Soil science

General data

Course ID:	1300-OGLW-GES
Erasmus code / ISCED:	07.401 Kod klasyfikacyjny przedmiotu składa się z trzech do pięciu cyfr, przy czym trzy pierwsze oznaczają klasyfikację dziedziny wg. Listy kodów dziedzin obowiązującej w programie Socrates/Erasmus, czwarta (dotąd na ogół 0) – ewentualne uszczegółowienie informacji o dyscyplinie, piąta – stopień zaawansowania przedmiotu ustalony na podstawie roku studiów, dla którego przedmiot jest przeznaczony. / (0712) Environmental protection technology The ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education) code has been designed by UNESCO.
Course title:	Soil science
Name in Polish:	Gleboznawstwo
Organizational unit:	Faculty of Geology
Course groups:	(in Polish) Przedmiot obowiązkowy na II sem. I roku stud. II st. GES na spec. geologia środowiskowa
ECTS credit allocation (and other scores):	(not available) Basic information on ECTS credits allocation principles: the annual hourly workload of the student’s work required to achieve the expected learning outcomes for a given stage is 1500-1800h, corresponding to 60 ECTS; the student’s weekly hourly workload is 45 h; 1 ECTS point corresponds to 25-30 hours of student work needed to achieve the assumed learning outcomes; weekly student workload necessary to achieve the assumed learning outcomes allows to obtain 1.5 ECTS; work required to pass the course, which has been assigned 3 ECTS, constitutes 10% of the semester student load. view allocation of credits
Language:	Polish
Type of course:	obligatory courses
Prerequisites (description):	Ability to work with geographic data, knowledge of the fundamentals of chemistry and geology, ability to work in chemical lab.
Short description:	The course is focused on rules of soil description, their pedogenesis and development. Their physical, chemical, and biological properties are discussed with particular reference to the formation of soil profiles and their transformation under natural influences and due to human activities. Polish and EU soil classifications are presented and soil geography is discussed.
Full description:	The lecture aims at presenting the basic terms in the field of soil science. Presented is the definition of soil, and the subject and development of soil science. Analyzed are conditions of the formation of different soil types, including soil forming factors, pedogenesis, processes in the soil profile, time as a factor having influence on soil development, relationships between the properties of soils, climate, and flora. Described are the morphological features of soils and principles of their description (characteristics of the soil profile, soil horizons, thickness, colours, structure and texture, porosity, admixtures). Soil character as a three-phase system is emphasized. Presentation of the solid phase includes the characteristics of mineral soil components, discussion of the impact of grain-size composition on selected soil properties, characteristics of soil organic matter, origin and evolution of organic matter, mineral-organic complexes. Presentation of the fluid phase of soil includes discussion on the content of water in soils, the chemical composition of the soil solution, and water capacity. Presentation of the gaseous phase includes soil aeration, respiration capacity of soils, chemical composition of soil air, exchange of soil air with atmospheric air, and thermal relationships. The lecture discusses also the physical (density, cohesiveness, plasticity) as well as physical and chemical soil properties (characteristics of micro- and macroelements, sorption capacities, types of sorption, soil pH, buffering properties), and the resulting soil richness, fertility, and productivity. Particular attention is drawn on the presentation of soil organisms that play a key role in soil evolution. Phenomena of soil degradation and factors causing soil degradation are discussed. Finally, the genetic classification of Polish soils is presented. Its description contains criteria of applying appropriate systematic units, sub-division of Polish soils into systematic units, characteristics of particular classes and types, as well as spatial distribution of the distinguished soil types in Poland. The presented issues on genetic soil sub-divisions are supplemented with cycles of soil development. The evaluation classification of soils is also presented during the lectures as well as their sub-division into complexes of agricultural utility. Paleosols and their stratigraphic significance are discussed. Soils around the world are reviewed and their geographic distribution is presented. The European and FAO/WRB classification of soils is also discussed.
Bibliography:	(in Polish) Bednarek R., Prusinkiewicz Z. (1999) - Geografia gleb. Wyd. Nauk. PW, Warszawa 1999 Bednarek R., Dziadkowiec H., Pokojska U., Prusinkiewicz Z. (2004) – Badania ekologiczno-gleboznawcze. PWN, Warszawa Dobrzański B., Zawadzki S. (1999) – Gleboznawstwo. PWRiL, Warszawa Myślińska E. (2001) – Grunty organiczne i laboratoryjne metody ich badania. PWN, Warszawa Zawadzki S. (2002) – Podstawy gleboznawstwa. PWRiL, Warszawa Uggla H. (1976) – Gleboznawstwo rolnicze. PWN, Warszawa Systematyka Gleb Polski. Wyd. IV. Rocznik Gleboznawczy 40, 3/4, 1989
Learning outcomes:	On completion of the course the student: - analyses soil properties and indicates their evolution - identifies the genetic types of soils - explains the influence of anthropogenic and natural factors on evolution of soil profiles - has knowledge about soil geography in Poland and around the world
Assessment methods and assessment criteria:	Final written examination.
Practical placement:	(in Polish) brak

This course is not currently offered.

Course descriptions are protected by copyright.
Copyright by University of Warsaw.