Postgraduate Course: Novel strategies for carbon storage in soil (PGGE11214)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | Students interested in soils and agriculture currently learn soil processes and function and conventional strategies to managing soil and crop impacts on environment and carbon cycle. Challenges facing global agriculture are explored in Food Security, etc. This course will consider ¿disruptive¿ (transformative) technologies and their potential contribution to the management of future crop production, resource us and carbon storage. This focuses on biochar but also other negative emissions technologies related to soil management, notably carbonation and peat land management. Consideration of biochar and carbonation technologies extends well beyond soils to engineering and aspects of systems and social science. Those approaching the course from the engineering and social science side will learn about agriculture as an engineered natural system (opportunities and challenges). |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 1, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
15/09/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 16,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 16,
Fieldwork Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
156 )
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| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Recognition of transformative land management technology options and their possible future uses;
2. Frameworks for assessing flexibility, policy context and 'systems fit' in technology deployment;
3. Deeper understanding of carbon, nutrient and matrix diversity in soil, in relation to associated agriculture, energy and resource systems. |
Assessment Information
Two coursework elements:
*Report on field visit(s);
*Essay and diagrams presenting a system-based strategy for biochar deployment in a defined agricultural context (of the student's choice). |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Course develops broad systems thinking with an emphasis on innovation. This is a perspective important in the area of environment, engineering and agriculture with new technologies deployed in a rapidly changing world. |
| Syllabus |
1. Introduction to engineered soils
2. Biochar system and principles
3. Biochar properties and soil functions
4. Biochar production systems
5. Field visit - UKBRC pyrolysis facilities
6. Biochar systems fit - soils and agriculture
7. Biochar systems fit - biomass and bioenergy
8. Introduction to carbonation
9. Introduction to peat land management
10. Field visit - SRUC field site |
| Transferable skills |
*Thinking outside the box (beyond current technology to emergent or transformative technologies);
*System level thinking (understanding the interactions of agriculture with connected systems);
*Innovative thinking and problem solving developed through facilitated group work. |
| Reading list |
*Lehmann, J. and S. Joseph, Eds. (2009) Biochar for Environmental Management: Science and Technology. Earthscan. London
*Lal, R., Kimble, J.M. and Stewart B.A. (1999) Global Climate Change and Pedogenic Carbonates, CRC Press, 300pp |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
8 x 4 hours. Each weekly session would start with 2 x 50 min lectures. The last two hours would involve facilitated group work. Two four-hour sessions for (1) visit to biochar research labs and pyrolysis facility (2) visit to a SRUC field site. |
| Keywords | Sustainable intensification, international development, bioenergy, carbon cycle, greenhouse gases, r |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Saran Sohi
Tel: (0131 6)51 4471
Email: saran.sohi@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Alice Heatley
Tel: (0131 6)50 4866
Email: alice.heatley@ed.ac.uk |
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