AGRI20038

Principles of Soil
Science

Lecture 1:
Introduction to soil
Helen Suter, Subject Coordinator
 Lecture locations (synchronous teaching)
Parkville
(Turner
lecture
theatre)

Dookie

Online (zoom) Find zoom details from the “Home”

page
House Keeping.

3
 Australia’s 2021 State of the Environment report
(July 2022)

https://soe.dcceew.gov.au/
Overview of Subject
• Understanding concepts of soils
- identified in the Performance Objectives from
the Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPPS)
Accreditation scheme

• How a soil functions

• Major agricultural soils
• Soils in the landscape
• *Soil genesis, morphology and classification
• *Soil chemistry and mineralogy
• *Soil physics *
• *Soil nutrients and fertility
• *Soil biology and ecology (Soil carbon)
Overview of Subject

• Understanding of soil in agricultural science

discipline

• Agronomist
• Livestock Producer / Manager
• Economics and Agribusiness
• Farm consultant / advisor / manager MAJORS
• Environmental Scientist Crop and Soils
Ag. Economics
• Researcher
Animal Prod. Sc
• Education
• Policy advisor
• Social scientist
• ………..
“The One Health concept is a worldwide strategy for
expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and
communications in all aspects of health care for
humans, animals and the environment”

http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/
+
biodiversity
ecosystem service
psychology
…..
 Production Animal Science Major / Veterinary science
• Antibiotic resistance development and transfer
• Soil-borne diseases / infections

• Feed quality
• Nutrient deficiencies / toxicities

Source: BMJ Journals

Source: http://drainameducci.blogspot.com/2011/11/ mastitis-in-dairy-cattle.html https://thorax.bmj.com/content/65/Suppl_4/A180.2
 Meat and Livestock Australia website

https://www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/animal-health-welfare-and-
biosecurity/diseases/nutritional/mineral-deficiencies/
 Production Animal Science Major / Veterinary science

• Source of new drugs

Source: Medical News Today

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316166.php

• Animal management impacts soil health health

Pugging Tramping, overgrazing Declining biodiversity

Image sources: http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/dairy/managing-wet-soils/pasture-recovery-from-pugging-damage

https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.13575
https://www.ciwf.org.uk/factory-farming/environmental-damage/
 Agricultural Economics Major
Review: The economics of soil health
Andrew W. Stevens (2018) Food Policy, Volume 80,Pages 1-9

“Behaviors that build long-term soil health increase agricultural productivity, support
environmental resilience, and sequester atmospheric carbon. Consequently, policies
aimed at increasing soils’ health can contribute to broader policy goals concerning
agriculture, food systems, environmental sustainability, and climate change.”

https://www.lodigrowers.com/6-ways-to-improve-soil-health/
Agricultural Economics Major

https://www.eld-initiative.org/
Agricultural Economics Major
Agricultural Economics Major
Image source: http://www.beginningfarmers.org/soil-workshop-in-chicago/
Overview of Subject
• Staff
• Helen Suter (subject coordinator & lecturer)
• Jagrati Singh, Beau Picking (Parkville and online tutors)
• Arjun Pandey, Gayathri Mekala, Ravneet Kaur Jhajj (Dookie
lecturers/tutors and support)
• Invited lecturers from FVAS and School of Ecosystem and Forest
Science

• Details on LMS
Lectures weekly, Mondays 11-1

Tutorials ~ every 2nd week – check LMS for times

Workshop / practicals ~ every 2nd week – check LMS for times

Field Trips 2/semester

Overview of Assessment
(details on home page)
Assessment Timing Weight (%)
Report 1 Week 6 25
Report 2 Week 10 25
Quiz Week 11 10
Exam End of semester 40

• Revision and preparation (not assessed)

- Quizzes (fortnightly)
- Discussion boards

• Drop In sessions (see LMS for details (start week 2))

Know about our soil : for sustainable agricultural production systems
& long-term food security
in a changing climate

Images: phys.org, Agric.wa.gov.au, AgriHQ NZ.

Key questions to address in Lectures 1 and 2

• What is soil?
• Can we have healthy soils under agricultural
production system?
• How can we understand soils to manage them
effectively?
• What are the key soil attributes and how do we
describe them?
Lecture learning outcomes

• At the end of this lecture students will be able to;

• Explain how soil properties affect the soil functions
• Critically evaluate the importance of soil properties in
relation to soil health
• Identify and describe key soil attributes to help explain
how soils function
• Draw conclusions of soil condition based on measured
soil properties
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6HGPoQ3dZY
(on LMS)
Soil : A definition

An ecosystem
Interconnected community of living and dead
organisms, chemical and physical factors and
processes.
 ‘The upper layer of the earth’s surface’

• ‘Pedosphere’
• Variable depth
• Variable quality
(air)

(living things) (soil) (water)

PED: an individual natural
aggregate of soil made up
of primary particle clusters
(rock)
 • Depth of Soil
Depth of
Soil

