A Practical Introduction to Soils in Great Britain (Shuttleworth)

Exposing and describing a soil profile

[Shuttleworth College, Bedfordshire]

This one day field course is focused on soil profile description and uses the system described in the Soil Survey Field Handbook . The ability to expose a representative soil profile and to describe it accurately and consistently are skills that are fundamental to the study of soil in the field. This practical one day course teaches you how to:

• Safely expose a soil profile either by digging a pit or by using a soil auger,
• Consistently describe a site and a full soil profile using the England and Wales national system of description (including hand texturing, soil colour, structure, consistency, porosity, stone content, free lime, pedogenic features and roots/fauna present),
•  Interpret soil layers (broad horizon nomenclature), features and materials in terms of soil forming processes and the soil environment.

The couse is part laboratory, part field based. Working in a small group, you will dig your own pit, be taught each aspect of soil description in the laboratory and then apply these skills back in your own pit.

You receive a training pack that includes an illustrated course manual with detailed instructions on all aspects of site and soil exposure and description, soil description forms for future use and a hand lens. A copy of the Soil Survey Field Handbook is included.

The course qualifies for CPD points for various professional practice schemes.  

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