Course coordinator
Dr Vilim Filipović
Consultation is by appointment. To make an appointment, please email.
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Gatton
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Gatton
- Coordinating unit
- Agriculture and Food Sustainability School
This course examines how soils can be managed sustainably to provide the ecosystem services that we rely upon for our survival, whilst simultaneously ensuring that these soils are not degraded for future generations. In particular, we will examine conservation agriculture, sustainable irrigation practices, soil nutrients and organic matter dynamics, soil degradation and soil health issues. In addition, we will also examine how soils determine sustainable land use and give consideration to impacts of soil management on the broader environment.
Course Introduction
Soils are crucial component of terrestrial ecosystems. To a great degree, the quality of the soil determines the nature of plant ecosystems and the capacity of land to support life. Sustainable soil management is essential for food security, environmental conservation, and the well-being of our planet. Our crops, drinking water and ecosystem services are determined by the quality of soil, but unsustainable soil management has resulted in soil degradation and various related environmental issues. This course is intended to introduce graduate students to key soil science concepts in preparation for independent research and/or further studies.
This course investigates the biological, chemical and physical properties and functions of soils, and how these functions can be affected by soil management practices. Furthermore, the students will be able to conduct various experiments through practical sessions conducted in the laboratory, glasshouse and field settings.
The intention of course is to provide broad coverage of soil science topics, however with a focus on sustainable soil management practices from mostly agricultural perspective.
The course has a new coordinator with a slight change in the content and delivery style in line with the given student feedback.
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
LAND7000, LAND7009 and LAND3005
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Vilim Filipović
Dr Tim McLaren
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Additional information regarding lectures and practical session delivery with be provided through Blackboard at the beginning of the semester.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to study important soil properties and functions and how these can be affected by natural and anthropogenic processes. The aim is to equip students with a better understanding of soil and how it should be managed sustainably. The course is primarily structured around the role of soil as a plant growth medium. However, a broad view is taken and the interactions of soil with other aspects of the environment are also considered.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Describe the importance of soils for regulating plant growth, food production, and climate change
LO2.
Evaluate how soils interact with the broader environment, including their influence on a range of environmental processes
LO3.
Explain the role of agriculture production systems in the sustainable management of soils
LO4.
Use soil water relationships to examine plant water use and optimise irrigation systems
LO5.
Experimentally investigate approaches for solving a range of soil science problems, including for management of soil degradation
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration |
Sequential - Field assessment of soil properties and constraints
|
15% |
8/08/2024 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration |
Sequential - Effects of organic matter on soil properties
|
15% |
5/09/2024 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration |
Sequential - Fertilizer (organic vs inorganic) effects on plant growth
|
15% |
19/09/2024 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration |
Sequential - Irrigation system design and evaluation
|
15% |
10/10/2024 2:00 pm |
| Examination |
Final exam
|
40% |
End of Semester Exam Period 2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Sequential - Field assessment of soil properties and constraints
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
8/08/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L05
Task description
Students will be able to describe a soil profile using field methods to assess the suitability, limitations of the soil and potential of the soil for plant growth and potential land use.
This practical will be held outside.
Details about the Practical will be provided within a Practical Manual, which will be made available on Blackboard site before the scheduled practical, with additional specifics about report preparation and report submission.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Turnitin submission details:
You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration:
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Sequential - Effects of organic matter on soil properties
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
5/09/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L05
Task description
Students will investigate the effect of various organic matter sources on soil properties including respiration and bulk density.
This practical will be held in a laboratory setting.
Details about the Practical will be provided within a Practical Manual, which will be made available on Blackboard site before the scheduled practical, with additional specifics about report preparation and report submission.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Turnitin submission details:
You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration:
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Sequential - Fertilizer (organic vs inorganic) effects on plant growth
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
19/09/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L05
Task description
Students will set up a glasshouse trial comparing the effect of mineral and organic fertilisers on a test crop growth.
Details about the Practical will be provided within a Practical Manual, which will be made available on Blackboard site before the scheduled practical, with additional specifics about report preparation and report submission.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Turnitin submission details:
You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration:
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Sequential - Irrigation system design and evaluation
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
10/10/2024 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L04, L05
Task description
Students will set up and compare different types of drip irrigation systems to evaluate their advantages and limitations.