Image source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzfFFNG5mnQ

 Ecosystem
6 Functions service category*
1 Habitat Supporting

2 Medium

3 Biochemical/Nutrient Reactor Regulating

4 Hydrological Buffer

5 Foundation Provisional

6 Heritage Cultural

*Robinson et al. (2009) Soil

Science Society of America
Journal 73: 1904-1911
Consider what soil properties influence the agricultural
function of the soil

Ecosystem
Soil Functions service
category
1 Habitat Supporting
2 Medium
3 Biochemical/Nutrient Regulating
Reactor
4 Hydrological Buffer

Interdependent

http://www.healthysoils.org.au/healthy_soils/news.php
 Soil properties
Soil features determine the soil properties, which can be

Inherent Dynamic
A property of the soil’s character, Properties that change with soil
e.g. management, e.g.
•Sand vs clay and soil water •Organic matter content
•Soil structure
drainage
•Soil nutrients and nutrient
•Soil and texture and root growth
storage capacity
 Soil properties

• pH / Acidity
• Texture
• Cation
• Structure
exchange
• Porosity
capacity (CEC)
• Bulk Density
• Salinity
• Colour
• Sodicity
• Strength
• Carbon
• Erodibility
• Fertility and
nutrient
cycling • Organic matter • Microbes

• Rhizosphere • Macrofauna
How does a soil achieve the functions?
• Soil features must be desirable for a soil to provide these functions
• Correct features
• Quality features

“Knowledge of the actual state of those properties, their

role in soil functions, and the effect of change – both
natural and human-induced—on them is essential to
achieve sustainability” (FAO 2015 World Soil Charter)

• Therefore, for on-going function of a soil we need to maintain

soil health.
Defining a Healthy Soil / Soil Health
“continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains
plants, animals, and humans” (USDA, Healthy Soils for life)

An ecosystem for growing plants

Image sources: https://www.fix.com/blog/growing-food-with-hydroponics.

https://foodtank.com/news/2016/12/10-facts-healthy-soil/
https://www.organic-center.org/needs-assessment-to-characterize-the-use-of-soil-
amendments-microbial-food-safety-best-practices-in-organic//
Defining a Healthy Soil / Soil Health

“continued capacity of soil to

function as a vital living
ecosystem that sustains plants,
animals, and humans”
(USDA, Healthy Soils for life)

This makes it different to soil quality which represents a single point

in time and does not include reference to a living component
Image source: USDA Soil Health is the Ground We Stand on for Agriculture Sustainability
 Soil Health

Attributes beyond production

capacity;
- Mainly soil biota
- Biodiversity
- Soil food web

Includes a soil that does not

pollute the environment and
contributes to climate change
mitigation (FAO 2008)
Sustainable soil management for healthy
agricultural soils
• Conservation agriculture
• Minimum / zero tillage
• Agroforestry
• Agroeceology
• Organic farming
• ‘Regenerative’ agriculture
Management for healthy agricultural soils

We need to understand the;

• Soil properties
• Processes in soil
• Ways soil health may be compromised
• Changes in soil properties with management
➢ Change in land management may be needed
Lecture 2: Soils for Agriculture :
understanding and describing soils
How can we know if a soil has the properties we
need for soil function?
•Key Soil Attributes
• Texture, structure, colour, pH, organic matter

•How they occur in a soil profile

 Soil profile
A vertical section of soil from
the surface to the parent
material below

Made up of horizons

Transition between horizons

can be abrupt, clear, or
otherwise

Note: O horizons do not exist in many

soils, they are highly organic layers not
just topsoil Image source: Dreamtime photo stock
Soil horizons
A horizon;
A1

A2

Underneath or at base =
ELUVIAL horizon : horizon
that can loose material to
deeper profile Sodosol
Soil horizons
B horizon;
Also termed ILLUVIAL horizon
= zone of deposition
1 or more mineral soil layers –
ie. B1 (transitional), B2 main
part of B, B3 (transitional)
B2

Sodosol
Soil horizons
SOLUM : A and B horizons
together
The upper part of the soil A
influenced by plant roots

Sodosol
Soil horizons
C horizon;

Sodosol
Image source: Dreamtime photo stock
Soil horizons
O horizon;
Above the A horizon.
Dominated by organic
material in various stages of
decomposition

D horizon;
Different to the solum (A,B)
but not the C horizon. At the
bottom of the profile

Sodosol
Image source: http://greatlakeswormwatch.org/forest/soil.html
Typical soil profiles (profile form)

Texture contrast Gradational Uniform

A and B texture No clear change in No change in texture
markedly different texture, gradual change with depth
The key components of soil
• Components of the soil
FINE EARTH FRACTION

SAND
0.06-2.0 mm
SILT
0.002-0.06 mm

Water (20-50%)
Mineral
component
CLAY
40-60% <0.002 mm

Air (10-25%)

