Sustainable Soil Management
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| BIOS3102 | Biosciences | 3 | 10 | Spring UK |
- Code
- BIOS3102
- School
- Biosciences
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
Soils underpin the sustainability of all terrestrial ecosystems on our planet. Alongside forming the basis of agricultural production soils provide us with a range of vital ecosystem services including storing water and atmospheric greenhouse gases, mediating the impact of pollutants, and providing habitats for soil organisms.
Globally soils are under threat from a wide range of processes. This module aims to cover the environmental issues associated with the management of soils. You will explore and debate the sustainable management options open to land managers to prevent degradation and its adverse effects on soil functions and services, while helping to enhance food security.
Target Students
Environmental Biology and Environmental Science students, Agriculture UG students, Plant Science UG students, Natural Science students and Geography students.
Classes
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 12 weeks
Assessment
- 30% Coursework 1: Lab report 1000 words
- 70% Exam 1 (2-hour): Examsys Exam
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
To provide the background to allow students to calculate the infiltration rate and water holding capacity of a soil.To examine the likely impacts of climate change on the management of soils including the impacts of flooding, drought, and erosion.To introduce the key management strategies currently available to land managements to maintain and enhance the sustainability and quality of soil resources.To provide the necessary background for an informed academic debate regarding our ability to improve the health of our soils at the same time as safeguarding our food security.Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will have:
1. The skills necessary to quantify the drainage rate and water holding capacity of a soil from the field.
2. An appreciation of the key soil quality traits that impact on the potential for soil to undergo flooding or drought under different projected climate scenarios.
3. A detailed knowledge of the latest management strategies for enhancing the sustainability of soil resources.
4. A deeper understanding of the arguments surrounding our ability to improve the quality of our soils at the same time as enhancing our food security in the face of significant environmental change.