Academic Year of Degree:
2026/27
25218 - Soil degradation and pollution
Teaching Plan Information
Academic year:
2026/27
Subject:
25218 - Soil degradation and pollution
Faculty / School:
201 - Escuela Politécnica Superior
Tipo de enseñanza:
In person
Ambit:
Environmental sciences and ecology
Degree:
571 - Degree in Environmental Sciences
668 - Bachelor Degree in Environmental Sciences
ECTS:
6.0
Year:
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Semester:
668 - Second semester
571 - Second term
Subject type:
Compulsory
Module:
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1. General information
This subject provides knowledge of the soil as:
(1) a natural resource capable of providing ecosystem services if it is managed in a sustainable way avoiding processes that can lead to its degradation, either by salinization, eutrophication, erosion, pollution..
(2) a component of any terrestrial ecosystem, whose knowledge is essential both for its restoration (in quarries, burned areas, riverbanks, etc.) as well as in the design of experiments and the transfer of their results
(3) a complex medium with properties (physical, chemical and biological) resulting from the interaction of forming factors through multiple processes.
All these aspects are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda: SDG2, SDG3, SDG4, SDG 6, SDG13 and especially SDG 15 (Life in terrestrial ecosystems).
2. Learning results
Describe and integrate knowledge about soil properties and the processes that may lead to their degradation, including contamination processes.
Interpret the results obtained from soil analysis and from solving practical cases related to the concepts learned in theory.
Describe the techniques for the assessment, management, conservation, and recovery of degraded soils, including contaminated soils, for the restoration of the ecosystem services (functions) of the soil required by each degradation process.
Use analytical techniques for the physical, chemical, and biological characterization of soils throughout their restoration process.
Appropriately communicate, both orally and in writing, the methods, results, and interpretations of real cases assigned for study, individually or in groups.
Solve problems, make decisions, and develop management plans with environmental sensitivity and in accordance with current legislation.
3. Syllabus
Topic 1. Types of soil degradation (physical, chemical and biological) and effects on ecosystem services.
Topic 2. Degradation due to water erosion. Rainfall erosivity and soil erodibility. Study methods.
Topic 3. Water erosion prevention and control techniques. Bioengineering applied to erosion control.
Topic 4. Soils affected by forest fires: fire effects and emergency treatments.
Topic 5. Soils affected by salts: management and recovery techniques.
Topic 6. Restoration, rehabilitation and recovery of degraded soils.
Topic 7. Soils affected by open-pit mining activities: Technosols.
Topic 8. Conservation vs. conventional agriculture. Use of ground covers
Topic 9. Organic matter management and carbon sequestration.
Topic 10. Contamination by over-fertilization and phytosanitary products.
Topic 11. Contamination by organic compounds.
Topic 12. Heavy metal contamination.
Topic 13. Rehabilitation or remediation of contaminated soils.
Topic 14. Soils affected by pesticides: the case of lindane.
4. Academic activities
1 - Explanatory and participative classroom lectures.
2 - Laboratory and greenhouse practices: activities of demonstrative-active-interrogative type. For example: structure and germination, structural stability, microbial reduction of soils, mineralization, liming and acidification, salinization, dynamics of fluid contaminants in soils.
3 - Field practices: participatory-active-interrogative activities (subject to budget availability ). Soil-landscape relationships in a north-south transect (Hoya de Huesca-Monegros).
4 - Tutorials: sessions that, at the students' request, should help to solve doubts about the previous activities.
5 - Non-face-to-face activities: resolution of exercises and case studies by the student.
6 - Examinations: preparation and conduct of examinations.
5. Assessment system
The evaluation will consist of a face-to-face global test, on the dates set by the Polytechnic School, with two parts:
1. Test with program content in two formats: i) with medium-level answers, including graphs and tables, and ii) multiple-choice questions, with the correct one(s) selected (1 or 2 from 4). The grade for this section accounts for 60% of the overall grade.
2. Test on the laboratory and field practices, only if the student has not achieved a 4.5/10 in the continuous assessment for this activity. This will consist of laboratory practices and their associated questionnaires, to be completed via Moodle or by submitting reports as the sessions progress. The grade for this section constitutes 40% of the overall grade.
The overall grade for the course will be calculated as the weighted average of the previous activities, provided that a minimum grade of 4.5/10 has been obtained in each of the two sections. The course will be considered passed when the weighted average of both sections is equal to or greater than 5.
Repeating students may choose, in subsequent exam sessions, to retake all laboratory or field activities or only those they failed.
The success rate in the last three academic years has been 93%, 91% and 92% (2024-25).
The detailed definition of the evaluation system will be explained in the presentation of the subject.
5.1. Academic fraud prevention
The use of unauthorised electronic materials or devices during the assessment may result in immediate exclusion from the examination and a fail mark (a numerical mark of ‘0’ for the assessment).
Furthermore, the lecturer in charge may complete the grade report and submit it to the General Inspectorate of Services, so that it may, where appropriate, consider initiating disciplinary proceedings against the student for academic fraud.
In the case of a continuous assessment exam [continuous assessment cannot continue, unless otherwise specified in the academic guide.]
In the case of a regular or extraordinary exam session, the initiation of disciplinary proceedings will result in the grade ‘pending resolution’ until the proceedings are concluded.
6. Sustainable Development Goals
3 - Good Health and Well-being
12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
15 - Life on land
7. Bibliography
01. Brady, Nyle C.; Weil, Ray R. Elements of the nature and properties of soils. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ : Prentice Hall, cop. 2010.
02. Brady, Nyle C.; Weil, Ray R. The Nature and properties of soils. Rev. 14th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Pearson/Prentice Hall, cop. 2008.
03. Introducción a la contaminación de suelos / editor científico R. Jiménez Ballesta. Madrid : Mundi-Prensa, D.L. 2017.
04. Porta Casanellas, Jaime; López Acevedo Requerín, Marta; Roquero de Laburu, Carlos. Edafología para la agricultura y el medio ambiente. 3ª ed., rev. y amp. Madrid [etc.] : Mundi-Prensa, 2003.
05. Ronald Pöppl, Anthony Parsons, and Saskia Keesstra (Editors). Connectivity in Geomorphology.. Cambridge: University Press, 2025.
06. Assessing soil contamination. A reference manual. http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x2570e/X2570E00.HTM
07. Natural Resources Conservation Service Soils, USDA. http://soils.usda.gov/
08. Sabroso, M.C., Pastor, A. (2004). Guía sobre suelos contaminados. Zaragoza: Gobierno de Aragón. https://www.academia.edu/29109561/Gu%C3%ADa_sobre_suelos_contaminados
09. Prácticas de diagnóstico y fertilidad de suelos. [s. l.]: Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 2004.
10. Ferreras Chasco, Casildo. Biogeografía y edafogeografía / C. Ferreras Chasco, C. Fidalgo Hijano . [3ª reimp.] Madrid : Sintesis, D.L. 1991 (reimp. 2009).