Academic Year/course:
2017/18
437 - Degree in Rural and Agri-Food Engineering
Syllabus Information
Academic Year:
2017/18
Subject:
28962 - Soil science
Faculty / School:
201 - Escuela Politécnica Superior
Degree:
437 - Degree in Rural and Agri-Food Engineering
ECTS:
5.0
Year:
4
Semester:
Second semester
Subject Type:
Optional
Module:
---
1.2. Recommendations to take this course
This subject is offered in the English Friendly form
5.1. Methodological overview
The learning process for this subject include lectures and participatory classes, Practices in laboratory, field trips and on-line activities.
5.2. Learning tasks
This subject has a first module of Applied Soil Science, centered on mineral and organic fertilizers, the management of salt-affected soils as well as soil conservation practices and a second module on soils formation, description, classification and evaluation.
5.3. Syllabus
28962 Soil Science
Theory programme
I. APPLIED SOIL SCIENCE
Topic 1. Diagnosis of soil fertility.
Topic 2. The mineral fertilisation of agricultural soils.
Topic 3. Organic amendments for agricultural soils.
Topic 4. Management and restoration of salt-affected soils
Topic 5. Soil conservation practices
II. FROM SOIL FORMATION TO LAND ASSESSMENT
Topic 6. Factors and processes of soil formation
Topic 7. Soil taxonomy: The World Reference Base (WRB) of Soil resources.
Topic 8. Soils and land evaluation for land planning
Topic 9. Soil maps interpretation.
Practical programme
Laboratory practicals:
1. Preparing soil samples: Drying, sieving, grinding and packing. Qualitative determinations.
2. Physical properties: Particle size analysis, porosity, soil aggregate stability.
3. Chemical properties: pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, carbonates, gypsum.
4. Biological properties: Soil respiration, enzymatic activities
5. Final report
Field trips:
1. Study and morphological description of soil profiles. Soil and landscape relationships (Soil geography)
2. Management of agricultural soils.
5.4. Course planning and calendar
|
Week
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
H
|
|
Lectures
|
T1
|
T1
|
T2
|
T2
|
T3
|
T3
|
T4
|
T4
|
T5
|
|
T6
|
T7
|
T7
|
T8
|
T9
|
|
|
Hours
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
26
|
|
Problems and case studies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T7
|
T8
|
|
|
Hours
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
|
Lab
|
|
|
P1
|
P2
|
P3
|
P4
|
P5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hours
|
|
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
|
Field trips
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S1
|
|
|
|
|
|
S2
|
|
|
|
Hours
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
10
|
|
Examination
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
Tutored work (H)
|
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
20
|
|
Student (H)
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
55
|
T: topics; H: hours
5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources
Basic references
FAO. 1976. A framework for land evaluation. FAO Soils bulletin, 32. Rome.
FAO. 2006. Guidelines for soil description. 4th ed. Rome.
IGN. 1992. Atlas Nacional de España. Sección II. Grupo 7. Edafología. Instituto Geográfico Nacional. M.O.P.T. Madrid.
IUSS. 2015. World reference base for soil resources: International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. (updated 2015). World Soil Resources Reports, 106. FAO-ISRIC-ISSS. Roma.
PORTA, J., LÓPEZ-ACEVEDO, M.; ROQUERO, C. 2003. Edafología para la agricultura y el medio ambiente. Mundi-Prensa. 3ª edición. Madrid.
Additional bibliography
BADIA, D. (1989). Los suelos de Fraga. Cartografía y evaluación. Colección de Estudios Altoaragoneses, 30. Instituto de Estudios Altoaragoneses. Huesca.
BADÍA, D. Coord (2009). Itinerarios edáficos por el Alto Aragón. Cuadernos Altoaragoneses de Trabajo, nº 28. Ed. Instituto de Estudios Altoaragoneses. 189 pp. Huesca.
BADÍA, D.; MARTÍ, C. (1999). Suelos del Pirineo Central: Fragen. 190 pp. Publicación a cargo del Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria Universidad de Zaragoza, Consejo de Protección de la Naturaleza de Aragón e Instituto de Estudios Altoaragoneses. Huesca.
BADÍA, D.; MARTÍ, C., CUCHÍ, J.A.; CASANOVA, J. (2006). Los suelos de los viñedos en la D. O. Somontano de Barbastro. 205 pp. Colección Ciencias, 8. Ed Prensas Universitarias de Zaragoza.
BADÍA, D.; IBARRA, P.; MARTÍ, C.; LONGARES, L.A., BELMONTE, A. (2008). El Aiguabarreig: suelos y paisajes. 193 pp. Serie Investigación, 53. Consejo de Protección de la Naturaleza de Aragón. Zaragoza.
BADÍA, D., MARTÍ, C.; CHARTE, R. (2011). Soil Erosion and Conservations Measures in Semiarid Ecosystems Affected by Wildfires. Chapter 5, pp 87-110. In: Soil Erosion Studies. Godone, D. and Stanchi, S. (Eds). INTECH Open Access Publisher.
Webs:
http://www.cienciadelsuelo.es/ (with English version)
http://www.suelosdearagon.com
The updated recommended bibliography can be consulted in: http://psfunizar7.unizar.es/br13/egAsignaturas.php?id=8123