Studying online
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
This is an advanced unit linking soil chemistry and biology in the soil-water-plant-microbe continuum, emphasising interactions that govern soil health and fertility. It deals with nutrient cycling in soils with respect to nutrient offtake in agricultural products as well as losses to ground- and surface waters and air. Students gain an understanding of the chemical equilibria and processes in soil solution and at the solid surfaces as well as how soil microbiome abundance and diversity influence soil ecological services.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
(see Timetable) Availability Location Mode Semester 2 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Outcomes
Students are able to (1) demonstrate an understanding of soil processes governing cycling of macro- and micronutrients from soils to microorganisms, plants and animals; (2) demonstrate an understanding of the balance between nitrogen fertilisation to enhance food production and minimise undesirable export of reactive nitrogen species from soils; (3) assess the importance of soil microbiome abundance and diversity in organic matter decomposition versus carbon sequestration in soil; (4) demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics of soil ecological services in the context of climate change and variability; (5) analyse experimental data; (6) explain analysis of experimental data; and (7) classify relevant soil science information in the context of soil health and ecological services in natural and managed ecosystems.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) seminar presentation; (2) reports; and (3) quiz. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Professor Zed Rengel
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Successful completion of
- Contact hours
- 12x 3 hour workshops during semester. The total workload for the unit is 150 hours
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.