Learning Outcomes:

After completing this module, students will be able to:
- understand what soils are and characterize elementary aspects of soil formation factors and processes
- describe the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils and how they control key ecosystem services
- explain concepts related to soil fertility and macro- and micro-nutrients for plants
- comprehend the cycling of major plant nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur
- understand plant nutrient uptake, availability and deficiency for plants and agricultural nutrient management
- identify and apply practices related to the sustainable management of soil health and crop production

Indicative Module Content:

- Fundamentals of soil components and soil development and formation
- Soil physics including soil mineralogy, texture, structure, water and aeration
- Soil organic matter and soil chemistry including pH, salinity and exchange reactions
- Soil biology including soil organisms, soil biodiversity and soil food webs
- Biochemical transformations in soil including cycling of major nutrients; plant nutrient uptake; soil fertility; nutrient availability and deficiency for plants; and agriculture nutrient management

Student Effort Type	Hours
Lectures	22
Specified Learning Activities	65
Autonomous Student Learning	35
Total	122

Not applicable to this module.

Additional Information:
This module is delivered overseas and is not available to students based at the UCD Belfield or UCD Blackrock campuses.


 

Assessment Strategy  

Description	Timing		Component Scale		% of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Online quizzes during the trimester	Throughout the Trimester	n/a	Graded	No	30
Examination: End of semester exam	2 hour End of Trimester Exam	No	Graded	No	40
Assignment: Assignments	Varies over the Trimester	n/a	Graded	No	30

 

Resit In	Terminal Exam
Summer	Yes - 2 Hour

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Self-assessment activities

Individual feedback on online assignments and exams; online automated feedback on quizzes

KRZIC, M., WALLEY, F.L., DIOCHON, A., PARÉ, M.C., & FARRELL, R.E. 2021. Digging into Canadian soils: An introduction to soil science. Pinawa, MB: Canadian Society of Soil Science. https://openpress.usask.ca/soilscience/

GREGORY, P.J., NORTCLIFF, S. 2013. Soil Conditions and Plant Growth, 12th edition. Chichester, John Wiley & Sons (ISBN 978-1405197700)

WEIL, R.R., BRADY, N.C. 2019. Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils, 4th edition. Pearson Education Inc. (ISBN 978-0-13-325459-4)

WEIL, R.R., BRADY, N.C. 2017. Nature and Properties of Soils, 15th edition. Pearson Education Inc. (ISBN 978-0-13-325455-6)

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