Module Identifier | BS11210 | ||
Module Title | INTRODUCTION TO SOILS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT | ||
Academic Year | 2002/2003 | ||
Co-ordinator | Dr John Scullion | ||
Semester | Semester 1 | ||
Other staff | Dr Malcolm H Leitch | ||
Pre-Requisite | Normally A or AS Biology or its equivalent. | ||
Course delivery | Lecture | 20 Hours | |
Practical | 9 Hours (3 x 3 hours) | ||
Other | 3 Hours Field Work. 1 x 3 hours | ||
Assessment | Semester Exam | 2 Hours Semester written examination. | 70% |
Semester Assessment | Continuous Assessment: Continuous assessment of practicals. To be handed in first week of term 2. | 30% | |
Supplementary Assessment | 2 Hours One 2 hour written examination; re-submission of failed course work. | 100% |
The lecture course opens with a consideration of soil physical and chemical processes, describing their implications for soil management and plant growth.
Soil constituents and physical properties covered include particle size distribution; organisation of soil particles and creation of pore space; variations in soil texture, structure and their effects on aeration/water supply; processes leading to the development of structure in soils; soil water content, conductivity and moisture potentials; temperature and heat fluxes in soils. The soil nutrient and fertility section covers soil acidity and liming; major nutrient cycles, the assessment of nutrient availability; principles of using manures and fertilisers; nutrient losses and their environmental impact.
Soil managementtopics covered include drainage problems and their alleviation; irrigation need and practice; cultivation and its effect on soils; compaction, erosion and soil degradation problems.
The course finishes with a consideration of soil-climate interactions as they affect land potential. Included in this section is a discussion of classification systems for various land use and pollution control purposes.
Practical classes provide experience across the themes covered in lectures. A field visit demonstrates soil variation and its implications for land use/vegetation. Laboratory sessions include assessments of basic soil constituents (texture, moisture, organic matter and pH) for samples taken from the field visit site. A computer workshop uses an N-cycle model to provide data on flows of nitrogen for different agricultural management and soils. Data handling and presentation skills are developed in practical sessions.