What determines soil health? If you need to understand the factors that lead to a healthy soil microbiome, whether in plant production, farming or horticulture, this soil science course is ideal for you.
Certificate of Soil Microbiome Management is a professional development course that will provide the knowledge and skills required to understand the soil science that underpins a healthy microbiome.
In this soil microbiome course, you’ll learn about soil structure, texture, porosity, nutrition and the important indicators of soil health. You’ll also learn about soil fertility management and environmental, plant, human and pest and disease interaction and impact on soil microbiomes.
On completion of this course, you’ll have developed a comprehensive understanding of soil science as it relates to a healthy microbiome.
Course Structure
Unit - Soil Microbiome Management
Unit 1 – Nature and Scope of the Soil Microbiome
- Nature of soil
- Soil structure & texture
- Soil structure and porosity
- Soil structure research
- Topsoil thickness
- Nutrient components
- Carbon and nutrient content
- Carbon retention
- Nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur
- Other important indicators of soil health
- Acidity (pH) and salinity
- Environmental factors affecting soil health
- Drought and frost
- Erosion and water retention
- Nature of soil microbes
- Bacteria and archaea
- Viruses and fungi
- Protozoa
- Scope of the soil microbiome
- Plant-microbe relationships
- Microbe interrelationships
- Changes to the soil microbiome
- Definitions and concepts for understanding soil
Unit 2 – Analysing the Soil Microbiome Status
- Measurement vs. Monitoring in soil biology
- Things the soil microbiome can help measure or monitor
- Types of soil biological testing and analysis
- Deciding on the right type of test
- Overview of different testing types
- Cotton strip assay
- Microbial activity using basal carbon dioxide respiration
- Microbial biomass
- Identification through culturing
- Potentially mineralisable nitrogen
- Biolog plates
- Microarrays
- Community profiling
- More advanced approaches to the microbiome: omics
- Transcriptomics
- 16S rRNA
- PCR
- PCR-ELISA
- Bioinformatics
Unit 3 – Human Impact on Microbiomes
- Land development and urbanisation
- Changes in land use and microbial communities
- Problems with land development on soils
- Climate change
- Pollution
- Air pollution
- Deposition and precipitation
- Erosion
- Microplastics
- Anti-microbials
- Antibiotic resistance
- Monocultures
Unit 4 – Soil Substrates and Additives
- Soil substrates
- Inorganic substrate materials
- Perlite and vermiculite
- Sand and rockwool
- Organic substrate materials
- Peat, coir and bark
- Soilless substrates and microbes
- Substrate technology
- Substrate engineering
- Substrate evaluation
- Novel technologies used in substrate management
- Tomography
- Rhizometrics
- Mini-horhizotron
- Rhizometer
- Inorganic additives
- Organic additives
- Manures and compost
- Fungal additives
Unit 5 – Conventional vs Organic Soil Management
- Conventional vs organic soil management practices
- Conventional practices
- Soil carbon modelling
- Organic practices
- Composting
- Crop rotations
- Cover crops
- No tillage farming
- Organic pest & disease control
- Weed control
- Rotational grazing
- Livestock management
- Biodynamics
- Biodynamic preparations/sprays
Unit 6 – Soil Fertility Management
- Soil management strategies
- Soil organic matter
- Cover crops
- Cocktail cover crop
- Legume crops
- Longer crop rotations
- Reduced tillage
- Planting trees
- Organic additives
- Soil humus
- Building soil humus
- Humates
- Composting
- Animal manures
- Microbial inoculants & microorganisms
- Use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculants
- Specific inoculums
- Protozoa tea
- Earthworms
- Inorganic additives
- Gypsum and lime
Unit 7 – Plant Interactions with a Microbiome
- Soil organisms
- Function of plant microbiome
- Effect of non-native species
- Soil microbiome and plants
- Plant-soil feedback
- Plant-microbe associations
- Examples of plant-microbe associations (plant families & species)
- Effects of different microbes
- Other associations
- Cover crops & grapevines
- Crop rotations & microbiomes
- Types of cover crops & microbiomes
Unit 8 – Pest and Disease Interactions With a Microbiome
- Biopesticides
- Advantages of biopesticides
- Biological control agents
- Microbial pesticides
- Advantages of microbial insecticides
- Entomopathogenic fungi
- Protozoa
- Bacteria
- Engineering microbial inoculants to suppress disease
Unit 9 – Soil Regeneration Practices
- Restoring the soil microbiome
- Practical methods which benefit the soil microbiome
- Reducing soil disturbance
- No tillage (zero tillage)
- Advantages of no till farming
- Controlled traffic farming
- Advantages of controlled traffic farming
- Increasing crop diversity & organic matter
- Alley farming
- Cover crops
- Mulching & composting
- Biochar
- Increasing soil microbes
- Microbial inoculation
- Plant breeding and microbiome engineering
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
Good course material. Very easy to submit assessments with good clear instructions.
R. Sloan, Stanhope, NSW | Certificate of Soil Microbiome Management
It was a well worth investment and great experience.
Cornelius | Wodonga, VIC | Certificate of Soil Microbiome Management
About Us
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Enrol Now
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and EFT/Direct Deposit. Please allow 1-2 Business days for processing for EFT and BPAY.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
Are there any computer requirements?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:
- Plant producer
- Horticulturalist
- Farmer
- Gardener
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