Troy University ?Soil Properties and The Link to The Health of The Planet Essay This is an environmental science assignment. All requirements are in the PD

Troy University ?Soil Properties and The Link to The Health of The Planet Essay This is an environmental science assignment. All requirements are in the PDG document. You can complete the task according to the requirements in the PDF document. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. 2020/7/13
Assignment 3
ENVR 1000
A ssignment 3
SOIL PROPERTIES AND THE LINK TO THE HEALTH OF THE PLANET
Assignment 3 is worth 25% toward your grade in this course. This assignment provides you with the opportunity to
investigate the concepts and theories related to soil properties, formation health and fertility in Part A (worth 20 marks).
In Part B (worth 20 marks) you’ll examine human impacts on soils through the limitations of current agricultural
practices and investigate current research to enhance sustainable practices in developing nations that can improve food
security and ways to reduce environmental impacts in industrialized practices.
In particular, by completing the assignment you will:
demonstrate knowledge of the key concepts in soil formation and links to the provision of environmental goods
and services;
examine the interrelationship of soil fertility with the community of organisms;
examine the challenges that result from current agricultural (and other) practices in both developed and
developing nations that are degrading the qualities of soils; and
consider new sustainable strategies that offer solutions to these problems.
Your assignment should include your name and student number, be a maximum of 5 pages, and it MUST include intext citations as well as a reference list at the end of your assignment. You can use paragraphs/full sentences or point
form to answer each question. Remember that the assignment is worth a significant value (25% toward your course
total) and therefore you will be evaluated on the completeness of your answers. You should therefore spend time to
ensure that you’ve provided a complete and robust answer, and include at least 5 references based on your own
independent research. (The textbook, recommended websites listed in the assignment, and on-line class notes do not
contribute to these 5 references).
In completing the assignment, be sure to provide reference sources for your information to avoid plagiarism by using a
standard citation system as described in the following:
http://umanitoba.ca/Advoc-Cheat-Booklet-rev04-web.pdf
https://libguides.lib.umanitoba.ca/citingandwriting
http://tim.thorpeallen.net/Courses/Reference/Citations.html
Note that scientific style in writing does not include quotations. You must summarize technical information in your own
words.
Some useful resources (in addition to those found in Unit 3.5 on-line lecture notes) as a starting point in your research
include:
Course Materials – Unit 3.5 on-line course notes; Chapter 8 from textbook
Soil Physical and Chemical Properties – https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/nj/home/?
cid=nrcs141p2_018993
Soil Biology – https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/health/biology/
The Importance of Soil Organic Matter – http://www.fao.org/3/a0100e/a0100e04.htm
Indicators of Agricultural Sustainability – http://www.fao.org/sustainable-development-goals/indicators/241/en/
Part A. Soil Properties, Formation and Determination of Fertility (20 marks)
Review concepts of soil properties, the processes involved in soil formation, and features of the productive soils.
Based on your independent research, answer the following questions. (Remember that you are evaluated on the
completeness of your answer. Don’t forget citations):
1. Describe the key structural and functional properties of soils that contribute to their abilities to support producers
and primary productivity. (4 marks)
file:///C:/Users/gdx/Desktop/Content/assignments/Assignment3A.html
1/2
2020/7/13
Assignment 3
2. What is the process of soil formation? How does climate influence these processes, giving examples? (6 marks)
3. Outline the features of a soil food web and illustrate by providing examples. Describe the relationship that exists
between above ground autotroph biomass with the below ground soil community. What are the ecological goods
and services provided by a healthy community of soil organisms? (10 marks)
Part B. Alternative Agricultural Practices and the Future of the Planet (20 marks)
Watch the video ‘The Other Inconvenient Truth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igwitg9zFvQ&feature=emb_logo)’
and Regeneration of Our Lands: A Producer’s Perspective (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfTZ0rnowcc&t=1s).
These videos outline the challenges in feeding humanity and provide some ideas in terms of sustainable agricultural
strategies (or farming for the whole planet).
4. Describe elements of subsistent and industrialized farming and how these influence the environment. (2 marks)
5. Outline the features that are involved in sustainable agriculture in Canada. Apply these ideas to three other
regions of the world (e.g., China in Asia, Ethiopia in Africa, Brazil in South America). Be sure to identify how these
strategies work toward sustainability and how these have the potential to address issues such as food security, and
restore environmental processes (15 marks)
6. Based on this, do you believe that humanity can achieve our 2030 goals of sustainability by improving soil health?
(3 marks) Remember that your grade will be determined by how well you develop your answer and your justifications.
You must include in-text citation.
top
Copyright © 2014. Updated 2020.
All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission from the copyright owner.
The University of Manitoba
file:///C:/Users/gdx/Desktop/Content/assignments/Assignment3A.html
2/2

Purchase answer to see full
attachment