Soil Science and Plant Fertilization

The course objective is to acquaint students with soil properties and their functions in the ecosystem. Student will learn both the basics of soils science comprising functioning of soil forming factors, including a specific role of parent rocks and climate, three-phase soil model, composition of solid phase: minerals and humus compounds, water and air properties and nutritional and fertilizer plant needs, methods of production, properties and application of mineral fertilizers and organic fertilizers. Students will be also acquainted with modern methods of determining fertilizer needs considering precision farming. Completion of the course allows to make the right decisions about management of soil resources in order to maintain their productivity, understanding basic processes of fertilizer effect on plants and environment, and learning the principles, as well as acquiring skills to determine fertilizer doses for plants cultivated in various soils.

Lectures

1.Definition and functions of soil, soil forming factors - 2h

2.Properties of solid soil phase, clay minerals - 2h

3. Soil organic matter – transformation processes and environmental functions - 2h

4.Soil water and soil air - 3h

5.Soil nomenclature (acc. to WRB)- 2h

6.Soil buffering, abundance in biogenic components, fertility and soil use - 2h

7.Plant nutritional and fertilizer needs –definitions and methods of determining - 2h

8.Natural fertilizers: manure, fermented and unfermented liquid manure - 2h

9.Other organic fertilizers and carbon sequestration in soil - 2h

10.Nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers - 2h

11. Potassium and multi-component fertilizers - 2h

12. Microelement fertilizers, methods of fertilizer application, fertilizer laws - 2h

13. Loses of fertilizer components and chemical degradation of soils- counteracting methods - 3h

14. Soil erosion and basics of soil protection - 2h

Lab classes

1.Characteristics of selected minerals and soil parent rocks - 4h

2.Nomenclature of soil granulation composition and determining soil granulation using aerometric and sieve method - 4h

3.pH measurement, soil acidity and soil salinity assessment; approximate determination of soil liming needs - 4h

4.Determining organic carbon and mobile nitrogen content in soil - 4h

5.Determining of base exchange capacity and soil hydrolytic acidity - 4h

6.Assessment of available phosphorus and potassium in soil - 4h

7.Assessment of the content of total nitrogen and its ammonium form in composts and manure - 4h

8.Determining chemical composition and fodder quality of plants - 4h

9.Qualitative and quantitative analysis of mineral fertilizers - 4h

Individual projects and seminars

1.Determining nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium doses for crops - 4h

2.Characteristics of soil forming processes occurrence under various climatic conditions - 2h

3.Characteristic of main soil types considering their agricultural usability and environmental values - 2h

Field classes

1.Presentation and description of profiles of selected soil types from the Krakow neighbourhood - 6h

2.Visiting and learning the operation of chemical plants manufacturing mineral fertilizes - 3h

3.Visiting and learning the operation of industrial composting plant - 3h

Writing assignments – individual work

1.Characteristics of parent rocks in the region appointed by the instructor.

2.Granulation, pH and salinity of soils in the region appointed by the instructor.

3.Characteristics of main soil units in the region appointed by the instructor.

4.Characteristics of factors conditioning spoil fertility in the region appointed by the instructor.

5.Fertilizer usability of various waste organic materials.

6.Physiological functions and toxicological characteristics of selected elements.

7.Tendencies of changes in mineral fertilizer consumption in various geographical regions.

8.Environmental effects of unbalanced fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Subject statistic

1. Number of hours and ECTS credits - compulsory subject Hours: 250; ECTS: 10

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

3. Total number of hours and ECTS credits, a student must earn by direct contact with academics (lectures, classes, seminars....) Hours: 90; ECTS: 3,6

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: 60; ECTS: 2,4

5. Expected personal workload (without or with academics participation during consultations) necessary for realization of subject objectives. Hours: 160; ECTS: 6,4

1.Andrews J.E., Brimblecombe P., Jickells T.D., Liss P.S., Reid B.J. 2004. An introduction to environmental chemistry. Second edition. Blackwell Publishing, pp. 296.

2.Brady N.C., Weil R.C. 2007. The Nature and Properties of Soil. Edition 14, Prentice Hall, pp. 876.

3.Hillel D. 2007. Soil in the environment, Crucible of terrestrial life. Academic Press (Elsevier), San Diego, pp. 307.

4.Lægreid M., Bøckman O.C., Kaarstad O. 1999. Agriculture, fertilizers and the environment. CABI Publishing, CAB International Wallingford, UK, pp. 294.

Results of teaching

knowledge

-students will possess knowledge on basics of soil science and soil classification

-will learn the potential, means and ways to shape arable soil fertility

skills

-students are able to manage soil resources and appropriately plan soil use

-they are able to conduct analysis and prepare a plan for improving soil fertility

social skills

-students can work and organize activities in a small team in order to conduct laboratory experiment and solve problems

-they appreciate the importance and necessity to care about the environment on a local and global scale.

Formative marks (classes)

1.Assessment for each carrying out of a laboratory task in 2 or 3- person teams, involving the proper method of conducting the analysis, computing, interpretation of results and formulating conclusions.

2.Individual marks for written assignments.

3.Credit for field classes on the basis of written report.

Final assessment: the mean grades of formative marks obtained for classes.

Lectures: written examination - a set of a dozen problems defined at the beginning of the course and computational assignment.

Grade E (2.0) less than 55%

Grade D (3.0) 55%

Grade C (3.5) 65%

Grade B (4.0) 75%

Grade B+ (4.5) 90%

Grade A (5.0) 97-100%