Module Identifier BSM8510  
Module Title NUTRIENTS, ECOLOGY AND LAND MANAGEMENT  
Academic Year 2000/2001  
Co-ordinator Dr John Scullion  
Semester Available All Semesters  
Assessment Exam   examination 1.5 hours    

Module objectives / Learning outcomes
Enabling Objectives:

Syllabus
In this Module we are going to examine the cycling of the major nutrients in soil-plant systems. It is important that you appreciate that the dynamics of the major nutrients in soils follow a cyclical pattern that is directly involved with the cycles of these elements on a global scale. Changing the rate of cycling of an element at any stage will affect other processes that determine, for example, its availability and solution concentration. This has implications for plant growth and microbial activity in the soil.

We will see that the major nutrient cycles are interconnected via the biota and some chemical processes. So any change in one cycle can affect the cycling of other nutrients in the soil. We will go on to examine the management of soil nutrients for various end uses.

In this module we will take a closer look at the different groups of soil biota in an ecosystem context. In particular we are going to concentrate upon the mycorrhizae and their role in community development and plant nutrition. This part is particularly interesting. We will cover some of the basic ecological concepts that are relevant to our subject and develop some of these in relation to reclamation.

In terms of the practical element of this module, we will examine in some detail the ecological management of restored land, nutrient deficiencies and their management, and principles underlying the revegetation of restored land.