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MV0216

Soil water processes in agroecosystems

• Lectures and literature studies cover basic theories of storage and flow of energy, water and solutes in the soil–plant–atmosphere system as well as basic principles of numerical simulation models, and their application to the study of these processes

• In-class calculation exercises (compulsory) involve the calculation of storages and flows of water and solutes in the soil–plant–atmosphere system.

• Computer exercises (compulsory) involve the construction and application of process-based models using simulation modelling software such as STELLA (or a similar). The simulations are carried out for time periods varying from a few hours to one year. The models are used as quantitative tools to aid understanding of the temporal dynamics of soil water flow (e.g. capillary rise, infiltration and percolation) and solute transport (e.g. leaching of pollutants) and interactions among different parts of the system (soil, plant and atmosphere).

• An Excel exercise on uncertainty and sensitivity analysis in numerical modelling.

• A mini-workshop that combines keynote presentations by researchers with student-teacher discussions of selected scientific publications dealing with the impacts of climate change on various aspects of agricultural production and the environment.

• Mini-projects (compulsory) give students ‘hands-on’ experience in applying the theories embodied in numerical models to solve practical problems related to soil and water resources in various agroecosystems and climates. These include, for example, analyses of irrigation management strategies in saline soil for optimal crop production in a semi-arid climate, and the likely effects of climate change on risks of pesticide leaching to groundwater in soils of contrasting properties. Students work in a group to plan and run model simulations and to analyse and discuss their results in the light of relevant published studies, in both a written report and an oral presentation. The students also give critical feedback on another group’s mini-project work.


Course evaluation

The course evaluation is now closed

MV0216-10433 - 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 MV0216

Academic year 2022/2023

Soil water processes in agroecosystems (MV0216-10080)

2022-08-29 - 2022-10-31

Academic year 2021/2022

Soil water processes in agroecosystems (MV0216-10193)

2021-08-30 - 2021-11-01

Academic year 2020/2021

Soil water processes in agroecosystems (MV0216-10270)

2020-08-31 - 2020-11-01

Academic year 2019/2020

Soil water processes in agroecosystems (MV0216-10207)

2019-09-02 - 2019-10-31

Academic year 2018/2019

Soil water processes in agroecosystems (MV0216-10117)

2018-09-03 - 2018-11-11

Syllabus and other information

Litterature list

**1-The course book is: **

Hillel, D 2004: Introduction to Environmental Soil Physics

In the following you find a short summary of the chapters in the course book that are important for the course.

  • **Chapters 1 – 5. **These chapters cover basic soil physical concepts. If you have not yet had any soil physics courses, or not recently, it is highly recommended to read them.
  • Chapters 6 and 7. These chapters explain the basic principles of water in soil and saturated water flow. The concepts presented in these chapters will be needed over and over again in this course.
  • Chapters 8 and 9. The major part of this course will be related to the more advanced hydrology of unsaturated soils and to solute transport.
  • Chapters 10 – 11. These chapters discuss soil air and gas exchange. Background knowledge in these fields is desirable but these topics are not covered by this course.
  • **Chapter 12. **Contains background information needed for one of the mini-projects.
  • Chapter 13. This chapter explains soil mechanics, which is another important field in soil physics. Soil mechanics is however not included in this course.
  • **Chapters 14 17. **These chapters give an introduction to water movement in soils under field conditions. The bigger picture for why the above introduced concepts are important.
  • **Chapter 18-20. **These three chapters will familiarize you with evapotranspiration and the water balance of soils, which are topics that are central to this course.
  • **Chapter 21 **Contains important background information needed for one of the mini-projects.

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 Agriculture Programme - Soil/Plant Tuition fee: Tuition fee only for non-EU/EEA/Switzerland citizens: 38060 SEK Cycle: Master’s level (A1N)
Subject: Environmental Science Soil Science Soil science Environmental science
Course code: MV0216 Application code: SLU-10433 Location: Uppsala Distance course: No Language: English Responsible department: Department of Soil and Environment Pace: 100%