Soil as plant habitat and plant knowledge 3
Entry Requirements
• 30 credits, including
• 5 credits Geology and Hydrology.
Course facts
MV0224, Soil as plant habitat and plant knowledge 3, 15.0 Hp
Print syllabus
Syllabus
Level
First cycle (G1F)
Main field of study
Biology, Soil Science
Biology Area
Botany (plant biology)
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.
Course language
Swedish
Entry Requirements
• 30 credits, including
• 5 credits Geology and Hydrology.
Objectives
The aim of the soil part of the course is to give basic knowledge about processes in the soil and about the geotechnical properties of the regolith and rock as well as about the soil as plant environment. The plant part gives knowledge of the building and function of the plant and its requirements of the habitat as well as further skill in identifying plant species.
After completing of the course, the student should be able to: • explain how a natural soil profile is built up, • account for basic soil science concepts and processes, • explain how the chemical, physical and biological properties of the soil affect the soil as a place for crop growing and how different soil types differ in this respect; • account for basic plant anatomy and plant physiological concepts and processes, • describe the plants’ requirements at the place of planting, • describe the annual rhythm of plants, climate adaptation and stress resistance, as well as the factors that control this, • identify a selection of trees, shrubs and perennial herbaceous plants, • perform simple interpretations of soil data to be able to assess the properties of a soil, • recognize Swedish vegetation types and plant communities and account for the connection to soil and other site specific factors, • assess the requirements of plants at the plant site in terms of soil conditions and the need for light, water and nutrients.
Content
In the soil module of the course, the following fields are treated through lectures and literature: • the components of the soil: solid material (mineral particles, organic material) and pore systems (water and air), the soil profile, • the properties of different soil textures and how they influence the suitability for different land use alternatives, • the natural ability of soils and soil materials to deliver nutrients and counteract acidification, and the role of the weathering in this, • the ability of clay particles and organic matter to bind nutrients, • binding and transport of water in soil and different soil materials, plant-available water and soil air, • soil temperature, • turnover of organic material and biological nitrogen processes in the soil,
The contents of lectures are processed in exercises where important soil processes are studied, different types of data are discussed and interpreted.
In the plant module of the course, the following fields through lectures and literature are treated: • basic plant anatomy and plant physiology including the relationship between anatomy and function, • site factors (light, water and nutrients etc) that are essential for plant establishment, growth and development and how these can be inferred in the external characters of the plants, • the annual pattern, climate adaptation, stress resistance and growth dynamics of plants as well as which factors in their environment that affects these relations, • learning of new plant species and review of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants known from earlier courses.
In field exercises, the two course modules are connected through studies of soil profiles and plant communities and how they relate to one another.
Field activities and parts of the exercises are compulsory.
Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course
To pass the course, passed results are required of both the soil module and the plant module. The following is required for for passed soil module: • passed written examination, • passed practical assignments, • participation in compulsory components. The following is required for for passed plant module: • passed written examination, • passed växtidentifiering, • passed practical assignments, • participation in compulsory components.
Responsible Department/Equivalent
Department of Soil and Environment
Supplementary information
Included in program
- Landskapsarkitektprogrammet - Uppsala
Module set
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Soil Physics | 4.0 | 0102 |
| Soil biology and chemistry | 5.0 | 0103 |
| Plants | 3.5 | 0104 |
| 0206 Plant expertise | 2.5 | 0106 |
The Course Replaces
MV0213, MV0180, LK0136, LK0109
Other Information
The entry requirement 5 credits in Geology and Hydrology is fulfilled on completion of the corresponding course module of LK0292.