A thorough understanding of the principles of soil science and the sustainability of the practices of soil management are vital within agriculture as it faces up to pressures of the quality and security of food supply, climate change and increasing environmental concerns. This specialism will develop knowledge and understanding and, through the placement and research project, these concepts will be applied to the real world. Course structure There is growing awareness of the limited resources available on this planet, and the need to manage non-renewable resources carefully. Soil is renewable but not easily on human timescales. Continued progress in reaching high technical standards of crop production must, therefore, be tempered by careful management of the soil (and water) resources. The BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Sustainable Soil Management provides an opportunity for you to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and vision needed for the future, through examining how elements of low input, organic and other forms of agricultural management affect soil carbon, nutrient supply, and soil quality. Existing issues will be considered, also in the context of changing climates to ensure long-term sustainability. In addition to the core agricultural content (see table) there are specialist modules in: * Soil and environmental science * Sustainable management of soil and water resources These modules provide you with the scientific understanding and technical skills needed to develop and grow the crops vital for the future. Substantial potential for specialisation occurs in the third year; a final year research project will be on a topic within soil science/management and, in addition to the specialist module, you can also take modules in soil analysis, sustainability of agricultural systems, and environmental management, which offer the opportunity to develop their expertise further. The compulsory 20-week work placement, or one year in industry, will focus on soil management, and activities can be undertaken in a number of topics, such as: cultivation and soil management, nutrient management, composting and organic systems, fertiliser trials, both on farms and in research situations.

* Resource management * Environmental management * Farming and farm management * Agronomy * Research, teaching and technical consultancy