Soil Systems and Soil Management aims to equip Learners with the ability to apply scientific and interdisciplinary principles in soil systems and sustainable soil management. Learners interpret the ways soils form, function and respond to land use and management practices and apply soil conservation and fertility management principles. Upon successful completion, Learners have a comprehensive awareness of different perspectives and approaches to soil management and the reasoning behind them. This unit forms part of the ICM Level 4 Environmental Science Professional Qualification.
Soil in the Environment
- Definition and importance of soil
- Soil as a natural resource
- Soil functions and ecosystem services
- Soil in the Earth system
- Global soil resources and threats
Soil Formation and Development
- Soil forming factors: climate, organisms, relief, parent material, time
- Weathering processes: physical, chemical, biological
- Soil profile and horizons
- Soil classification systems
- Soil distribution globally
Soil Physical Properties
- Soil texture: sand, silt, clay
- Soil structure and aggregation
- Soil porosity and bulk density
- Soil water: retention, movement, availability
- Soil aeration and temperature
Soil Chemical Properties
- Soil pH and buffering capacity
- Cation exchange capacity
- Soil organic matter and humus
- Plant nutrients: macro and micronutrients
- Soil salinity and sodicity
Soil Biological Properties
- Soil organisms: bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, earthworms
- Soil food webs
- Decomposition and nutrient cycling
- Mycorrhizae and plant-soil interactions
- Soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
Soil Degradation
- Soil erosion by water and wind
- Soil compaction and structural degradation
- Soil organic matter decline
- Soil contamination and pollution
- Soil salinisation and acidification
- Desertification and land degradation
Soil Conservation
- Principles of soil conservation
- Erosion control methods: contour ploughing, terracing, cover crops
- Windbreaks and shelterbelts
- Conservation tillage and no-till farming
- Integrated soil conservation planning
Soil Fertility Management
- Plant nutrient requirements
- Organic fertilisers: compost, manure, green manures
- Inorganic fertilisers: types, use and environmental impacts
- Integrated nutrient management
- Precision nutrient application
Soil and Water Management
- Soil-water-plant relationships
- Irrigation methods and efficiency
- Drainage and waterlogging
- Rainwater harvesting and soil moisture conservation
- Soil and water conservation in different climates
Sustainable Soil Management
- Principles of soil health
- Soil quality indicators and assessment
- Building soil organic matter
- Agroecological approaches to soil management
- Regenerative soil management practices
Soil and Land Use Planning
- Land capability classification
- Soil information for land use decisions
- Soil mapping and surveys
- Urban soils and management
- Mining and industrial site soil rehabilitation
Climate Change and Soils
- Soil carbon sequestration
- Soils in greenhouse gas emissions
- Climate change impacts on soils
- Soils in climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Policy and incentives for soil management
Example Candidate Response Booklet
Example Candidate Response (ECR) Booklets are a source of crucial information for Centres and Candidates as they use real candidate responses. We ask Senior Examiners to comment on five or more responses in terms of why the mark was awarded with commentary about how to improve the answer (if necessary).
