1. RHS Level 2
Certificate
Barriers to Learning and Soil Organic
Matter

2. Learning objectives
 Identify two ways to improve personal time management
for study.
 Identify two techniques to overcome negative attitudes to
study
 5.1 State the main sources of organic matter in the soil,
to include: recycling of natural resources (plant and
animal remains); incorporation of imported resources,
e.g. farm-yard manure and garden compost;
incorporation of crop debris.
 5.2 Describe TWO beneficial effects and TWO limitations
of organic matter in the soil.
 5.3 List four bulky organic materials that can be used for
soil improvement in a garden, including farmyard
manures; garden compost; mushroom compost;
composted municipal waste.
 5.4 Compare the benefits and limitations of each of the
materials listed in 5.3 for soil improvement.

3. Soil Profile and Texture
Homework outcomes
 In groups discuss outcomes and
complete the forms.
 How would you manage the soils you
have identified? Water, drainage,
organic matter, structure?
 What are the variations across the
district?
 Any anomalies – ‘builders top soil’,
cultivation pans etc.

4. Study Planning and Time
Management
 Four D’s – Do It! Delegate it! Dump it!
Do it less well!
 Written Study plan
 Family support (see Delegate it!)
 Rewards and motivation – watch out
for the ‘fifth week blues’

5. Barriers to Learning
 Negative beliefs about ourselves as
learners
 How to challenge these?
 I can’t do this….yet!
 Fear of failure
 How to overcome this?
 Focus on the positive.

6. Soil Organic Matter
 Natural cycle of deposition and
decomposition interrupted by
harvesting, weeding and cultivation
 Without additional organic material the
soil becomes depleted.
 Sandy soils lose organic matter more
quickly than clay soils. Decomposition
needs air and the speed is
temperature and moisture dependent.

7. Main Sources of Organic
Matter in the Soil
 Natural decomposition of leaves and
plants and animals after death.
 From the garden – digging in crop
residues; garden compost
 Brought in materials – mushroom
compost; municipal composted
garden waste; farm yard manure.

8. Advantages and disadvantages
of crop debris etc
Advantages Disadvantages
Present on site Unlikely to be
already sufficient on its own
No risk of importing Turning in weed
diseases seeds that will
germinate if exposed
to light
Low effort – digging in Soil may then contain
only very coarse organic
matter
Recycles waste

9. Advantages and
disadvantages of compost
Advantages Disadvantages
Low cost – either free Local authority
or purchased from LA compost may contain
plastics, perennial
weeds etc
Good source of May contain pests and
nutrients diseases if not ‘hot’
composted
Recycles waste that Uncertain nutrient
would otherwise be composition.
dumped

10. Advantages and disadvantages
of Farm Yard Manure
Advantages Disadvantages
Long lasting in the soil Needs to be stacked
and stored
Good source of Uncertain nutrient
nutrients composition
Good for improving Can contain herbicide
drainage residues
Easily available and Can acidify soil;
inexpensive in bulk anaerobic
decomposition causes
foul smell

11. Advantages and disadvantages
of spent mushroom compost
Advantages Disadvantages
Recycles waste Not readily available
in many areas
Alkaline so good for Alkaline so not good
vegetable plots for acid loving plants,
fruit etc
Good organic content Can be expensive due
and already partially to transport costs
rotted – no need to unless collected.
stack.

12. Advantages and limitations of
adding organic matter to the
soil
Advantages Limitations
Improves drainage and Needs to be regularly
water holding capacity applied in bulk –
especially intensively
cultivated soils
Encourages formation of Breaks down more
‘crumb’ structure quickly in well aerated,
well drained soils
Darkens soil so it warms Can acidify the soil as it
more quickly decomposes
Improves CEC Likely to need to import
material

13. Learning outcomes
 Identify two ways to improve personal time management
for study.
 Identify two techniques to overcome negative attitudes to
study
 5.1 State the main sources of organic matter in the soil,
to include: recycling of natural resources (plant and
animal remains); incorporation of imported resources,
e.g. farm-yard manure and garden compost;
incorporation of crop debris.
 5.2 Describe TWO beneficial effects and TWO limitations
of organic matter in the soil.
 5.3 List four bulky organic materials that can be used for
soil improvement in a garden, including farmyard
manures; garden compost; mushroom compost;
composted municipal waste.
 5.4 Compare the benefits and limitations of each of the
materials listed in 5.3 for soil improvement.