BS23420 - ECOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY OF SOILS

Module Identifier	BS23420
Module Title	ECOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY OF SOILS
Academic Year	2002/2003
Co-ordinator	Dr Gareth W Griffith
Semester	Semester 2
Other staff	Dr John Scullion, Dr Lesley N Manchester
Pre-Requisite
Course delivery	Lecture	30 Hours
	Practical	18 Hours (6 x 3 hours)
Assessment	Semester Exam	3 Hours One 3-hour theory paper	70%
	Semester Assessment	Practical Exercise: Continuous assessment of practicals	30%
	Supplementary Assessment	3 Hours One 3-hour theory paper (plus resubmission of failed coursework or an alternative)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, students will

know the main constituents of soils and effects on physical properties
be able to explain what determines the organic matter content of soils and the groups of soil organisms mainly responsible for carbon and nutrient turnover and how they are affected by changes in soil conditions
be aware of the key biological processes in nutrient cycling and know the main transformations of essential plant nutrients in soils and their effect on nutrient availability
be able to describe quantitatively soil conditions causing plant stress, why stress occurs and the general type of plant response
be able to discuss concepts of soil fertility and soil sustainability
be prepared for a third year project involving analysis of soils or interpretation of data on soils.

Aims

To develop an understanding of soils as an environment for living organisms ranging from microorganisms and soil animals to plants. Students will learn how the soil environment varies and about the diversity of organisms that live in soils and the processes that they carry out. Emphasis is placed on the process of decomposition and the cycling of nutrients at various spatial scales. The role of fungi, soil animals and bacteria in decomposition is highlighted. This module provides an insight into soil as a living and dynamic entity upon which we all depend not only for food but also for sustaining the world'r diversity of natural flora and fauna.

Content

The inorganic and organic constituents of which soils are formed will be outlined.
The dynamic nature of soil organic matter will be explained and the range of soil organisms described. The turnover of carbon, nitrogen and other nutrients will be described as an essential component of soils as a self-sustaining environment. Methods for quantifying decomposer activity and for identifying the organisms involved in these processes will be described. Symbiotic and antagonistic interactions between microbes and plants will be explained. Essential plant nutrients will be outlined and also the main processes affecting their availability to plants. Various soil conditions causing plant stress will be explored including drought, waterlogging, salinity, acidity and heavy metal toxicity. The concept of soil fertility will be introduced and its relationship with soil productivity, nutrient status and sustainability explained. A series of laboratory practical classes will be linked directly to the lecture course and reinforce certain aspects of soil biology and plant nutrition.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Marschner, H.. (1995) Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. Academic Press
swift, M.J., Heal, O.W. & Anderson, J.M.. (1979) Decomposition in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Blackwell Scientific