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AESC40410

Academic Year 2024/2025

Soil, Plant & Water Resources (AESC40410)

Subject:
Agricultural&Environmental Sci
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Paul Murphy
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module will explore the importance of soil, plant and water resources for agriculture, and other land uses, and the environment. It will outline the processes by which soil management and land use affect the provisioning of ecosystem services and issues such as water quality, biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions. It will explore management practices and policy approaches that can mitigate these impacts and lead to a more sustainable management of soil resources and associated ecological services. The module will include field trips to the Agricultural Catchments Programe, Wexford, during the Field Work Period in mid March and to the Burren in Co. Clare in early May, with transport from Belfield provided.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the importance of soil, plant and water resources in sustainable resource management, and a practical appreciation of management practices and policy approaches that can help to achieve a more sustainable resource management. Students will also develop transferrable skills in sourcing information from the scientific and policy literature, and enhance their capacities to critically review, assimilate and communicate scientifically verifiable information.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

28
Field Trip/External Visits

36
Specified Learning Activities

64
Autonomous Student Learning

80
Total

208

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The main teaching and learning approaches used in this module are:
- lectures
- student-driven learning
- field-based exercises
- report writing
- critical writing.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
AESC20060 - Soil Science Basics, AESC20070 - Soil Resources


 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): A critical review essay on a topic in Soil, Plant and Water Resources. Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

60

 No
Report(s): Report based on a fieldtrip to the Agricultural Catchments Programme, Wexford. Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

20

 No
Report(s): Report based on a fieldtrip to the Burren, Co. Clare. Week 15 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

20

 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Professor Michael Bruen Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Thomas Cummins Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Linxi Jiang Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Mary Kelly-Quinn Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Magdalena Necpalova Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Florence Renou-Wilson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Olaf Schmidt Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Ian Thomas Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Saoirse Tracy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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