JORD100 Soil Science

Credits (ECTS):5

Course responsible:Line Tau Strand

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norsk

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:125 hours in total. Lectures and exercises: 48 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Autumn parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Autumn parallel.

About this course

Soil is an important part of the ecosystem and this course provides an introduction to soil science that should appeal to everyone who is interested in terrestrial ecosystems and the ecosystem services where soil has a key role. Knowledge of and correct use of soil science terminology is important, and we emphasis on you mastering this enabling you to us it in other classes later in your studies. We go through soils primary constituents, structure and horizon development, how these are measured and described. Here we connect soil physics, chemistry and biology to applied agronomy, forestry and water and nature management. We focus on the organic material in soil and how soil should be considered a living organism. How our management of organic material and living organisms in soil is of great importance for emission of greenhouse gases, source or sink. The importance of water movement in and through soil cannot be exaggerated, it is important both for plant growth and for the quality of both ground- and surface water. We emphasize the importance of geology for soil properties and soil development, these sciences are linked together from small-scale clay mineralogy and weathering processes to large-scale erosion and landscape processes. Soil formation is a slow process, and should not be considered a renewable resource. We must therefore protect this resource through careful and knowledge based management. Soil is becoming increasingly important in the 'Green Shift', more waste must be recycled, oil-based non-renewable fertilizers must be phased out, biodiversity must be safeguarded, we must ensure that such a shift takes place in a sustainable way.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, students will have the following learning outcomes, you should be able to:

Knowledge:

  • use and understand basic soil terminology and definitions related to soil-forming factors and processes.
  • recognize and describe different soil types at the order level based on an international soil classification system
  • describe the main groups of living organisms in soil and their importance for the turnover of organic matter in soil.
  • describe the factors that are important for the soil water balance and the flow of water, air and heat in soil.
  • recognize the main groups of clay minerals in soils and describe their most important properties
  • describe the most important processes determining pH and ion exchange in soil
  • describe the nutrient cycles for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in soil as well as the factors that are of greatest importance for plant availability of these nutrients.

Skills:

  • interpret horizon designations used in soil profile descriptions
  • perform simple calculations that describe important soil physical and soil chemical properties
  • perform a field assessment of soil texture and a field assessment of soil structure.

General knowledge:

  • communicate and use soil science in further studies
  • appreciate the importance of soil science for relevant ecosystem services.
  • Learning activities
    The lectures are used to introduce the most important topics in basic soil science. For each topic, a quiz is made in Canvas, which is opened after the lecture and can be done at any time before the exam. Four of these are among the eight mandatory activities that must be approved in order to take the exam. Reading is important for learning, and we encourage everyone to obtain the textbook and stay updated according to the given syllabus. A week schedule with activities, syllabus and page numbers will be posted at the start of the course, updates and changes will be notified through Canvas. In addition to the textbook, we have written three short notes on Norwegian soils, soil types and organic matter in soil, these are intended as a supplement to the textbook. The exercises are partly outdoors with a practical introduction on how to determine texture and soil structure as well as how to perform a simple profile descriptions of selected soil types. Exercises related to how to calculate some important physical and chemical soil properties are also given. Four of the mandatory submissions will be related to theses outdoor exercises and the exercises related to physical and chemical soil properties. We encourage students to form colloquium groups, but this should be done on their own initiative.
  • Teaching support
    Information will be given through the course pages in Canvas. The course coordinator will be available for questions and guidance during office hours.
  • Prerequisites
    KJM100 - Basic chemsitry
  • Recommended prerequisites
    Basic geology (GEO100)
  • Assessment method

    Assessment:

    • Written examination (3 hours) (100%)

    Grading system A-E / Not passed



    Karakterregel: Letter grades Hjelpemiddel: A1 No calculator, no other aids Karakterregel: Letter grades Hjelpemiddel: A1 No calculator, no other aids
  • Examiner scheme
    Written exam will be internally assessed. External evaluator will be used to ensure the level of curriculum and teaching approach
  • Mandatory activity

    Eight compulsary self-tests/exercises submitted through the course page in canvas

    Approved compulsary activity is valid valid also the next time the course is offered.

  • Teaching hours
    Lectures/exercises: 44 hours. Outdoor exercises: 4 hours per student group (2 hours per week for 2 weeks).
  • Reduction of credits
    JORD100 reduced with 3 ECTS against JORD160 and 5 ECTS against JORD101.
  • Admission requirements
    Special requirements in Science