Soil Quality
| Code: | CAMB3007 | Acronym: | CAMB3007 | Level: | 300 |
| Keywords | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Keyword |
| OFICIAL | Environmental Sciences |
Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S 
| Active? | Yes |
| Responsible unit: | Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings |
| Course/CS Responsible: | Bachelor in Environmental Sciences and Technology |
Cycles of Study/Courses
| Acronym | No. of Students | Study Plan | Curricular Years | Credits UCN | Credits ECTS | Contact hours | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L:CTA | 44 | Plano estudos a partir do ano letivo 2016/17 | 3 | - | 6 | 48 | 162 |
Teaching Staff - Responsibilities
| Teacher | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Helena Isabel da Costa Ribeiro |
Teaching - Hours
| Theoretical classes: | 1,85 |
| Laboratory Practice: | 1,85 |
| Type | Teacher | Classes | Hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theoretical classes | Totals | 1 | 1,846 |
| Helena Isabel da Costa Ribeiro | 1,293 | ||
| Anabela Ferreira De Oliveira Cachada | 0,553 | ||
| Laboratory Practice | Totals | 2 | 3,692 |
| Anabela Ferreira De Oliveira Cachada | 1,108 | ||
| Helena Isabel da Costa Ribeiro | 1,431 | ||
| Sónia Gonçalves Pereira | 1,153 |
Teaching language
PortugueseObs.: Suitable for English-speaking students
Objectives
The overall objective of this course is to provide the basic knowledge of soil science, including pedogenic processes as well as geological, physical, chemical and biological factors involved, that determine the properties of different soils and subsequently the functions and services they provide, as well as their suitability for different uses. To achieve this overall objective, the following specific objectives are suggested:
- Identify the different pedogenic processes (additions, translocations, changes and losses) in the soil;
- Identify the different geological, physical, chemical, climatic and biological factors that determine the formation and existence of different types of soil, and then govern the biological processes that occur in them;
- Identify the different factors that determine the behaviour and fate of organic and inorganic contaminants in the soil;
- Know the soil taxonomy and the international system of soil classification;
- Recognize the main functions and services provided by soil ecosystem;
- Understand the role of biota in the soil functions and services;
- Identify the main threats to soil quality in Europe;
- Know the main indicators of soil quality;
- To acquire the ability to evaluate different physical and chemical and soil biochemical parameters;
- To acquire the ability to suggest different soil management measures for their conservation;
Learning outcomes and competences
As a result of the frequency of the Course in Quality of Soils, students will be aware of the soil degradation problems in the world in general and Europe in particular, because of the services and functions provided by this environmental matrix, which are becoming seriously compromised. Students will also acquire the basic skills to evaluate different edaphic parameters that can be used to assess the quality of soil and acquire the ability to suggest appropriate management practices to specific land degradation situations, aimed in reversing this process.Working method
PresencialPre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)
Basic knowlege in environemntal sciences and ecology.Program
THEORETICAL PROGRAM
Part 1 - 8 classes
1.2. Soil Origin and Training - Pedogenesis. Soil morphology. Soil classes - FAO-UNESCO soil rating.
1.3. Soil mineral matter: Origin, primary and secondary minerals. Mineral reserve and change complex. Clay minerals and isomorphic substitutions. Physical properties of the soil.
1.4. Soil organic matter: sources, fractions and composition. Degradation/decomposition process: mineralization, immobilization and humification. Factors affecting organic matter decomposition/degradation. Organic matter stabilization processes.
1.5. The Soil Reaction - Sorption Processes. Acid Reactions -bases. Soil redox. Soil colloids: properties.
1.6. Water in the soil.
1.7. Air in the soil.
1.8. Soil pollutants (inorganic, organic and emerging). Pollutant destination pathways. Mechanisms of interaction and the fate of contaminants in the soil.
1.9. European and national legislation of soil protection.
Part 2 - 4 classes
2.1. Definitions of soil quality.
2.2. Soil functions and services.
2.3. The state of Soil in Europe.
2.4. Indicators of soil quality: physical, chemical and biological.
2.5. Soil management for quality.
PROGRAM Practical (P) classes
Part 1 - 8 P classes
- Soil sampling (sampling drawings, sample types and sample processing and conservation after collection.
- Determination of moisture and soil organic matter.
- Determination of the pH and electric conductivity of the soil.
- Soil radioactivity measurement
- Soil color
- Measuring the concentration of nitrate anion
- Measurement of the concentration of phosphorus
- Measurement of the total organic carbon (TOC). Fractionation of humic and fulvic acids.
