Module Information

Module Identifier
BR14910
Module Title
Soils and their Management
Academic Year
2017/2018
Co-ordinator
Dr John Scullion
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 20 x 1 Hour Lectures
Field Trip 1 x 4 Hour Field Trip
Practical 1 x 4 Hour Practical
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Practical written report  (1,200 words)  50%
Semester Exam 1.5 Hours   50%
Supplementary Assessment Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module.  50%
Supplementary Exam 1.5 Hours   Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module.  50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Describe the different components of soils and how they vary.

2. Relate these components to key soil processes including moisture relations and nutrient cycling.

3. Apply understanding of soil physical characteristics to practical land management techniques including drainage, irrigation and cultivation.

4. Apply understanding of soil chemical characteristics to practical land management techniques including liming and nutrient inputs.

5. Relate soil processes to broader environmental concerns and conditions.

Brief description

This module will introduce students to soil composition and key soil processes with an emphasis on how these vary between different soil types. Following the delivery of these fundamentals, the module will focus on their implications for land management and protection of the environment.

Content

This module provides students with an introduction to the different components (mineral, organic and living) of soils and how these components vary with soil type. It then considers the physical arrangement of particles expressed as soil structure and processes influencing structure, the behavior of water in soils in relation to plant growth and porosity, heat flows and temperature, and soil as an ecosystem.

More applied elements of the module will consider soil pH and its management, soil nutrient cycling and management, drainage and irrigation, cultivations, and soil conservation/degradation. A final lecture will cover the range of information available regarding soil types and their management.

Two practical sessions will provide experience of soil assessment in the field and standard laboratory soil measurements.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Analysis of numerical data from practicals.
Communication Good scientific communication required in assignment.
Improving own Learning and Performance Detailed feedback provided via Turnitin on the reports or in practical sessions.
Information Technology Use of information technology required in report.
Personal Development and Career planning Module skills relevant to potential careers.
Problem solving Assignment develops skills linking scientific data to practical land management.
Research skills Research skills associated with collation and processing of information for reports.
Subject Specific Skills Module requires students to develop skills in soil management.
Team work Student will engage in teams to plan, collect and report on data.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4