Title: Examine best management practices for improving soil health.
Course: Landscaping I (18054-I) > Section: Gaining an Overview of the Importance of Soil and Plant Science in the Landscaping Industry

Examination should include

- the current state of the soil (e.g., organic matter, macronutrient, micronutrient availability)
- the planned use of the soil
- soil management practices (e.g., no-till farming, conservation tillage, crop rotation, cover cropping, mulching, grassed waterways, buffer strips).

Process/Skill Questions:

- What is organic matter?
- What effect does organic matter have on the physical and chemical properties of soil?
- What soil conservation practices can producers use to prevent soil degradation and build organic matter?
- What are the environmental costs for not using best management practices on a given area?
- What soil management practices are used in the landscaping industry?
- What is the importance of soil drainage and water-holding capacity as it relates to plant growth and development?
- How can soil drainage and water-holding capacity be improved?

Teacher Resource:

- Agriculture: Programs, Best Management Practices, and Topics of Interest, EPA