Postgraduate Course: Novel strategies for carbon storage in soil (PGGE11212)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Students interested in soils and agriculture currently learn soil processes and function and conventional strategies to managing soil and crop impacts on environment and carbon cycle. Challenges facing
global agriculture are explored in Food Security, etc. This course will consider 'disruptive' (transformative) technologies and their potential contribution to the management of future crop production, resource use and carbon storage. This focuses on biochar but also other negative emissions technologies related to soil management, notably carbonation and peat land management. Consideration of biochar and carbonation technologies extends well beyond soils to
engineering and aspects of systems and social science. Those approaching the course from the engineering and social science side will learn about agriculture as an engineered natural system (opportunities and challenges). |
| Course description |
1. Introduction to engineered soils
2. Biochar system and principles
3. Biochar properties and soil functions
4. Biochar production systems
5. Field visit - UKBRC pyrolysis facilities
6. Biochar systems fit - soils and agriculture
7. Biochar systems fit - biomass and bioenergy
8. Introduction to carbonation
9. Introduction to peat land management
10.Field visit - SRUC field site
Course develops broad systems thinking with an emphasis on innovation. This is a perspective important in the area of environment, engineering and agriculture with new technologies deployed in a rapidly changing world.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 16,
Fieldwork Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
74 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Two coursework elements:
* Report on field visit(s);
* Essay and diagrams presenting a system-based strategy for biochar deployment in a defined agricultural context (of the student's choice). |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Recognition of transformative land management technology options and their possible future uses;
- Frameworks for assessing flexibility, policy context and 'systems fit' in technology deployment;
- Deeper understanding of carbon, nutrient and matrix diversity in soil, in relation to associated agriculture, energy and resource systems.
- Thinking outside the box (beyond current technology to emergent or transformative technologies);
- System level thinking (understanding the interactions of agriculture with connected systems);
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Reading List
*Lehmann, J. and S. Joseph, Eds. (2009) Biochar for Environmental Management: Science and Technology. Earthscan. London
*Lal, R., Kimble, J.M. and Stewart B.A. (1999) Global Climate Change and Pedogenic Carbonates, CRC Press, 300pp |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Sustainable intensification,international development,bioenergy,carbon cycle,greenhouse gases,r |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Saran Sohi
Tel: (0131 6)51 4471
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Edwin Cruden
Tel: (0131 6)50 2543
Email: |
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