Wintertime soil health assessment (4 cr)

Evaluation scale

1-5

Objective

The student is familiar with the general publicly available map data that can be utilized in farming and can identify growth condition issues in field plots based on the map data. The student can trace the causes of growth condition issues using the map data.

The student recognizes deficiencies in chemical growth conditions and can plan the necessary actions to improve them. The student understands nutrient binding mechanisms, the significance of cation exchange capacity, and the impact of pH on plant growth and soil health. The student can consider the special characteristics of different parts of the field plot when taking soil samples and can interpret and utilize soil fertility analysis more comprehensively. The student can use the CEC calculator in planning soil improvement measures and can select appropriate liming and soil improvement materials.

The student knows the basics and principles of crop rotation and understands its importance in maintaining soil growth conditions. The student can plan and compare different crop rotations in terms of farm operations, soil growth conditions, and the environment, and can create crop rotations that improve soil growth conditions tailored to their own farm’s conditions. The student can use the crop rotation calculator in planning crop rotations.

Content

Publicly available map data
Utilization of map data in examining field plots
Basics and principles of crop rotation
Maintenance and improvement of soil growth conditions
Crop rotation calculator

Location and time

The schedules for the scheduled online teaching can be found in the timetable at https://lukkarikone.seamk.fi/. Timetables are published for the next six weeks. The first six weeks of autumn are published by Midsummer and the first six weeks of spring by Christmas. Timetables may be subject to changes.

Teaching methods

The study is conducted online in the Moodle learning environment. The study requires participation in scheduled online teaching. The recordings of the teaching sessions are available for later viewing in Moodle. The study includes joint online meetings.

The student familiarizes themselves with the theoretical material, completes online assignments according to the given instructions.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student can find the field plot under examination from some publicly available map data and can identify some growth condition issues of the plot from them. The student knows existing soil sample analyses and can use the CEC calculator and plan plot-specific soil sampling considering growth condition differences. The student knows the importance of crop rotation.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student can find the field plot under examination from publicly available map data and can identify growth condition issues of the plot from them. The student can interpret the results of soil fertility analyses using the CEC calculator and plan plot-specific soil sampling considering growth condition differences. The student can compare different crop rotations.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student can find the field plot under examination from publicly available map data. The student can identify growth condition issues of the plot from the map data and analyze their causes. The student can combine and draw conclusions from different soil fertility analysis results using the CEC calculator. The student can plan plot-specific soil sampling considering growth condition differences. The student can create a comprehensive crop rotation plan.

Qualifications

Previous studies: Soil and water management or equivalent knowledge