Objectives and competences
• basic knowledge of geological composition in Slovenia, linking with soil characteristics and development of particular soil types, understand the weathering process
• understanding of soil composition according to soil forming factors and processes
• understanding soil functions and ecosystem services
• knowing and evaluating soil quality parameters and skill of analysing methods for their determination
• understanding nutrient cycling according to plant nutrition and environment protection
• knowing and understanding mechanisms of soil sorption complex and soil-water regime
• awareness of the role of soil organic matter, knowing its forms and biological decomposition process
• critical judgement and evaluation of soil production availability for agricultural use
• basic knowledge of Slovene soil classification and judgement the suitability of soil types for agricultural use
• knowing and understanding basic threats to soil degradation, types of pollution, source and fate of soil pollutants and searching potential solutions for sustainable land use
Content (Syllabus outline)
• basic knowledge of geology linked with pedogenesis (basic geologic processes and earth’s crust composition, presentation of basic petrogenic minerals and bedrocks, processes and products of weathering, geologic map of Slovenia)
• representation of soil science as an interdisciplinary knowledge, its branches, research and scientific fields
• soil definition (terminology), soil functions and ecosystem services
• soil as a natural body: the role of pedogenetic factors (basic rocks, topography, climate, living organisms, time) and processes on its formation development and composition
• soil composition as a three-dimension system and interactions among solid, liquid and gas soil phase
• basic morphological and physical soil properties (texture, structure, consistence, colour, temperature, particle and bulk density, porosity)
• soil air regime (oxidation and reduction processes, composition of soil atmosphere, gas transport)
• soil water regime (forms, water table, water binding, water potential, water movement, properties, hydrological cycle and human impact, the role of underground water)
• chemical soil properties (soil reaction, soil adsorbic complex, soil solution, ion exchange, buffering, nutrient availability)
• soil organic matter (the global carbon cycling, SOM accumulation and decomposition, composition, properties and types of humus)
• soil biology (size classification of fauna and flora and their role in soil, the role and composition of soil microbes)
• biological cycling of main elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg); plant-soil macro- and micronutrient relations
• soil fertility and evaluation (soil quality and health definitions, types of pedological researches, soil sampling and analytical analyses, interpretation of results, mapping, soil information system)
• fundamentals of soil classification (description of soil profile and horizons, presentations of soil types, slovene soil classification system, soil map of Slovenia)
• soil degradation (main threats, sources and types of pollution, with emphassis on agricultural impact on soil).
Learning and teaching methods
• Lectures
• Group discussions
• Laboratory methods
• Field work
During lessons, pedagogical equipment like power point projection, DVD, YouTube are used. Lectures take place in a lecture hall; experimental work is performed in labs or in the field.
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding:
• recognize basic geological bedrocks in Slovenia and connect their mineral composition with soil characteristics and soil type development
• understand types and products of rock weathering
• explain and describe soil composition according to pedogenetic factors' activity
• list and explain soil functions and ecosystem services
• explain basic soil quality parameters
• describe physical, chemical and biological soil properties and linked soil processes
• describe and explain soil water-air regime: water forms, movement, retention in soil profile, determinations of soil water quantity, composition and movement of soil air
• explain functioning, role and composition of soil adsorbic complex
• describe cycling of main macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) according to plant nutrition
• explain role of soil organic matter, structure and decomposition processes
• classify main representatives of soil fauna and know their role in food chain
• describe qualitative and quantitative methods for determining soil parameters in the lab or on the field
• estimate soil quality/soil production availability on basis of laboratory and field analyses
• know soil classification of Slovenia (represent soil map of SLO)
• know the main threats for soil degradation, list sources of soil pollution and describe fate of some soil pollutants
Intended learning outcomes - transferable/key skills and other attributes
Readings
Temeljni literatura in viri / Reading materials:
• Čirić, M. 1984. Pedologija. Svijetlost OOUR Zavod za udžbenike in nastavna sredstva, Sarajevo, 312 str.
• Foth, H.F. 1990. Fundamentals of soil science. John Wiley & Sons, USA, 360 str., ISBN 0-471-52279-1.
• Juma, N.G. 2002. Pedosphere and its dynamic – Introduction to soil science and soil resources. Salman productions, Canada, 335 str., ISBN 1-896263-10-0.
• Kočevar, H in Jaecks Vidic, N. 2003. Izbrana poglavja iz geologije - 2. popravljena in razširjena izdaja. Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo, Ljubljana, 164 str., ISBN 961-6275-12-7.
• White, R.W. Principles and Practice of Soil Science. The Soil as a natural Resource. Blackwell publishing, 363 str., ISBN 0-632-06455-2.
Prerequisits
The minimum required attendance at the practical lessons is 80 %.
Additional information on implementation and assessment - oral midterm exam in geological material and identification of rocks 25 %
- collaboration at the lectures and practical work 5 %
- written exam covering the lectures and practical (lab) training in Soil science themes 70 %