Course CodeBSC310Fee CodeS2Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested. Why learning about soil microbiomes is essential: • For achieving high productivity in all garden enterprises • For production of healthy plant stock • Sustainable production Lesson Structure There are 9 lessons in this course: Scope and Nature of the Soil Microbiome Nature of soil Soil Structure & Texture Soil Structure and Porosity Soil Structure Research Topsoil Thickness Nutrient Components Carbon and Nutrient Content Carbon Retention Nitrogen Phosphorus Sulphur Other Important Indicators of Soil Health Acidity (pH) Salinity Environmental Factors Affecting Soil Health Drought Frost Erosion Water Retention Nature of soil Microbes Bacteria Archaea Viruses Fungi Protozoa Scope of the Soil Microbiome Plant-Microbe Relationships Microbe Interrelationships Changes to the Soil Microbiome Key Definitions and Concepts for Understanding Soil Evaluating the Soil Microbiome Status Measurement vs. Monitoring in Soil Biology Things the Soil Microbiome can Help Measure or Monitor Types of Soil Biological Testing and Analysis Deciding on the Right Type of Test Overview of Different Testing Types Cotton Strip Assay Microbial Activity Using Basal Carbon Dioxide Respiration Microbial Biomass Identification Through Culturing Potentially Mineralisable Nitrogen Biolog Plates Microarrays Community Profiling More Advanced Approaches to the Microbiome: Omics Transcriptomics 16S rRNA PCR PCR-ELISA Bioinformatics Man’s impact on Microbiome Human Impact on Microbiomes Land Development and Urbanisation Changes in Land Use and Microbial Communities Problems with land development on soils Climate Change Pollution Air Pollution Deposition Precipitation Erosion Microplastics Anti-microbials Antibiotic Resistance Monocultures Soil Substrates and Additives Soil Substrates Inorganic Substrate Materials Perlite Vermiculite Sand Rockwool Organic Substrate Materials Peat Coir Bark Soilless Substrates and Microbes Substrate Technology Substrate Engineering Substrate Evaluation Novel Technologies used in Substrate Management Tomography Rhizometrics Mini-Horhizotron Rheometer Inorganic Additives Organic Additives Manures Compost Fungal Additives Conventional vs Organic soil management Conventional vs Organic Soil Management practices Conventional Practices Soil Carbon Modelling Organic Practices Composting Crop Rotations Cover Crops No Tillage Farming Organic Pest & Disease Control Weed Control Rotational Grazing Livestock Management Biodynamics Biodynamic preparations/sprays Soil Fertility Management Soil Management Strategies Soil Organic Matter Cover Crops Cocktail Cover Crop Legume Crops Longer Crop Rotations Reduced Tillage Planting Trees Organic Additives Soil Humus Building Soil Humus Humates Composting Animal Manures Microbial Inoculants & Microorganisms Use of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Inoculants Specific Inoculums Protozoa Tea Earthworms Inorganic Additives Gypsum Lime Plant Interactions with the Soil Microbiome Soil Organisms Function of Plant Microbiome Effect of Non-native Species Soil Microbiome and Plants Plant-Soil Feedback Plant-Microbe Associations Examples of Plant-Microbe Associations with Plant Families & Species Effects of Different Microbes Cover Crops & Grapevines Crop Rotations & Microbiomes Types of Cover Crops & Microbiomes Pest & Disease Interaction with Soil Microbiome Biopesticides Advantages of Biopesticides Biological Control Agents Microbial Pesticides Advantages of Microbial Insecticides Entomopathogenic Fungi Protozoa Bacteria Engineering Microbial Inoculants to Suppress Disease Soil Regeneration Practices Restoring the soil microbiome Practical Methods Which Benefit the Soil Microbiome Reducing soil disturbance No tillage (Zero Tillage) Advantages of no till farming Controlled Traffic Farming Advantages of Controlled Traffic Farming Increasing crop diversity & ORGANIC matter Alley Farming Cover Crops Mulching & Composting Biochar Increasing soil microbes Microbial Inoculation Plant Breeding and Microbiome Engineering Aims Describe different ways of identifying and monitoring components of a soil microbiome. Explain a range of human impacts on soil microbiomes. Compare different soil substrates and additives in different soil environments. Compare conventional soil management with organic soil management methods. Describe methods of managing soil fertility with consideration to the soil microbiome. Describe how plants interact with their microbiome in a variety of different situations. Explain different ways that pathogens and pest organisms interact with the soil microbiome. Determine appropriate soil regeneration strategies to boost the soil microbiome. What this course might lead to: Work in plant and crop production Soil science career or study pathways Work in a production system or environment Conservation and land management roles Managing soils in landscape design Examples of other jobs using soil science! • Wetland specialist • Watershed or drainage basin technician • Hydrologist • Environmental technician • Soil and water quality specialist • Conservationist • Agricultural or Crop Consultant • Landscaper • Farmer • On-site land evaluation • Soil scientist • Research technician • Town planner • Crop production specialist • Research scientist Recently in land sciences there has been a focus toward how physical and chemical characteristics are affected by a complex community of largely unseen organisms that live within the soil. This has meant people need to develop holistic approach to the health of a soil, and therefore the health of the plants which grow in it.