soil Management Plan

Task Description:

You will develop a soil management plan for an agricultural production system. Development of the plan will require you to work on a case study of an actual or hypothetical agricultural production site. You will select the site to base your case study on. The type of production system, scale of operation and location of the site is your decision. You may work on an existing production system or propose a new production system.

You will examine the site and production system and develop a soil management strategy for that site. In your report, you will also analyse factors that influence decision making and implementation of soil management strategies.

Task Length:

1500 words plus references and photos or images with captions

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

45 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain how soil characteristics underpin and inform management strategies.	LO1
2	Assess relationships between soil characteristics and agricultural production.	LO2
3	Propose strategies that maintain and improve soil form and function in ecological landscapes.	LO3
4	Analyse factors that influence soil management decisions.	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.