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Industry insights: Soils – Supporting document – NSW (Manual)

The NSW Primary Industries Schools Program produced this teacher resource (answer guide) as part of its Industry Insights – Soils series. It is a digital workbook on soils that explains how soils are formed, what they are made of, and how they function in farming systems. #

It includes hands-on experiments, technology activities, and videos to help learners understand soil health, fertility, and sustainability. It also explores challenges such as erosion, salinity, and acidity, and how management practices can balance productivity with long-term soil care. #

The poster and student workbook activities are aligned to Stage 5 and 6 NSW Agriculture syllabus, and Australian Curriculum outcomes in Year 10 Science, Year 11& 12 Earth and Environmental Science, Design and Technologies and Geography. The answer guide and student workbook are downloaded as zip files. The accompanying Soil poster is available for purchase either individually or in a set. #

While the resource is tailored for NSW school agriculture courses, it is nationally relevant. It is also valuable for anyone wanting a structured introduction to soil science [Answer guide: PDF 12.5 MB, 31 pages, Student guide: PDF 20.1 MB, 174 pages]. #

Contents:
Soils
Soil physical properties
Soil chemical properties
Soil biological properties
Sustainable soil management
Soil systems careers
Past HSC questions

  • Audience: RSP, tertiary students, landholders, SFSG, consultants, school students, gardeners, citizen scientists
  • State: ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA
  • Author/Editor: M Dunford
  • Publisher: NSW DPIRD
  • Resource Type: Manual
  • Copyright Year: 2025
  • Not Provided
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Resource Last Updated: October 4, 2025

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Disclaimer:

This is a carefully curated database of important soil resources. The data base is not exhaustive but rather a library of the resources we believe are the most useful for the audience.  Each resource has been added after careful consideration against our selection criteria, including but not limited to its scientific validity, accessibility, and readability. The library generally does not include most academic research papers but may include some open-source papers written in accessible English.
 
SSA reminds users that these resources are a guide only.  Our understanding of soil science is improving continuously so it is important to check the suitability of the information for your purpose with an appropriately qualified professional such as a Registered Soil Professional or a Certified Professional Soil Scientist 
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We welcome your suggestions about valuable soil resources that could be included in the Smart Soils Resource Library. Please read this information before proceeding. Please remember, this Resource Library does not include scientific journal articles.

New resources are evaluated by Soil Science Australia’s membership of soil specialists.

Each new library resource is added after careful consideration, it must:
1. demonstrate good quality soil science. The resources must be scientifically valid. Case studies that contribute significantly to the understanding of soil management in Australian regions are also accepted.
2. be relevant to Australian soils, condition, constraints and management practices
3. add value to the Resource Library. If there are multiple resources in the Resource Library on the same topic then the suggested resource must improve on the existing resources that address the topic.
4. be readily available preferably in an electronic version. Some books may be out of print but should be available in libraries or from second-hand booksellers. The file size of resources should enable easy downloading or streaming.
5. be written in language appropriate for the intended audience.

Preferably, the resource should also meet the requirements of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. to make web content more accessible and user friendly for everyone.

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