Soil Sciences
Soil contains a diversity of dead and living material in constant interaction: mineral particles, organic material, water, air, plant roots, animals, bacteria and fungi. Its processes are vital for all life on land, determine the production capacity for agriculture and forestry, and exerts control on the quality of surface waters as well as the exchange of greenhouse gases with the atmosphere.
The course covers the constituents of the soil, how water is stored and flows through the soil, chemical reactions between water and soil particles, and how microorganisms bind and release carbon and nitrogen. The importance of the processes for production and the environment is highlighted. In a synthesis project, the students process and analyse results from exercises and discuss them from both a production-related and an environmental point of view.
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
MV0228 Soil Sciences, 15.0 Credits
MarkvetenskapSubjects
Environmental Science Soil ScienceEducation cycle
Bachelor’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Soil physics | 4.0 | 0101 |
| Soil chemistry | 4.0 | 0201 |
| Soil biology | 3.0 | 0301 |
| General soil science and synthesis work | 4.0 | 0401 |
Advanced study in the main field
First cycle, has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsBachelor’s level (G1F)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
SwedishPrior knowledge
The equivalent of:- 15 credits chemistry, of which 5 credits general chemistry
- 3 credits geology
- 3 credits hydrology
Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to
- describe soil physical, chemical and biological properties, conditions and processes as well as their interactions
- use methods to analyse and describe soil properties
- interpret, validate and give account of results from soil analyses
- present and discuss the soil system, its function as environment for growing plants, and connections between soil properties, land use and environmental impact.
Content
Subject-related content
- How precipitation infiltrates to the reservoir of plant-available water. How water is retained and transported in soils with different texture and composition under different soil moisture conditions. Transport of solutes in the soil.
- Soil structure and pore system as a result of texture, natural processes, land use and soil management. How the pore system affects the water reservoir and the transport of water and gasses in the soil.
- The chemistry of soil water and its reactions with the solid phase; its significance for surface water quality.
- Processes that affect the acid–base status of the soil. Effects of chemical weathering, adsorption and redox processes on plant nutrient supply and the retention of harmful substances in the soil.
- Pedology: How chemical, physical and biological processes result in a soil profile with distinct appearance and properties. Geographic distribution of pedological soil types.
- Soil organisms and their environmental adaptations: metabolism, trophic strategies, interactions and functions.
- Factors and processes controlling the content and turnover of soil organic matter, with a particular focus on the cycling of nitrogen and its availability for plants.
- General soil science including soil texture analysis, soil profile description, and properties and land use of Swedish example soils.
Teaching formats
Theoretical elements are treated in lectures and course literature. Central concepts are further consolidated through mandatory exercises and laboratory sessions, partly based on a selection of Swedish example soils. Data and results from the latter form the basis for a comprehensive synthesis work leading to a written report.
The course focuses on the following generic competencies: Oral and written presentation is trained with feedback from the teachers.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Succesful completion of the course requires passed written examinations, approved written exercises, approved participation in compulsory components, and approved participation in the synthesis work on Swedish example soils.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Additional information
For students at SLU, the entry requirement 5 credits general chemistry is fulfilled after completion of module A within the course Fundamentals in Chemistry I, 15 credits.Recommended previous knowledge: Microbiology equivalent to 5 credits; plant anatomy or plant physiology equivalent to 5 credits; mathematics equivalent to 2.5 credits, with orientation in derivatives and differential equations.
Responsible department
Department of Soil and Environment