Undergraduate Course: Soils, Nutrients and Management (VETS10029)
Course Outline
| School | Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course develops the understanding of soil processes and their management required for effective crop production, soil conservation and ecosystem service provision. It builds on the concepts introduced in year 1 Science for Agri-Food Systems courses. |
| Course description |
Soil supports crop production through the supply of water and mineral nutrients essential for plant growth, but at the same time provides important ecosystem functions. The aim of the course is to develop an understanding of the processes that underlie these functions and the techniques available for managing soil to enhance crop productivity, nutrient and water use efficiency and long-term soil quality. The course will cover the following:
- Physical, chemical and biological properties of soil
- Mechanisms of nutrient cycling and factors determining availability for crops
- Nutrient losses through run-off, leaching, gaseous emissions
- Soil microbial ecology and above-ground/below-ground interactions
- Soil water relations; infiltration, run-off and plant water availability
- Soil management and conservation practice including tillage, alleviation and prevention of compaction, drainage, management of soil pH, integrated management approaches
- Treatment and application of organic fertilizers
- Soil organic matter management and conservation and soil
This course will be delivered by a series of lectures, tutorials, field visits and practicals.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Explain the effects of soil physical, chemical and biological properties on nutrient cycling, water availability and plant root growth;
- Explain the mechanisms governing losses of nutrients from the soil-plant systems and option to minimize those losses;
- Discuss the role of microbial ecological networks and above-below ground interactions in driving nutrient cycling and critically evaluate opportunities for managing these interactions;
- Apply an understanding of soil processes to design a suitable soil management strategy for a given situation
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Joanna Cloy
Tel: 0131 535 4213
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Gordon Littlejohn
Tel: (0131 6)51 7454
Email: |
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