LCA Agriculture/Horticulture study plan

Explain how soil texture, structure, and profile depth determine drainage, rooting volume, and plant suitability on a given site

Read a soil test report and convert its recommendations into amendment quantities for a stated bed area and depth

Describe how to run a simple infiltration test and interpret the result against typical drainage classes

Identify the site-assessment inputs (slope, aspect, exposure, existing vegetation, utilities) that must be gathered before any design decision

Calculate fertilizer rates from a soil test recommendation and label analysis, showing the arithmetic step by step

Distinguish when to use granular, liquid, slow-release, and organic sources based on timing, mobility, and risk of loss

Describe how soil pH shifts nutrient availability and select an appropriate corrective amendment for acidic and alkaline soils

Explain how to prevent nutrient runoff and leaching when applying fertilizer near slopes, hardscape, and water bodies

Select plants for a stated site by matching hardiness zone, light, moisture, mature size, and maintenance budget

Write planting specifications covering stock grade, root flare depth, hole width, backfill, staking, and mulching

Sequence establishment care for the first two seasons, including watering frequency, mulch refresh, and pruning timing

Diagnose three common transplant failures (root girdling, planting too deep, insufficient water) from symptom descriptions

Build an integrated pest management decision flow that starts with monitoring thresholds and ends with a documented treatment record

Identify the pest, disease, and weed categories by symptom and describe one cultural, one biological, and one chemical control for each

Explain herbicide mode-of-action groups and the resistance and drift risks that drive rotation and application timing

Describe pollinator and beneficial-insect protection measures to apply before any pesticide application

Calculate irrigation run time from emitter output, application rate, and the target depth of water

Compare drip, spray, and rotor zones and assign each to an appropriate planting type and slope condition

Describe how to grade and set base for a paver patio, including excavation depth, subbase compaction, and edge restraint

Explain how drainage features (swales, French drains, catch basins) are sized and connected to avoid water against structures

Sequence a hardscape installation from layout and excavation through base, setting bed, and finishing

Select equipment and tools for a stated task and justify the choice on productivity, risk, and site access

Describe required personal protective equipment and safe operating practices for chainsaws, trenchers, and skid-steer loaders

Identify the safety and legal steps to take before digging, including utility locate requests and underground hazards

Take off quantities from a written scope and build a line-item estimate covering labor, material, equipment, and overhead

Apply markup to convert cost into price and explain the difference between margin and markup with a worked example

Draft contract terms covering scope, change orders, payment schedule, warranty, and dispute resolution

Describe how to document a change order and communicate schedule impacts to a client in writing

Summarize the environmental compliance obligations that apply to landscape work, including erosion control, water-use limits, and protected species or wetland buffers

Explain how to handle and store fertilizers, pesticides, and fuel to prevent spills and meet label and local requirements

Review missed items from earlier weeks and rebuild a personal error list with the correction for each

Complete a timed 60-question mixed practice set and score it by domain to find remaining weak areas