B2001 - PEDOLOGIA APPLICATA

Learning outcomes

The course is part of the general objective of the bachelors in Natural Sciences and Geological Sciences of providing the cultural formation necessary for the analysis and understanding of the natural environment, specifically providing skills related to the soil resource. At the end of course, in fact, the student acquires the basic knowledge for the interpretation of the soil forming factors and processes that determine the geographical distribution of soils. In particular, the student acquires the necessary tools for the evaluation of the soil ecosystem evolution in the different pedoenvironments, both through the interpretation of the soil morphological parameters and chemical-physical properties determined in the field and in the laboratory.

Course contents

PREREQUISITES

The student who accesses this teaching is in possession of a good preparation in the fundamentals of chemistry. This prerequisite is provided by the previous teachings of the degree.

 

TEACHING UNITS

The teaching is structured around two interrelated units: i) a theoretical one, which provides foundational knowledge and prepares students for a subsequent practical unit, and ii) a practical one, which is conducted in a field and laboratory setting. These two units are taught in parallel throughout the course of study.

 

i) Theoretical/preparatory unit and acquired skills

The student will acquire skills related to: the knowledge of the role and effect of the main factors of pedogenesis on soil, main processes of soil formation, soil survey methodology .

This unit will provide:

- basic concepts on pedogenetic factors and their study by soil catena (litho-, bio-, climo-, topo-, chronosequences of soils)

- transformation process of organic components - Soil biomass, soil organic matter and its transformations, formation of surface horizons

- analysis of the main deep pedogenetic processes in several regional, national and world pedoenvironmental contexts

- introduction to soil survey and soil profile reading

 

ii) Practical unit in field and laboratory setting and acquired skills

The practical exercises in field focus on the opening and description of soil profiles by international procedures and the determination of the main soil morphological properties. The practical activities in laboratory will carried out on soil samples collected during the field activities, and will focus on the measurement of some main soil properties (texture, soil pH, carbonate, soil organic matter, etc.). The practical unit will also include the discussion of analytical results obtained and the field characteristics determined. The discussion, also based on the topics developed during the theoretical unit, will have the main purpose of creating the link between the parameters obtained and the soil processes, helping the students in the understanding of soil evolution in the investigated pedoenvironments.

Readings/Bibliography

Fundamental will be the use of material provided by the teacher and lecture notes.

- G. Certini, F.C. Ugolini. Basi di Pedologia, Edagricole, Bologna 2010. Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7

- C. Dazzi. Fondamenti di Pedologia. Le Penseur, 2013. Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11 (Ch. 11 only the paragraphs concern on moisture and temperature soil regimes)

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures and practical exercises in the field. The slides of lectures will be available on Virtuale.

For practical activities, students must have participate in Moduli 1 and 2 (https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute-e-assistenza/salute-e-sicurezza/sicurezza-e-salute-nei-luoghi-di-studio-e-tirocinio ) in advance and in Modulo 3 on specific training on safety and health in study places.

Assessment methods

The final oral examination The duration of the oral test will be of 30 minutes.

Teaching tools

Computer, webcam, projector, Power-point presentations, e-learning platforms, tools for field activities.

Office hours

See the website of Gloria Falsone

See the website of Livia Vittori Antisari