Soils and Landscapes

Undergraduate | 2026

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area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
AGRI 1003
Course ID icon
Course ID
205138
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course level icon
Course level
1
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes
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Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

Course overview

Soil is an essential and non-renewable resource on which life on earth depends. Humans rely on the ecosystem services provided by soil for their food, building materials, fibre, and textiles. Other organisms also rely on soil to provide habitat and food, both in the soil itself and in the ecosystems that grow on it. This course will provide you with a fundamental understanding of how soil develops, how it works, what role it plays in the environment and in supporting human activities, what threatens it and why it should be protected.

  • Soil Formation, Description And Classification
  • Basic Properties And Functions Of Soil
  • Soil Issues, Degradation And Management

Course learning outcomes

  • Understand the importance of soils and ecosystem services they provide
  • Understand fundamental principles underlying the formation and physical, chemical and biological properties of soil
  • Determine and interpret basic soil properties in the laboratory and field
  • Apply soil physical and chemical properties to classify soils into broad categories using a standard classification system
  • Familiarity with soil degradation processes, their causes, remediation processes and the concept of sustainable use of soil

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A