GES2130

Soils, land use and the environment

(ART)

Meredith Orr

6 points + 4 hours per week (two lectures per week and one 2-hour practical per fortnight, plus one 2-day field trip) + Second semester + Clayton + Prerequisites: A first-year sequence in geography or earth sciences, or permission

Synopsis: Introduction to soils and their management, especially soil and land-use relationships and the physical causes of land degradation. Soil constituents and characteristics. Soil-forming processes. Models of soil formation. Australian soils and their classification. Soil mapping. Issues in the management of Australian soils.

Assessment: Written (2000 words): 40% + Examinations (2 hours): 50% + Practical work/fieldwork: 10%