Course overview
The course will provide students with a comprehensive view of ecological interactions in soils. It covers the interactions between plants, soil and soil organisms, the roles played by soil organisms in decomposition of organic material, nutrient cycling (C, N, P) and stability of agricultural and natural ecosystems. Other topics include the importance of soil organisms for soil fertility, mycorrhizas and their effects on plant productivity and plant communities, microbial ecology, root growth and the biology of the rhizosphere.
Course learning outcomes
- Understanding the importance of nutrient cycling in agricultural and natural ecosystems, the factors affecting plant-soil-microbe interaction and nutrient availability; and how management will affect nutrient cycling.
- Acquiring practical knowledge about common analyses methods to assess nutrient cycling including microbial activity and N and P availability in soils. Introducing innovative and novel techniques for assessing plant-soil-microbe interactions over the tutorial sessions.
- Acquiring the ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesis information from a wide variety of sources for an in-depth and critical thinking and discussion of papers discussed during the tutorials, their practical reports and a discussion paper in the field of nutrient cycling in a planned and timely manner.
- Practicing and demonstrating the ability to communicate the observations in written form.
- Acquiring awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues related to nutrient cycling in Australia and within a global context