This practical will be held outside.
Details about the Practical will be provided within a Practical Manual, which will be made available on Blackboard site before the scheduled practical, with additional specifics about report preparation and report submission.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Turnitin submission details:
You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration:
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the UQ Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policy (http://ppl.app.uq.edu.au/content/3.60.04-student-integrity-and-misconduct) and understand its implications.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Final exam
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
In-person exam covering all course content.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Refer to Course Grading Rules and Assessment HurdlesExam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | Casio FX82 series calculator only |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 0 - 34% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 35 - 46% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: 47% - 49% |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 50% - 64% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 65% - 74% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 75% - 84% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 85% - 100% |
Additional course grading information
COURSE GRADING RULES AND ASSESSMENT HURDLES
Students must obtain a passing grade in the Final Exam to pass this course.
If a student obtains an overall percentage greater than the cut-offs set to achieve a 4 or higher for the course based on the cumulative mark of all assessments, and the student does NOT score a result greater than 50% in the final exam, they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (failing grade) for the course.
You must address any additional assessment requirements identified in this eCP.
PRACTICAL CLASSES
Practical Classes are scheduled every 2-3 weeks. The practicals run for approximately 3 hours and are a combination of laboratory-based and field-based activities. To obtain a grade for the practical classes students must participate and complete the associated exercises (submitting the practical report via Blackboard - Turnitin). If you do not participate in a practical class, or do not provide evidence of your attendance (i.e. signing attendance sheet), your report will not be marked/graded.
Students need to submit an assessment extension request via myRequests, for missing a practical session. Acceptable evidence for practical non-attendance is similar to the evidence required for a deferred examination. The Practical sessions are timetabled activities, and if students miss a practical and request exemption/access to online material as relevant, they must provide documentation that shows they were unable to attend the practical on the relevant day. Documentation for ongoing conditions, such as Student Access Plans, are not acceptable evidence for missed Practical sessions.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools
Refer to Task Description within each assessment where applicable.
Release of marks
Where there is an end-of-semester exam in the course:
Unless specifically indicated by the lecturer involved, every attempt will be made to have the results for progressive assessment tasks available within 3 weeks of submission. ﾠFor items of assessment submitted in the last 2 weeks of the semester, the results will be available before the day of your end of semester examination in the course, unless otherwise indicated by the Course Coordinator. ﾠResults and feedback availability will be advised to you by email or announced via the course Blackboard site.
Re-mark Applications – refer to the University's Re-mark Policy to check your eligibility.
Before applying for a remark, students should consider the following:
- You have consulted the course coordinator for feedback.
- Your academic grounds for remark have been discussed and are valid.
- Wanting a higher grade is not grounds for a remark. A remark can decrease your grade.
Remark applications will not be considered without first having contacted your Course Co-ordinator.
Information for students can be found at: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/querying-result
Deferred and Supplementary assessment (including Deferred Examinations)
Deferred and Supplementary information can be located on the my.UQ website
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| AGRC7053 Course Profile | Provides details of specifications, rationale, aims and structure of the course. It also informs you of the assessment for this course, including weightings and due dates. Other valuable information in the Course Profile includes the assignment details and a suggested timetable. | |
| AGRC7053 Sustainable Soil Management Blackboard Site | Blackboard is the main method of communication. Lectures, Course readings and Additional materials are made available through the Blackboard site. | |
| AGRC7053 Practical activities manuals | Practical activities manuals will be available on Blackboard site. The manuals contain necessary Info for practical session but also are intended to be learning materials. |
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks |
Lecture |
Module 1: The functions of soil properties and its components Weekly lectures are complemented with reading materials on the topic. Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Lecture |
Module 2: Sustainable agricultural management practices Weekly lectures are complemented with reading materials on the topic. Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
|
Practical |
Effects of organic matter on soil properties Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L05 |
|
Practical |
Fertilizer (organic vs inorganic) effects on plant growth Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L05 |
|
Practical |
Field assessment of soil properties and constraints Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L05 |
|
Practical |
Irrigation system design and evaluation Learning outcomes: L04, L05 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
- Laboratory Occupational Health and Safety