Course CodeSGH7Fee CodeSGDuration (approx)20 hoursQualificationCertificate of Completion Understand the Importance of Soils Learn about the factors that cause land quality to degrade Study what measures that can be taken to counter these issues and repair damaged land. Lesson Structure There are 7 lessons in this course: SCOPE AND NATURE OF LAND MANAGEMENT Causes of Land Degradation Broad Principles of Sustainable Land Management Harnessing the People Careers in Land Management Lesson 1 additional reading Review what you have been learning LAND DEGRADATION & REHABILITATION Forms of Land Degradation and Their Control Land Rehabilitation Management Mining Sites Environmental Assessment Land Management Programs The Importance of Trees on Farms Ecosystem Conservation Lesson 2 additional reading Review what you have been learning MANAGING SOILS Soil Fertility Physical and Chemical Factors Affecting Nutrient Availability Biological Factors Affecting Soil Fertility Improved Nutrient Management Loss of Soil Fertility Understanding Soil Analysis Sampling Soil Strategies for Tackling Soil Degradation Conservation Tillage and Crop Residue Management Soil Biological Management Land Management Using Alternative Farming Techniques Using Organic Principles to Overcome Soil Problems Using Plants To Extract Contamination Review what you have been learning MANAGING WATER Water Erosion Water Reuse And Recycling Wastewater Treatment Review what you have been learning MANAGING PLANTS Controlling Plants Using Plants For Erosion Control Planning Rehabilitation Plant Selection And Establishment Plant Varieties The Economics of Plant Selection Planting Preparation - Soil Cultivation Cultivation Machinery & Tools Planting Techniques Other Techniques Soil And Water Types of Water Wastage Irrigation Systems Coping With Dry Conditions Plant Protection Methods Weed Management Crop Rotations Review what you have been learning MANAGING ANIMAL POPULATIONS Creating Habitat Corridors For Wildlife Wildlife Conservation Lesson 6 additional reading Review what you have been learning AFTERWARDS Plant Associations Natural Regeneration Review what you have been learning Final Assessment Learn to Attend to Soils Soil degradation has caused the downfall of many societies in the past, including severe wind erosion and desertification in the ‘dust bowl’ in USA; desertification and salinisation around the Aral Sea in Central Asia and salinisation, erosion and siltation in ancient Mesopotamia. Often, there has been an emphasis on using the soil for production of crops/grazing from soils at the expense of their sustainability. Soil resources are treated as limitless when in fact they are not renewable or are so called very slowly-renewable (in some cases they are renewed at an infinitesimal rate far greater than soil losses). Estimates for rate of soil formation are usually between about 50 to 500 years to make 10 mm of soil. On a global basis, the soil degradation is caused primarily by: Overgrazing (35%) Agricultural activities (28%) Deforestation (30%) Over-exploitation of land to produce wood for fuel (7%) Industrialisation (4%) Over recent decades there has been increasing concern about soil degradation due to chemical pollutants from human activity. With a growing awareness, there is an emerging and rapidly expanding industry concerned with responding to these issues. This course can enlighten and inform you to become part of that move to stem land degradation and begin to counter the mistakes ofd the past. START ANY TIME AND WORK THROUGH THIS COURSE AT YOUR OWN PACE At only 20 hours. this is different to our other 100 hour courses; being not only shorter and with a lower fee, but with the assessments at the end of each lesson being fully automated. At the end of each lesson, you are given a short interactive test to undertake, to provide an indication of how your learning is progressing. You have access to a help desk for support from a horticulture tutor if you need it in any point in your studies. When you finish the final lesson, you are given a more thorough automated test or examination. If you achieve an overall pass; in this final online test; you are provided with an electronic copy of a 'Certificate of Completion', with your name and the course name and date, to print and store electronically in your permanent records. Who Will Benefit From Doing This Course? People working in land rehabilitationand reafforestation People working on the rehabilitation of mining sites People interested in working on environmental projects People who work with soil on a daily basis HOW TO ENROL Click box below on left hand side - follow instructions. IF YOU NEED ADVICE - click here to use our FREE ADVISORY SERVICE