Land restoration and reclamation practices in relation to improving soil structural conditions for optimal crop growth and prevention of soil resource losses must be grounded on an understanding of principles from soil science, bio-science and engineering.

In addition, effective land restoration and reclamation must also consider the theoretical and practical principles underlying the successful management of soil organic carbon and the application of nutrients and organic manures to land.

At a glance

What you will learn

On successful completion of this short course you will:

  • Understand the principles of soil strength/failure and apply this to the physical management of soil,
  • Understand issues of soil stability and plasticity,
  • Quantify soil compaction and devise strategies to minimise compaction and/or rectify the problem,
  • Describe the routes to soil physical and biological damage and devise strategies to minimise degradation and ecosystem disruption,
  • Evaluate the dynamics of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus as major nutrients in soils,
  • Identify the pathways of contaminants in soils and their impacts to the ecosystem,
  • Implement suitable strategies to reduce pollution in soils taking into account the associated risks,
  • Identify organic wastes, their nutrient contents and risks associated with their application to land.

Core content

  • Reasons for tillage and land management in land restoration and reclamation,
  • Basics of soil mechanics: shear strength of soil & Mohr-Coulomb equation, effect of texture, moisture content and density on soil strength; Bearing capacity theory; Soil plasticity, Consistency and Atterberg limits,
  • Mechanics, assessment and alleviation of soil compaction,
  • Soil loosening - restoration: case study,
  • Basic soil implement mechanics; choice of implements for particular operations,
  • Microbiological, chemical and physical changes in soil during storage,
  • Risk assessment and treatment of contaminated land (workshop),
  • Dynamics and management of soil carbon nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients in the context of effective land restoration and reclamation,
  • Organic manures, properties and management; Risk assessments of wastes spread to land,
  • Contaminant sources, loadings and impacts.

Upgrade to a professional qualification

Cranfield credits are available for this short course which you can put towards selected Cranfield degrees. Find out more about short course credit points.

Partnerships

This course is provided via the Agrifood Training Partnership (AFTP).

Speakers

Dr Abdul Mouazen - Senior Lecturer in Agrifood & Enviromental Engineering

Concessions

20% discount for Cranfield alumni, 10% discount for colleagues of alumni
£1,340 - Professional/trade association discount
£1,280 - Multiple bookings*
* Minimum of 5 delegates.


Accommodation options and prices

This is a non-residential course. If you would like to book accommodation on campus, please contact Mitchell Hall or Cranfield Management Development Centre directly. Further information regarding our accommodation on campus can be found here.

Alternatively you may wish to make your own arrangements at a nearby hotel.

Location and travel

Cranfield University is situated in Bedfordshire close to the border with Buckinghamshire. The University is located almost midway between the towns of Bedford and Milton Keynes and is conveniently situated between junctions 13 and 14 of the M1.

London Luton, Stansted and Heathrow airports are 30, 90 and 90 minutes respectively by car, offering superb connections to and from just about anywhere in the world.

For further location and travel details

Read our Professional development (CPD) booking conditions.