Postgraduate Course: Soil Science Concepts and Application (PGGE11180)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences) |
Other subject area | Environmental Courses |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The course will provide an introduction to soil biology, physics and chemistry through a series of lectures and associated lab classes and field visits aimed at providing a foundation in the essential components of soil science.
Students will be introduced to soil classification and techniques used in soil surveying as well as the basic lab skills required to conduct soils research, sampling, analysis and reporting across the biological, chemical and physical aspects of the discipline. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
13/01/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Learning and Teaching Activities |
| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Assessment Methods
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Learning the importance of soil analysis and its relation to sustainable use.
To be able to plan, undertake, analyse and report soil physical, chemical and biological investigations.
2. General, analytical understanding of tests pertinent to soil chemical, physical and biological assessment.
3. Organisation skills to plan, execute and report on scientific investigation and management of evaluations.
4. To participate in individual and team activities toward the completion of assignments and goals.
5. Critical thinking to evaluate information, feasibility of management options and interpretations of outcomes. |
Assessment Information
| Student assessment would comprise of appropriately weighted laboratory class reports (3 x 10%)and an essay (70%) exploring a topic pertinent to practical soil assessment within today's society. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
This course provides an insight and experience of skills set identified as currently desirable to the employment sector concerned with the sustainability of soils and the wider environment. |
| Syllabus |
The course would be delivered over 10 teaching periods (weeks). A provisional outline of which is as follows:
1. Introduction to soil
a. Heterogeneity and the interaction of the biotic and abiotic
b. Complexity of the physics, chemistry and biology
c. Soil classification systems and the major soil orders of the world
2. The future of soil science
a. Historical perspectives
b. Current legislative and social considerations
c. Advancement and future prospects/goals
3. Soil Sampling
a. Strategies and feasibility
b. Qualitative and quantitative determinations
c. Methods of recovery
d. Storage of materials and consideration of analysis
4. Soil biology
a. Diversity, abundance and potential indicators
b. Beneficials, pathogens and indicators
c. Methods
i. Classical taxonomy
ii. Molecular approaches
5. Soil Biology (Lab Class)
a. Recovery of fungi/nematodes and incorporating classical fungal/nematode id from keys
b. DNA extraction and analytical equipment
6. Soil Chemistry
a. Mechanisms of analysis
b. Importance of storage, time and analysis in soil science
c. Methods of analysis for N, P, C determination
7. Soil Chemistry (Lab Class)
a. Preparation of salts for soil extraction
b. Preparation of acids for soil analysis (theoretical)
c. Extraction, purification and analysis of soils for nitrate/nitrate and phosphorous
8. Soil Physics
a. Soil physical characteristics
b. Methods of soil physical characteristics
9. Soil Physics (Lab Class)
a. Hand texturing
b. Soil moisture content
c. Bulk Density
10. Reporting soil science
a. Sources of information
b. Minimal requirements
c. Interpretation of results
d. The role of advisors/consultants
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | soil biology, soil classificiation |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Oliver Knox
Tel: 0131 535 4066
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Elspeth Martin
Tel: 0131 535 4198
Email: |
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