Agricultural Landscape Systems unit (KLA381)

Hobart, Launceston

Introduction

This unit links your knowledge in agronomy, horticulture and business to the area of agricultural land resource assessment. We will develop your understanding and land management skills via practical experiences with SE Tasmanian soil and land resources. This unit will put it to practise your basic knowledge of soil chemistry, soil physics, physical geography and environmental sciences. We will also introduce you to GIS and geophysical methods in addition to field and online assessment of land resources. Agricultural Landscape Systems KLA381 – KLA534 involves assessing land for sustainable and profitable production potential for a range of uses. It will involve desk-top (web searches), field (soil pits, geophysics) and minor laboratory based assessment of the soils, landforms, climate, hydrology, vegetation and geology on a small area in SE Tasmania. This information will be used by you to assess both land capability and suitability. You will be asked to report and justify your assessments in a seminar and via several written reports. Hobart campus based students will be working in pairs and will thus share their marks for assessment tasks undertaken together. Distance students (Launceston and interstate) can work alone or in pairs if possible, on a local property/farm following consultation with Dr Doyle. The unit involves 5 - 6 days (practicals + out of class time) field work involving soil profile description, land use assessment, topographic evaluations (slope angle, aspect etc) followed by limited soil testing of soil samples in the laboratory. We also aim to undertaking some geophysical assessments i.e., EM (electromagnetic) and radiometric (Ur, Th and K) surveys on the same property. Learning will be based on theory (lectures and your reading), fieldwork, laboratory work and some computer laboratory sessions. Your assessment tasks include both written and oral activities. The theory will cover soil survey, soil and land classifications, landform assessment, catchment hydrology and use of GIS software.

Summary

Unit name	Agricultural Landscape Systems
Unit code	KLA381
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Sciences and Engineering Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
Discipline	Agriculture and Food Systems
Coordinator	Associate Professor Marcus Hardie
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Advanced

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Hobart	Semester 1
Launceston	Semester 1

Note

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Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 1	22/2/2026	16/3/2026	19/4/2026	13/6/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Describe soil profiles in the field and map and classify them using the Australian standard systems.
• Collect, interpret and integrate soil, land, climate and crop information so as to make sustainable and productive land use assessments and evaluations.
• Be able to utilise basic GIS and online spatial information systems and portals.
• Communicate clearly and justify your land resource assessments via written and oral reporting.

Fee Information

Field of Education	Commencing Student Contribution 1,3	Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3	Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3	Domestic Full Fee 4
050101	$592.00	$592.00	not applicable	$3,382.00

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

¹ Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
² Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
³ Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
⁴ Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Prerequisites

(Admission into a Masters course) OR ((KLA213 - Soil Formation, Function and Fertility OR KEA101 - Understanding Earth Systems OR KEA102 - Earth Resources, Environments and Evolution))

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	26 lectures, 13 x 3-hr practicals, several full-day field trips including on weekends
Assessment	Desktop Study (15%)|Oral Defence (20%)|Examination (30%)|Final report (35%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.