BSEN40740 Soil Technology

Academic Year 2023/2024

*** Not available in the academic year indicated above ***

This module covers developments in digital soil tools for soil characterization and agronomic soil management. Digital soil resources and technological tools will be explored for describing the soil resource and for use in soil sampling, nutrient management and soil carbon monitoring.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students will be able to;

- Identify digital soil resources for soil management
- Use digital tools in soil sampling
- Navigate online Nutrient Management Plan portals
- Employ tools for targeted application of agronomic inputs
- Understand how soil carbon sequestration is measured, monitored, reported & verified

Indicative Module Content:

Each topic will be covered by lectures with occasional input from industry partners.

1. Introduction to the soil resource (conventional chemical methods)
2. Introduction to soil fertility (conventional chemical methods)
3. Digital soil mapping at the global, European and national scale
4. Introduction to pedometrics
5. Spectral methods for soil analysis
6. GPS and barcoding to geo-tag soil sample locations
7. Nutrient Management Plan Platforms
8. Spectral methods for manure and organic fertilizer analysis
9. Variable rate application for agronomic inputs
10. Soil carbon stock monitoring using direct/indirect measurement

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Specified Learning Activities

60
Autonomous Student Learning

30
Total

114
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
- This module will be delivered as face-to-face scheduled lectures with occasional input from industry partners. There will be an opportunity for class-based discussions at stages throughout the module.
- Active student learning will be facilitated through two assignments. The first assignment is literature based and presents students with an opportunity to explore literature in soil applications of professional interest. The second assignment is designed to give students an opportunity to apply their learnings from the module in the critique of a self-selected mobile app for soil management. Students will be encouraged to share their main findings from each assignment with the class in structured class discussion.
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Class Test: Targeted nutrient application:
- Calculation based assignment using map resources, soil data and fertilizer data generated using digital soil tools.
 Week 8 n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

35
Assignment: Review of digital soil tools for agriculture. This will include:
- Scientific literature review
- Commercial technology review
- Comparison with conventional soil analysis		 Week 4 n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

35
Assignment: Critique of a soil management mobile app (self-selection app). Week 10 n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

30

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

- A marking Rubric will be available for the student assignments. - Feedback will be provided individually to students on draft assignments submitted to Brightspace approximately one week prior to assessment.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 

There are no rows to display