Soil Management

The purpose of the study subject is to enable students to acquire knowledge of sustainable agricultural systems that do not have adverse effects on environmental goods and services, accessible and effective in practice. It also aims to give an appreciation of the importance of soil health, to provide understanding of global warming effects in agriculture and soil management to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases. After completion of the course students will demonstrate a holistic understanding of sustainable cultivation systems and rational soil management, have practical experience in approaching ecologically sound practices that help to develop and maintain healthy soils, will be able to develop a project of field crop establishment and management - an agronomical part of the business plan.

To enable students to acquire and develop knowledge about the rational use of land, the development of healthy soil and the maintenance of soil fertility, and to develop the ability to assess and manage the physical and biological properties of soil in accordance with plant needs and environmental requirements.

Required Agricultural Sciences Introductory knowledge.

1. Introduction. The state of agriculture and trends of agricultural land use. Impact of agricultural activities on the environment. 2. Organic matter - the key to healthy and productive soil. Healthy soil. The role of organic matter - the key to healthy and productive soil. Soil quality indicators. 3. Managing for high-quality soil properties. Managing of soil moisture, air and temperature conditions. Formation of soil physical properties: structure, density, porosity, share strength. Soil degradation: erosion, compaction, pollution. 4. Ecological soil quality management. Crop rotations and flexible cropping systems. Cover crops. Crop residue management. Using manures and other organic fertilizers. Making and using composts. 5. Soil tillage. Tillage objectives. Tillage technique. Seedbed importance and formation. 6. Tillage systems. Tillage systems for summer and winter crops. Conventional (intensive), ploughless (sustainable) and no-tillage systems. Peculiarities of cultivation of hilly, sandy and peat soils. 7. Farming systems. Primitive, extensive, intensive and alternative farming systems. Organic agriculture. Principles and technological trends of sustainable agriculture. Precision agriculture. Code of good agricultural practice, holistic understanding of the long-term sustainability of farming systems.

1. The most important aspects of the state of agriculture and the trends of changes in agricultural land are described, the most important impact of agricultural activities on soil, water, air and climate is delineated. 2. Identified and described more than half of the soil quality indicators, described the main causes of soil fertility and organic matter decline as well as reasons of soil erosion and ways to solve these problems, presented the concept and features of healthy soil. 3. A complex of methods and measures for improving soil fertility and health, ensuring sustainable farming taking into account the specified soil characteristics and changing environmental and market conditions, has been selected, analysed and evaluated. 4. The main aspects of how to develop soil properties, soil moisture and air resources as well as soil temperature conditions in a favourable direction for farming are described, the most significant problems caused by soil compaction are presented and their solutions are selected. 5. The main objectives of tillage and technological processes are indicated, taking into account the needs of the plant and the condition of the soil, the methods of tillage and seedbed formation are selected and described. 6. Tillage systems are described, the main principles of conventional, reduced and conservation tillage as well as no-till systems are presented, peculiarities of tillage of hilly, sandy and peat soils are revealed. 7. The most important advantages, disadvantages and modern tendencies of agricultural systems are analysed and presented, a holistic understanding is demonstrated, which allows to ensure the long-term sustainability of these systems. 8. An individual task has been presented, in which the rational use of land has been selected and described considering the needs of the crops to be cultivated, the soil characteristics of the farm, changing environmental and market conditions and which would ensure development of healthy soil and maintenance of soil fertility.