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
Teaching support
Prerequisites
Recommended prerequisites
Assessment method
Examiner scheme
Mandatory activity
Teaching hours
Reduction of credits
Admission requirements