Advanced Soil Health International Certificate Training Course:
Understanding, Measuring, and Managing Soil Health
October 3 – November 14, 2023
Learn from leading Cornell University scientists on topics related to soil health. This course covers the basic principles all the way to the latest science on measuring and managing soil health.
Live lectures will be held Tuesdays. Office hours are held Thursdays, after live lecture days.
- Tuesday Lectures: 9:00 am – 11:00 am EST | 11:00 am – 11:30 am Q&A/discussion
- Thursday Office Hours: 10:00 am – 11:00 am EST
All lectures will be recorded and available within a few hours after the live session, and asynchronous attendance is an option.
- Seven modules each involving 2.5 hours of lectures and 2-3 hours of self-study and testing per week are offered (total of 50 hours spread over 7 weeks)
- Additional virtual office hours with the instructors will be available weekly following each module
- Small project assignment (full course only)
- All lectures will be recorded and made available for review.
- Participants can choose to take only the basic modules (three), or the full course (basic & advanced modules)
- Participants will receive a certificate of Completion and also an electronic badge (use on LinkedIn) when completing the full course and Soil Health Project Assignment (optional)
Course Materials
Canvas software is used to administer the course. Reading materials are available in electronic format and timed open-book quizzes are administered to evaluate participants on the assigned materials. A final project is assigned at the end of the course, for which participants have several days to complete. Pitch decks are to be uploaded onto the Canvas Media Gallery. Team discussions are encouraged for the project.
Primary Reading material (free electronic download)
Magdoff, F.R., and H.M. van Es. 2021. Building Soils for Better Crops: Ecological Management for Healthy Soil. Handbook Series Book 10. Sustainable Agric. Research and Education, Waldorf, MD. Free download from sare.org as pdf file, or purchase a printed copy.
B.N. Moebius-Clune et al. 2017. Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health – The Cornell Framework manual, Edition 3.2. Cornell University, Geneva, NY. Free download.
Along with:
- Selected Readings and Videos available on the Canvas site
- Content Quizzes and Final Project
Basic Modules
Module I: Understanding Soils and Soil Health
• Soils, Their Roles, and Historical Context
• Soil Health Concepts and Benefits
• Focus Topic: Grasslands
• Virtual Office Hours and Discussion: Questions and Answers with Instructors
• On-line Quiz #1 (open book)
Module II: Soil Chemistry and Physics
• Soil Chemistry and Nutrients
• Soil, Water, Erosion, and Compaction
• Focus Topic: Soil Health and Human Health
• Virtual Office Hours and Discussion: Questions and Answers with Instructors
• On-line Quiz #2 (open book)
Module III: Soil Biology, and Soil Health Management Concepts
• Soil Biology, Organic Matter, and Carbon
• Soil Health Management Concepts and Approaches; Carbon Management
• Focus Topic: Organic Management
• Virtual Office Hours and Discussion: Questions and Answers with Instructors
• On-line Quiz #3 (open book)
Advanced Modules
Module IV: Soil Health Assessment and Interpretation; Agronomic Diversification
• Soil Health Assessment
• Crop Diversity and Livestock
• Focus Topic: South Asia
• Virtual Office Hours and Discussion: Questions and Answers with Instructors
• On-line Quiz #4 (open book)
Module V: Soil Health Management: Cover Crops, Tillage, Compaction, Water
• Cover Cropping
• Tillage, Compaction and Water Management
• Focus Topic: Planting green
• Virtual Office Hours and Discussion: Questions and Answers with Instructors
• On-line Quiz #5 (open book)
Module VI: Soil Amendments and Soil Health Data Interpretation
• Soil Amendments: Manure, compost, biochar, etc.
• Data Interpretation and Learnings from Soil Health Data
• Focus Topic: Standardizing soil health data interpretation
• Virtual Office Hours and Discussion: Questions and Answers with Instructors
• On-line Quiz #6 (open book)
Module VII: Digital Technologies and Soil Health Planning
• Soil Health and Digital Technologies
• Health Management Planning Process and Scenarios
• Focus Topic: A Soil Health Management Plan
• Virtual Office Hours and Discussion: Questions and Answers with Instructors
• Soil Health Project Assignment (optional)