This course explores the development of sustainable farming systems and soil management techniques in Australian agriculture. The emphasis is on the application of a thorough understanding of basic physical, chemical and biological properties and ecological processes involving soils, crop plants and livestock to the design and implementation of improved farming systems. A range of land management issues are addressed including soil conservation, restoration and rehabilitation; alternative farming and grazing systems and combinations of grazing and cropping, including pasture cropping, are considered. The course looks at farming systems in different climatic regions, and under irrigated and dryland conditions.

A practical component examines the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of land and soil resource data from a range of scales in the landscape and includes a soil and land resource mapping project of a designated area in rural NSW, involving the incorporation of all relevant sources of information, including remote sensing and published literature, to produce soil-landscape and resource maps, GIS layers, explanatory notes and a farm plan. 

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Collect, analyse, interpret and present land and soil resource data (including remotely sensed data and published literature) from a range of scales in the landscape  to produce soil-landscape and resource maps, GIS layers, explanatory notes and a farm plan.
2. Understand and contribute to the development of sustainable farming systems and soil management techniques in Australian agriculture.
3. Discuss the principles of managing soil resources with practitioners such as farmers, extension officers, and consultants.
4. Conduct research into, and produce detailed field trip reports on, various aspects of soil resources and their management.

Attendance and participation in all field trips, field camps and class work is required. Students who fail to submit set work by the due date or fail to participate in laboratory classes or field excursions may fail the course. Formal assessment will be based on:

• Soil and land resource mapping report (30%; LO 1, 2)
• Field trip reports (40%; LO 3, 4)
• Exam (30%; LO 2)

65 contact hours, comprising a combination of lectures, seminars, field work and practical sessions. 3 day field mapping camp will be held during October 2010.

72 units towards a degree.

Charman, P.V. and Murphy, B.W. (eds.) (2000) Soils: Their Properties & Management (2nd edition), Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

Jordan, C.F. (1998) Working with Nature, Harwood Academic Publishers.

McDonald, R.C., Isbell, R.F., Speight, J.F., Walker, J. and Hopkins, M.S. (1990) Australian Soil and Land Survey: Field handbook (2nd edition), Inkata Press, Melbourne.