Ecology of Soils - Practical Exercises

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

PPT, black board, soil samples, laboratory demonstration.

Learning Outcomes

The students have experienced lab and field methods as well as using repective data for the assessment of ecological soil potentials, ability for classifying values by use of valuation scales and soil-quality standards,awareness of limited data quality with respect of sampling and representativness and mapping. The visualisation of soil organisms in its natural environment as well as basic parameters for soil activity shall provide an idea of processes and related organisms in different soils.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Methods for characterizing ecological relevant physic-chemical properties of soil, excercising lab. and field methods for Cation exhange capacity (CEC) (avail. nutrients) and soil-water retention (available water capacity), evalaution schemes and assesment of the soil potentials, potentials and limitations of mapping.

Methods for soil microbiology will be introduced. Lab methods for measuring soil respiration via infra-red gas analysis and soil microscopy will provide basic data on microbial biomass and activity.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Other: 100.0%

Bibliography

Hillel D: (2007); Soil in the Environment. Elsevier Ammsterdam

Miller, WR., Gardiner D.T. (2007): Soils in Our Environment. Prentive

Hill, Eaglewo Cliffs,N.J.

http://www.agriculturesolutions.com/Resources/USDA-Soil-Quality-

Test-Kit-Guide.html

Institut für Planzenenährung und Bodenkunde der Universität Kiel:

Excerpts in English from various scripta,will be distributed in the course.