Module Identifier | GG21310 | ||||||||||||||
Module Title | PRACTICAL PEDOLOGY: SOIL CHEMICAL METHODS | ||||||||||||||
Academic Year | 2004/2005 | ||||||||||||||
Co-ordinator | Dr Peter W Abrahams | ||||||||||||||
Semester | Semester 2 | ||||||||||||||
Pre-Requisite | GG10410 Single or Joint Honours Geography student. | ||||||||||||||
Co-Requisite | GG32910 or GG32110 | ||||||||||||||
Mutually Exclusive | Because of the course nature, student intake is restricted to 40. | ||||||||||||||
Course delivery | Practical | Practicals / Field Days. 10 x 3 hour practicals including fieldwork in mid-Wales. | |||||||||||||
Assessment |
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1. Laboratory techniques: tools of the trade. Introductory chemical analysis.
2. Local soil sampling and preliminary preparation and analysis
3. Soil pH and gravimetric determination of soil organic matter
4. Wet digestion procedure for soil organic carbon
5. Analysis of macro-nutrients (Na and K) by flame photometry
6. Analysis of macro-nutrients (Mg and Ca) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry
7. Analysis of macro-nutrients (P) by spectrophotometric measurement
8. Analysis of trace-elements (e.g. Pb and Zn); analytical quality control
It is assumed (incorrectly) that no student has had any previous experience in laboratory work and the chemical principles involved will be given only a minimal treatment, sufficient to carry out the work and to calculate the results. All students are reminded that the departmental safety regulations MUST be obeyed: adherence to rules, bench tidiness and orderly behaviour are absolute prerequisites for personal safety. For the purposes of safety, ALL students MUST provide themselves with a laboratory coat.
This module is at CQFW Level 5