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BI1322

Soil biology and biogeochemical cycles

A large part of the global elemental cycles takes place in the soil. Here, energy, carbon and nutrients circulate between plants, dead organic matter, minerals, water and air. These fluxes are mediated by soil organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, animals and plant roots. These organisms and their activities are of crucial importance in agriculture and forestry, as well as for water quality and biodiversity. Ultimately, biological processes in soils have a major feed-back on the global climate. In this course we will learn about global biogeochemical cycles, and about soil organisms and their roles in these processes. We will not only provide theoretical concepts via course literature and lectures, but will provide hands-on experience in laboratory exercises, field excursions, interactive discussions and in projects on self-chosen topics. Furthermore, we will use our obtained knowledge to discuss how human practises may affect potential feedbacks between soils and biogeochemical cycles with an emphasis on land use, environmental problems and global change.

Information from the course leader

The Canvas course site is now published and accessable for the student of the course (you have recieved an invitation). We will update the schedule both on Canvas and on this website.

Best wishes,

the course leaders,

Eva and Karina

Course evaluation

The course evaluation is now closed

BI1322-30072 - Course evaluation report

Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.

Additional course evaluations for BI1322

Academic year 2023/2024

Soil biology and biogeochemical cycles (BI1322-30391)

2024-01-15 - 2024-03-19

Academic year 2021/2022

Soil biology and biogeochemical cycles (BI1322-30159)

2022-01-17 - 2022-03-23

Academic year 2020/2021

Soil biology and biogeochemical cycles (BI1322-30243)

2021-01-18 - 2021-03-23

Academic year 2019/2020

Soil biology and biogeochemical cycles (BI1322-30124)

2020-01-20 - 2020-03-24

Academic year 2018/2019

Soil biology and biogeochemical cycles (BI1322-30106)

2019-01-21 - 2019-03-25

Syllabus and other information

Grading criteria

Learning outcome 1

3: Describe major groups of soil organisms, their interactions and responses to environmental conditions

4: Explain how particular changes in environmental conditions may affect soil organisms and their interactions

5: Demonstrate capacity to critically challenge the course content, to compare contrasting views and to actively integrate course content with earlier personal experience

Learning outcome 2

3: Describe biogeochemical processes and their interplay with organisms across scales

4: Explain how particular changes in organism activities may affect biogeochemical processes across scales

5: Demonstrate capacity to critically challenge the course content, to compare contrasting views and to actively integrate course content with earlier personal experience

Learning outcome 3

3: Apply different methods for qualitative and quantitative analyses of soil organisms, biochemistry and major elemental cycles

4: Compare and discuss outcomes of different qualitative and quantitative analyses of soil organisms, biochemistry and major elemental cycles and how they relate to each other

Learning outcome 4

3: Analyze, evaluate and communicate soil biological and biogeochemical data

4: Demonstrate the ability to communicate and summarize various soil biological and biogeochemical data in a coherent manner.

Learning outcome 5

3: Discuss impacts of human practices and potential feedbacks between soils and biogeochemical cycles, with emphasis on land use and global change

4: Synthesize relevant hypotheses based on current societal/environmental issues concerning soil biology and biogeochemical cycles

5: Argue which new approaches could be used to solve societal/environmental issues concerning soil biology and biogeochemical cycles, and identify current knowledge gaps

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Teaching activities related to each intended learning outcome

  • 7.5 ECTS - Approved written final examination of theoretical course content based on lectures and literature (ILO 1,2,5)
  • 3.0 ECTS - Approved participation in laboratory exercises, literature discussions, and excursions (ILO 3, 4)
  • 4.5 ECTS - Approved participation in project work including oral and written presentation (ILO 4, 5)

Participation is obligatory for all course elements indicated with a * in the schedule

Litterature list

**Biogeochemistry, **3rd edition, W.H. Schlesinger and Emily Berhardt

Selected Chapters

  • Chapter 11 - The Global Carbon Cycle
  • Chapter 12 - The Global Cycles of Nitrogen and Phosphorus
  • Chapter 13 - The Global Cycles of Sulfur and Mercury

Soil Microbiology, Ecology and Biochemistry, 4th Edition, Eldor Paul

Selected Chapters

  • Chapter 2 – The Soil Habitat
  • Chapter 3 – The Bacteria and Archea
  • Chapter 4 – The Soil Fungi: Occurrence Phylogeny and Ecology
  • Chapter 5 - Soil Fauna: Occurrence, Biodiversity, and Roles in Ecosystem Function
  • Chapter 6 - Molecular Approaches to Studying the Soil Biota
  • Chapter 7 - Physiological and Biochemical Methods for Studying Soil Biota and Their Functions
  • Chapter 9 - The Metabolic Physiology of Soil Microorganisms
  • Chapter 10 - The Ecology of the Soil Biota and their Function
  • Chapter 11 - Plant-Soil Biota Interactions
  • Chapter 12 - Carbon Cycling: The Dynamics and Formation of Organic Matter
  • Chapter 13 - Methods for Studying Soil Organic Matter: Nature, Dynamics, Spatial Accessibility, and Interactions with Minerals
  • Chapter 14 - Nitrogen Transformations
  • Chapter 15 - Biological N Inputs
  • Chapter 18 - Management of Soil Biota and Their Processes

Aboveground-Belowground Likages. Biotic Interactions, Ecosystem Processes, and Global Change. Bardgett and Wardle:

Selected Chapter

  • Biotic Interactions in Soil as Drivers of Ecosystem Properties.

Course facts

The course is offered as an independent course: Yes The course is offered as a programme course: EnvEuro - European Master in Environmental Science Soil, Water and Environment - Master's Programme Tuition fee: Tuition fee only for non-EU/EEA/Switzerland citizens: 38060 SEK Cycle: Master’s level (A1N)
Subject: Soil Science Biology Biology Soil science
Course code: BI1322 Application code: SLU-30072 Location: Uppsala Distance course: No Language: English Responsible department: Department of Soil and Environment Pace: 100%