World reference base for soil resources

The objective is to show and explanation the rules of differentiation soil cover on the world and relationships between soil-parent material-climate in different regions of the world. Topics covered a wide range international soil taxonomy description and classification used WRB (IUSS Working Group WRB. 2007). This knowledge will be practiced used in understanding a publications with international soil terminology. The object takes focus also on practice skill to description and classification of soils in the field.

Lectures

1. Introduction to pedology. What soil is? Basic terms.

2. Principles classifications by WRB. Classification key.

3. Mineral soils conditioned by tropical and subtropical climate.

4. Mineral soils conditioned by arid and semiarid climate.

5. Mineral soils conditioned by temperate climate.

6. Mineral soils formed by limited age.

7. Mineral soils formed by topography.

8. Mineral soils formed by rock and parent material.

9. Anthropogenic soils and organic soils.

10. World soils resources as a source of food.

Classes

1- 5. Field descriptions and classification of soils.

Subject statistic

1. Number of hours and ECTS credits - compulsory subject Hours: -; ECTS: -

2. Number of hours and ECTS credits - facultative subject Hours: 50; ECTS: 2

3. Total number of hours and ECTS credits, a student must earn by direct contact with academics (lectures, classes, seminars....) Hours: 15; ECTS: 0,6

4. Total number of hours and ECTS credits, a student earns in the course of a practical nature, such as laboratory, field trips and design classes Hours: 5; ECTS: 0,2

5. Expected personal workload (without or with academics participation during consultations) necessary for realization of subject objectives. Hours: 35; ECTS: 1,4

1. IUSS Working Group WRB. 2007. World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2006, first update 2007. World Soil Resources Report No 103. FAO Rome.

2. Lecture notes on the major soils of the World (ed.) P. Driessen, J. Deckers., J. Spaargaren. FAO 2001.

3. R. J. Schaetzl, S. Anderson. Soils: Genesis and Geomorpholog. Cambridge University Press. 2007.

Knowledge:

- Defines the main pedogenetics factors affecting of the distribution of soils on Earth

- Know the the capabilities and limitations of the use of agricultural soils of different climatic zones

- Know the risks of soils in the world,

- Identifies the levels of diagnostic, diagnostic properties and diagnostic soil materials required for completion of the soil to a particular entity classification,

- Acquire knowledge to the understanding of the texts in which it is used, recommended by the European Union, the classification of the World Reference Base for Soil Resources.

Skills:

- Can recognize and classified soils according to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources.

Social competence:

- Is aware of the importance of soil as a resource existing of differentiation of specific ecosystems on Earth.

Classes:

a / evaluation of the quality of field and laboratory work (included identification of, units of soils in the environmental, each classes rated as 0 or 1

b / evaluation of laboratory reports including quality of collected data, preparation of report and interpretation), each report rated as 0 to 4

Overall rating: (a + b) for each classes/number of classes

Lectures:

written test exam (about 30 questions from the entire range of the subject with four response options), 0 or 1 pt. for each question

Grade E (2.0) Very low level of understanding , less than 40%

Grade D (3.0) Basic information about the lectures and lab practicals, 45-55%

Grade C (3.5) Ability to discuss any problem at the intermediatelevel 60%

Grade B (4.0) Good understanding of the subject, ability to ask about different issues, 70%

Grade B+ (4.5) Very good knowledge about the subject, student is interested in the subject and asks for more information, works on his own 85%

Grade A (5.0) Excellent understanding, full discussion, very good lab practicals more than 90%