+ gravels, cobbles, boulders > 2 mm

Organic (remainder) Reference: Australian Soil and Land Survey handbook, page 116
Source: adapted from https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/images/1062-relative-size-of-sand-silt-and-clay-particles
Mineral components : texture

•Important for;
• Soil structure
• Porosity (Water/air)
• Resilience
• Plant growth and sustenance
Image source: FAO Chapter 2 - Soil and Water
• Soil fertility http://www.fao.org/3/r4082e/r4082e03.htm

• Ability to retain/store nutrients

• Soil structure and fertility will be covered in later lectures

 Soil Organic Matter

Living Non-living
• living tissues, plant • Dissolved organic matter
• Microbial biomass <0.45 mm
• Fauna biomass • Particulate organic matter (POM)
Recognisable cell structure
• Humus
Amorphous organic materials
[Amorphous =lacking clear structure,
form]
Soil organic matter will be covered in • Inert organic matter
more detail in later lectures Highly carbonised, including charcoal
Describing soils : Texture

Particle size analysis

e.g hydrometer

Field texturing

Sand feel and hear the grains

Silt smooth and soapy, a bit like flour, a bit sticky
Clay sticky, it sticks to your hands, can be very hard
Organic matter spongy
Describing soils : Colour
Munsell colour chart

Hue
Value
Chroma

Image source: Rutgers : http://munsell-color-soil-chart.com/

Sylvie Müller Celka http://archeorient.hypotheses.org/2262
 Describing soils : Colour
Munsell colour chart

HUE: distinction of different

colours - eg. reds, yellows,
greens
Eg. 7.5 YR
Different numbers and letters

• five principle colors:

red, yellow, green, blue, and
purple
• five intermediate colors:
yellow-red, green-yellow, blue-
green, purple-blue, and red-
purple;
• arranged in a wheel measured
off in 100 compass points

Image source: The munsell colour system

http://dba.med.sc.edu/price/irf/Adobe_tg/models/munsell.html
 What does colour tell us about a soil?
Soil Colour Soil types and characteristics Typical management implications

Black High organic matter (e.g. peat) Waterlogging, drainage problems, low
pH, high denitrification
Vertosols (cracking clays > 35% Workability and tillage problems
clay)
White / pale / Iron and manganese leached due Low in nutrients (leached)
bleached to high water drainage Low plant available water
Red Good drainage, iron is oxidised, High phosphorus fixation
Fe3+ Low plant available water
Yellow/ yellow Poorer drainage than red soils, Moderate phosphorus fixation, Low plant
brown iron is hydrated available water, compaction

Brown Moderate organic matter and iron Low to moderate phosphorus fixation,
oxides low to moderate plant available water

Gleyed/grey/ Very poor drainage or Waterlogging, drainage problems, high

green waterlogging, iron and manganese denitrification risk, methane emission
compounds risk
Taken from https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/soil/soil-properties/colour/
 Describing soils : Structure
• Distinctiveness (grade), shape and size of peds
• Described in soil pits

Week 4 Field trip session

Image sources: McKenzie et al (2004) Australian Soils and Landscapes

http://www.nzsoils.org.nz/Topic-Describing_Soils/Soil_Structure-
Peds_and_the_Types_of_Structural_Units/
Describing soils : Structure
Three factors
1) Grade of pedality Apedal (no peds) Pedal (peds)

Single grained Massive Weak Moderate Strong

2) Size of peds (mms)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

<2 2-5 5-10 10-20 20-50 50-100 100-200 200-500 >500

3) Type of pedality

platy, prismatic, columnar, angular block,

subangular blocky, polyhedral, lenticular,
granular, cast
(Image source: Ritter, 2003)
Describing Soils : pH

•pH test kit (field)

•Laboratory analysis
Describing Soils : Organic Matter / Carbon

•Microbial Biomass C
• C in living components
• ~ 5% of organic carbon
• Visual assessment of amount

•Laboratory assessment - fumigation-

extraction method, the substrate-induced
respiration method, and the ATP method

http://science.jrank.org/kids/pages/178/Soil-Formation.html
Answers to questions posed

• Soils are an ecosystem

• Healthy soils are achievable under agricultural
production system
• Knowledge of soil properties and how they relate to
soil function is critical for sustainable management
of soils
• Key attributes that can be readily described tell us a
lot about the soil health and ability to achieve
desired soil functions
Self assessment questions on these lectures
• Q: Describe and discuss the soil functions that are relevant to
agricultural production?

• Q. Describe the main soil horizons within a soil profile. Within a soil
profile, what soil property leads to the classification of different
profile forms? Describe the different profile forms to explain your
answer

• Q: What is the particle size of the fine earth fraction and the different
mineral components in this?

• Q: Which of the following soil colours most indicates a soil found in

areas of poor drainage?
a) Dark red
b) Brown
c) Yellow mottled
d) Grey