Soil Quality  Assessment and Applications for Field Staff (000050)

Overview

This training is designed to provide field level personnel with an overall understanding of soil quality. Participants, upon completion of this course, will be able to recognize soil quality concerns, communicate those concerns to land managers and users, and provide alternatives to remedy those concerns in a manner that meets all requirements of the agency and the land manager and user.

Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• define soil quality and describe its importance
• explain the difference between inherent and management induced soil quality, recognize and use soil quality indicators, and relate the importance of organic matter to soil quality
• describe documentation and measurement techniques
• make an assessment and an appropriate level of interpretation of soil quality measurements and observations
• prescribe practices that enhance soil quality on all land uses, and identify tillage implements and their effects on soil quality
• discuss soil quality outreach with our customers, and make soil quality information available to education and professional organizations
• point out the importance of soil quality to NRCS activities

Prerequisites

Background knowledge of soils

Duration

3 days

Target Audience

NRCS and other agency employees who are involved in conservation planning with land managers and resource inventory and assessment activities

NEDC Contact 

Tony Lovell

Technical Specialist

 Cathy A. Seybold

Enrollment

Go to AgLearn to request enrollment in Soil Quality Assessment and Applications for Field Staff (000050).