Plant Nutrition

Code:

BIOL3019

Acronym:

BIOL3019

Level:

300

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biology

Instance: 2016/2017 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Biology
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Biology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:B	16	Official Study Plan	3	-	6	48	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The basic objective of the course focuses on the study of the principles of mineral nutrition of higher plants. The subjects have been planned so as to provide basic, but solid information in plant mineral nutrition, soil fertility and fertilization. It is intended that students acquire fundamental knowledge about the plant nutrients with regard, in particular, the mechanism of absorption, mobility, function and symptoms of deficiency and toxicity. It is also intended to provide knowledge about the availability of nutrients for the plant, transformations suffered and input and output balance of the soil-plant system, that depend on the reaction of soil, soil salinization risks as well as the level of essential nutrients to plants.

Learning outcomes and competences

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

- Recognize  the mineral nutrients essential for plant growth and development, their function and mobility

- Explain the short- and long-distance transport of mineral elements and the source-sink relationships

- Recognize the main symptoms of toxicity and deficiency of essential nutrients

- Understand how plant roots acquire mineral nutrients from the soil and how roots can modify the chemical soil properties at the soil-root interface.

- Show knowledge about the effects of nutrition on crop production and on plant quality.

 

Working method

Presencial

Program

CONTENTS

Theoretical program

• Definition and classification of nutrients

• Soil-plant relationships: the soil as nutrient medium

• Availability and movement of nutrients into the soil

• Effect of external and internal factors on growth and root development

• Chemistry and biology of rhizosphere in relation to plant nutrition

• Absorption, assimilation and transport of nutrients

• Macronutrients and micronutrients in plants: function and symptoms of deficiency and toxicity

• Nutrients and plant production

• Application of fertilisers

Laboratory program

Sampling and sample soil preparation; Physical properties of soil; Soil reaction; Soil organic matter determination; Biochemical and macroscopic assessments of the nutritional deficiencies in nitrogen and phosphorus; Biological fixation of nitrogen; Rhizosphere's pH variations as a result of the nitrogen source supplied.

Mandatory literature

000026989. ISBN: 0-12-473543-6
000093626. ISBN: 972-592-156-9
Marschner Horst; Marschner.s mineral nutrition of higher plants. ISBN: 9780123849052

Complementary Bibliography

000026892. ISBN: 972-1-00949-0
Varennes Amarilis de; Produtividade dos solos e ambiente. ISBN: 972-592-156-9

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures and laboratory classes. Lectures are presented in slideshow using the software "PowerPoint". Laboratory classes enable the acquisition of specific skills, including those arising from the implementation of practical experiments. These classes are compulsory.

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	40,00
Frequência das aulas	60,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

It is mandatory to attend the practical classes - minimum 2/3.

Calculation formula of final grade

Students may choose to be evaluated by one of the following methods:

1) Final Exam-based evaluation
- final grade = grade final exam, covering theory (T) and practical subjects (P)
- minimum grade requirement in each test 8.0 points

- Final grade - [(2T+1P)/20 points)]

2) Test-based evaluation
- grade of 1st test (T1 = 20 points), covering theory subject only
- grade of 2nd test (T2 = 20 points), covering theory subject only
- grade of practical test (P = 20 points), covering practical subject only
- minimum grade requirement in each test 8.0 points

- Theoretical Final Grade (T) = [(T1 + T2)/2]
- Final Grade - [(2T + P)/3]

 

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

.

Classification improvement

To improve the final grade the student needs to request a new final exam, in accordance with current legislation on the subject.

Observations

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