- Determination of sodium, potassium, calcium and barium in soils
- Determination of the cation exchange capacity (CEC)
Part 2 - 4 TP and 4 P classes
In theoretic-practical classes the principles of the methods to be performed in practical classes will be taught, in parallel with the presentation and discussion of case studies and respective results, in which the same methods were used.
Practical work 1 - Determination of soil enzymes activity (2 P classes, incubation, enzyme assay and analysis of results).
Practical work 2 - Determination of the activity of soil fauna with the Bait-Lamina test (2P classes: baiting the lamina and placement in the field; lamina withdraw from the field and data analysis).
Mandatory literature
Ashman, M.R., Puri, G; Essential Soil Science, Blackwell Publishing, 2002
Carter, M-R. (Ed.); Sampling and Methods of Analysis. Canadian Society of Soil Science, Lewis Publishers, CRC Press, 1993. ISBN: 0-87371-861-5
Coleman, D.C., Crossley, Jr., D.A., Hendrix, P.F.; Fundamentals of Soil Ecology, Elsevier Academic Press, 2004. ISBN: 0-12-179726-0
Costa, J.B.; Caracterização e Constituição do Solo, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Serviço de Educação e Bolsas, 2011. ISBN: 978-972-31-0073-0
Gary M. Pierzynski, J. Thomas Sims e George F. Vance; Soils and Environmental Quality, 3th Edition, Taylor and Francis, 2005
Gerrard, J.; Fundamentals of Soils, Routledge, 2000. ISBN: 0-4-415-17004-4
Sparks, D.L. ; Environmental Soil Chemistry, Academic Press, 1995
SPAC – Soil and Plant Analysis Council; Soil Analysis. Handbook of Reference Methods. Soil and Plant Analysis Council, Inc., CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2000. ISBN: 9780849302053
Tan, K.H.; Soil Sampling, Preparation and Analysis, Marcel Dekker , 1996. ISBN: 0-8493-3499-3
Wall, D.H., Bardgett, R.D., Behan-Pelletier, V., Herrick, J.E., Jones, T.H., Ritz, K., Six, J., Strong, D.R., van der Putten, W.H.; Soil Ecology and Ecosystem Services, Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0-19-968816-6
White, R.E. ; Principles and Practice of Soil Science – the soil as a natural resource, 3th Ed, Blackwell Science, 2000
Mandatory literature
Ashman, M.R., Puri, G.; Essential Soil Science, Blackwell Publishing, 2002Martin R. Carter; Soil sampling and methods of analysis. ISBN: 0-87371-861-5
David C. Coleman; Fundamentals of soil ecology. ISBN: 9780121797263
Costa, J.B.; Caracterização e Constituição do Solo, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Serviço de Educação e Bolsas, 2011. ISBN: 978-972-31-0073-0
Gary M. Pierzynski; Soils and environmental quality. ISBN: 0-8493-1616-2
Sparks, D.L.; Environmental Soil Chemistry, Academic Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0-12-656446-4
J. Benton Jones; Laboratory guide for conducting soil tests and plant analysis. ISBN: 0-8493-0206-4
Tan, K.H.; Soil Sampling, Preparation, and Analysis , CRC Press, 2005
Diana H. Wall; Soil ecology and ecosystem services. ISBN: 978-0-19-968816-6
White, R.E.; Principles and Practice of Soil Science: The Soil as a Natural Resource, Wiley-Blackwell, 2005. ISBN: 978-0-632-06455-7
Complementary Bibliography
Gerrard, J.; Fundamentals of Soils, 2000. ISBN: 0-4-415-17004-4Teaching methods and learning activities
In addition to formal classes, promotes the learning of the correct interpretation of the questions and planning the answers through the practice of answering to theoretical questions and problems resolution which also aim to: (a) encourage the study throughout the course, and (b) acquiring knowledge, the students acquired interest in the theme which helps to improve training and the final results. Practical works on subjects in the ambit of the curricular unit and their oral presentation are made by small teams (groups of students pre-defined).Evaluation Type
Distributed evaluation with final examAssessment Components
| designation | Weight (%) |
|---|---|
| Teste | 60,00 |
| Trabalho laboratorial | 40,00 |
| Total: | 100,00 |
Amount of time allocated to each course unit
| designation | Time (hours) |
|---|---|
| Estudo autónomo | 106,00 |
| Frequência das aulas | 56,00 |
| Total: | 162,00 |
Eligibility for exams
Calculation formula of final grade
The evaluation of Soil Quality is performed based on the following two parameters:
- Final exam (60% of the grade).
- Report of the work of the practical classes (40% of the grade) - Groups.
Page created on: 2025-06-16 at 23:23:37 | Acceptable Use Policy | Data Protection Policy | Complaint Portal