Unit One Objectives
· Explain the concept of terroir and how it relates to fine wines
· Explain five reasons why soil management is important in vineyards
· Describe the three main horizons of a soil profile
· List and describe the five soil-forming factors
· List and describe at least five different types of parent materials
· Justify why soil should be considered a natural body and not just inert rock
· List the components of soil and their percentage make-up
Unit Two Objectives
· Define the term “soil texture”
· Determine the approximate soil texture by feel
· Use the soil textural triangle to divide soil into one of twelve soil texture classes
· Explain how soil texture affects soil temperature, water, and tilth
· Explain the role of minerals in soil
· Define mineralization and immobilization
· Explain the importance of the C:N ratio
· Explain the importance of decomposers and reducers in the soil biomass
· Describe the process for formation of humus
Unit Three Objectives
· List the six characteristics involved in soil structure formation
· Describe the five major types of soil aggregate
· List and describe the four grades of soil aggregates
· Describe the factors that affect aggregate stability
· Explain what a soil pan is and why it is a concern
· Given the proper numbers be able to calculate the following: bulk density, soil porosity, water-filled porosity, and air-filled porosity
· Explain the process of soil respiration and aeration
· Explain how and why soil temperature fluctuates
Unit Four Objectives
· List the 16 nutrients required for a plant to grow normally
· Explain how soil texture and structure affect plant growth.
· Recognize the role of cation exchange in plant nutrition.
· Discuss the important contributions of organic matter to soil properties.
· Explain soil pH and the pH scale.
· Explain how lime works in the soil and list common liming materials.
· Calculate the ECCE, CCE, neutralizing value, and size reactivity of liming material.
· Calculate amounts of liming materials that should be applied to achieve the recommended lime requirements from a soil test report.
· Describe how soil pH affects nutrient availability.
· List the process or practices that cause soil pH to change.
· Define soil solution and describe its relationship to nutrient availability.
· Describe the concept of buffering capacity.
· Explain the importance of the C:N ratio in the soil.
· Define and calculate base saturation of a soil.
Unit Five Objectives
· Explain the nutrient cycling process
· Explain the mineralization and immobilization process of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
· Explain how nutrient ions our retained and released in the soil
· Explain the concept of Cation Exchange Capacity and its importance
· Describe the process by which plant roots absorb nutrients
Unit Six Objectives
· Describe the functions of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium in crop growth.
· Describe and explain the nitrogen cycle.
· Describe symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
· Recognize how physical properties and cropping systems affect nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium fertilization.
· Describe the properties of the common nitrogen fertilizers and their advantages and disadvantages.
· Recognize how the soil retains phosphorous and potassium.
· Describe how immobilization and mineralization affect nutrient availability.
· Discuss the role of potassium in the plant and the concept of luxury consumption.
· List the analysis, physical form, and handling precautions of each of the following inorganic fertilizer sources: normal superphoshate, superphoshoric acid, triple superphosphate, and diammonium phosphate, potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium nitrate.
· Recognize how fertilizer placement and time of application affect nutrient availability.
· Discuss plant deficiency symptoms for nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.
Unit Seven Objectives
· Discuss the role of the secondary and micronutrients in plant growth.
· Recognize the plant deficiency symptons of the secondary and micronutrients
· List methods of correcting secondary and micronutrients deficiencies.
· List the ionic form of which each nutrient is available to plants.
Unit Eight Objectives
· Describe the nutrient deficiency visual symptoms of five nutrients
· Convert nutrient requirements to fertilizer requirements
· List the advantages and disadvantages of the different nitrogen fertilizers
· List the advantages and disadvantages of the different phosphorous fertilizers
· List the sources of potassium, calcium, and magnesium fertilizers used in vineyards
· Explain how soil pH affects the availability of the macro and micronutrients
· Explain how soil acidification occurs and how to correct it
· Take a position, pro or con, on organic viticulture and justify your position
· Explain how the analysis of a petiole sample relates to nutrient requirements
· Compare and contrast the different methods of nutrient application.
Unit Nine Objectives
· Explain the procedures used in soil sampling.
· Discuss soil test results and cost of soil testing.
· Use a soil survey to locate a tract of land.
· Discuss the results of soil test summaries.
· Use a soil survey to describe characteristics of a soil profile of a tract of land.
· Recognize the purpose of plant tissue analysis and describe how it is used in a soil fertility program.
· Describe how to sample and submit plant samples for tissue analysis.
· Explain how soil test values are used to make fertilizer recommendations.
· Calculate nitrogen credits from animal wastes, sludges, legumes, and soil organic matter.
· Determine which of two fertilizer products is most economical.
Unit Ten Objectives
· Discuss the impact of fertilizer use on the environment.
· Explain how nitrogen losses affect the environment.
· Explain the concepts of Best Management Practices and Integrated Crop Management.
· Explain how site specific soil management can benefit the environment
Unit Eleven Objectives
· Explain the concept of soil water potential
· Define “available water capacity”
· Explain how water moves in the soil
· Diagram the hydrological cycle in a vineyard
· Explain how manage irrigation with the understanding of soil water properties
· Compare and contrast micro and macroirrigation systems
Unit Twelve Objectives
· Describe the idea physical soil environment for growing grapes
· Describe the idea chemical soil environment for growing grapes
· Explain how to manage the biological properties of the soil
· List and describe the major soil pests in grape growing
· List methods for controlling soil erosion in vineyards
· Describe the fate of chemicals, wastes, and nutrients in a vineyard
Unit Thirteen Objectives
· List and explain five important factors to consider in site selection for a vineyard
· Use a soil survey to identify a favorable site
· Describe how to prepare a site for vineyard establishment
Unit Fourteen Objectives
· Explain the concept of vines “in balance”
· Compare and contrast the geographical and technical approach to terroir
· Describe the characteristics of the Bordeaux Region in France
· Describe the characteristics of the Burgundy Region in France
· Describe the characteristics of the Napa Valley of California
· Describe the characteristics of the Willamette Valley of Oregon
· Describe the characteristics of selected wine regions of Southeastern Australia
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