08264 - Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition

Learning outcomes

The student at the end of the course will get the ability to evaluate the soil fertility from a physical, chemical and biochemical viewpoint to be able to manage it and to increase it if necessary, according to the target of production fixed and environmental need.

 

Course contents

Nitrogen cycling: fixation, mineralization, immobilization, organication, nitrification and denitrification. Phosphate cycling: mineralization of the organic phosphorus. Sulphur cycling: reduction of sulphate and oxidation of sulphur. Potassium, calcium and magnesium. Micronutrients. Iron nutrition in calcareous soils. Root Fe absorption: stategiy I and II. Mineral nutrition and soil analysis: available nutrients.

Cations and anions in soil: concentration in soil solution, solubility, effect of the pH and redox potential. Complexation and chelation of metals: properties of the complexes. Soil-root interaction. Nutrients absorption. The rizosphere: exudates and their biological activity. Soil water balance: influence on mineral nutrition. Soil fertilization: fertilizers, classification, national and European legislations. Factors affecting fertilizers uses. Criteria to assess nitrogen mineralization of organic fertilizers and amendments. Evaluation of the soil fertility. Organic farming. Recyclig and use of biomasses of agro-industrial origin in agriculture.

Readings/Bibliography

•  AA.VV. (Sequi P. coord.), Fondamenti di Chimica del Suolo. Pàtron Editore, Bologna, 2005.
• Mengel K e Kirkby E. A. (2001). Principles of Plant Nutrition.5th Edition. Pp. 849. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Boston, London.

Teaching methods

Lectures using facilities (transparencies, power point). Laboratory exercise.

Assessment methods

Examination at the end of the course.

Place: viale Fanin n. 40 (third floor, west wind).

Date: are available at the student web site "Alma esami"

Teaching tools

Overheads projector, Video projector, PC, Slides projector

Links to further information

http://www.agrsci.dista.unibo.it - http://www.chimicagraria.it

Office hours

See the website of Claudio Ciavatta