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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Postgraduate Courses (School of GeoSciences)

Postgraduate Course: Soil Science Concepts and Application (PGGE11180)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryA soil scientist requires the ability to collect and interpret information on soil physics, biology and chemistry to allow soil preservation and maintenance of soil health. As such, the Soil Science Concepts and Applications module will provide students with a theoretical insight into soil science by looking at the biological, chemical and physical methods of analysis available to scientists, consultants and land managers. This theoretical delivery will be supported by both laboratory and field based practical¿s that allow the students to gain hands on experience in a range of methods, analysis and interpretation.

The aim of the course is to provide students with a more rounded knowledge of soil analytical techniques and experiences. This should improve their potential employability within sectors interested in soil science. Additionally, the laboratory class aspects of the course will provide awareness of good laboratory practice, which should serve as a very transferable skill set as well as improve student readiness for dissertation laboratory and field work.
Course description 18/09/23 1 Introduction: Soils, sampling and statistics
¿ Outline of course content and assessment.
¿ Overview of global soil systems and soil forming factors
¿ Introduction to soil survey, sampling and mapping
¿ Basic statistical analysis for lab reports.

25/09/23 2 Soil survey and sampling
¿ Field trip to Boghall Farm, Edinburgh (Field visit)
¿ Introduction to different land use types
¿ Familiarisation with basic soil survey techniques and soil sampling strategies in practice
¿ Collection of soil samples for course practical workshops

02/10/23 3 Soil laboratory induction
¿ Introduction to laboratory experimentation and analytical techniques
¿ Safe and effective working in soil research laboratories
¿ Group tour of soil and analytical labs

09/10/23 4 Soil Physics (Theory)
¿ Background: soil physics and soil health
¿ Soil solids, pore space and soil structure
¿ Introduction to soil physics methods

16/10/23 5 Soil Physics (Practical)
¿ Visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS) and detecting compaction in-field *
¿ Bulk density, moisture content and porosity sampling and calculation
¿ Estimating soil texture and aggregate stability (slake test)

23/10/23 6 Soil Chemistry (Theory)
¿ Background: soil chemistry and soil health
¿ pH
¿ Plant macro- and micronutrients and biogeochemical cycles
¿ Soil carbon cycling and benefits
¿ Introduction to soil inorganic and organic chemistry methods

30/10/23 7 Soil Chemistry (Practical)
¿ Mineral N extraction and analysis
¿ Soil organic matter measurement
¿ pH and electrical conductivity

06/11/23 8 Soil Biology (Theory)
¿ Background: Soil biology and soil health
¿ Functional groups of soil organisms: microorganisms, mesofauna and ecosystem engineers
¿ Plant roots and mycorrhiza
¿ Introduction to soil biology methods

13/11/23 9 Soil Biology (Practical)
¿ *Adult earthworm counts in-field (Week 5)
¿ Microbial biomass estimation using substrate induced respiration.
¿ Plant root architecture and biomass

20/11/23 10 Soil Modelling (Theory)
¿ Introduction to environmental modelling, optimisation and validation

27/11/23 11 Soil Modelling (Practical)
¿ Overview of IPCC (2019) steady-state soil carbon model
¿ Overview of soil carbon modelling
¿ Conducting a soil carbon modelling assessment for a Scottish livestock farm

04/12/23 12 Writing a science paper
¿ Publishing research outputs: why and how
¿ Using R for statistical analysis of soil data
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  40
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 30, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 166 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) The course will be assessed by four small laboratory reports and one large scientific report in the style of a journal article. The 2-3 page laboratory reports will be completed in the week following the respective laboratory classes and each will contribute towards 15% of the total award. The results generated from each practical class will then be combined and used to formulate a 3000 word scientific report worth 40% of the total award.

Soil physics lab report (15%):
Soil chemistry lab report (15%):
Soil biology lab report (15%):
Soil modelling report (15%):
Scientific Report (40%):
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Have the ability to collect, analyse, interpret and evaluate information on soil biological quality.
  2. Have the ability to collect, analyse, interpret and evaluate information on soil physical quality.
  3. Have the ability to collect, analyse, interpret and evaluate information on soil chemical quality.
  4. Use their understanding of soil/environmental modelling and model design to assess soil behaviour
  5. Have the ability to compile information into a scientific journal article.
Reading List
¿ Brady, N.C., and Weil, R.R (2008) The Nature and Properties of Soil. Revised 14th Edition. Pearson Education Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA.
¿ Soil Sampling, Preparation, and Analysis, Second Edition: 108 (Books in Soils, Plants, and the Environment) [Hardcover], Kim H. Tan (Author) ISBN-13: 978-0849334993.
¿ Robertson GP, Coleman DC, Bledsoe CS, Sollins P, (1999) Standard soil methods for long-term ecological research. Oxford University Press, New York. pp. 258¿271.
¿ Soil Ecology by Ken Killham (1994), ISBN 0 521 43521 8, Cambridge University Press
¿ Environmental Soil Chemistry, 2nd Edition, Author : D Sparks, Release Date: 04 Jan 2003. Imprint: Academic Press. ISBN: 9780126564464 (In Edinburgh Library)
¿ Smith, K.A. and Mullins, C.E. 2001. Soil and environmental analysis: physical methods. Second edition. Marcel Dekker, NY. 637 pp (In SRUC Library)
¿ Soil sampling and methods of analysis. Edited by M. R. Carter and E. G. Gregorich, Canadian Society of Soil Science. 2008.
¿ Evaluating land quality for carbon storage, greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient leaching. In Visual Soil Evaluation: Realizing Potential Crop Production with Minimum Environmental Impact, (ed. Ball B.C. and Munkholm L.J.), CABI Publishing, Wallingford.
¿ Whalen, J.K and Sampedro, L (2009) Soil Ecology and Management, CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK, pp.1- 296
¿ Paul, E.A (2014) Soil Microbiology, Ecology and Biochemistry, Elsevier Science, UK, pp. 1- 598
Additional Information
Course URL http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/21-22/dpt/cxpgge11180.htm
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Keywordssoil biology,soil classificiation
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jennifer Carfrae
Tel: 0131 535 4417
Email: jennifer.carfrae@sruc.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Jennifer Gumbrell
Tel:
Email: Jennifer.Gumbrell@sruc.ac.uk
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