Key words
soil, climate, water, ecology, integrated biological team project
Objectives
The soil is the main production factor of each farm (agriculture, horticulture). A good knowledge of the soil is therefore essential for the programme Bachelor in Biosciences.
The objectives of this course are :
- To gain an insight in the soil forming factors determining the genesis and spatial distribution of soils: climate, water, fauna and flora, parent materials. Major attention is also given to the mineralogical composition (mainly the clay minerals) and physical characteristics of soils as growing medium for plants. The chemical properties are discussed but are described more in detail in the course 'Plant nutrition and soil management', 3rd year Bachelor in Biosciences.
- Based on the gained knowledge from this course, as well as from the courses of botany and zoology, the students will carry out an integrated biological team project in a certain ecosystem in Belgium.
Topics
- The first chapter of the course treats de structure with emphasis on the chemical and mineralogical composition of the earth crust. In the chapter on mineralogical composition, major attention is given to silicate minerals (clay minerals).
- The next chapter treats the soil forming factors and processes, with emphasis on parent materials (rocks) and occurrence in Belgium, landscape, climate (different climatic types), water cycle and biological factors (fauna and flora) (different ecosystems). Those factors will determine to a large extent the soil type and soil properties.
- Major attention is also given to the physical characteristics of soils (soil texture and structure, soil water and air, bulk density, …).
- The soil profile in relation to soil classification in Belgium and the distribution of the different soil types in Belgium are also discussed (last chapter).
Prerequisites
Basical knowledge of chemistry and physics required for interpretation of chemical and physical soil properties and processes.
Final Objectives
- To be able to interpret in a practical way the different soils in temperate regions (as Flanders, Belgium) and in different ecological systems.
- To be able to evaluate those soils through thier mineralogical, morphological and physical properties.
- To dispose of enough basic knowledge to interpret documents dealing with soils (maps, reports).
Materials used
::Click here for additional information::
Lecture notes ‘Bodemkunde en Ecologie’ (G. Baert), in Dutch
Textbooks and interactive software available in the Laboratory.
Numerous links to websites in the lecture notes.
Study costs
Cost: 30.0 EUR
15 euro (lecture notes)
15 euro (transport for biological teamproject)
Study guidance
Permanent possibility for questioning, guidance and coaching.
Teaching Methods
- The theoretical part is given as lectures, in combination with field work during which the soil is studied in its natural context. The students must be able to implement the gained theoretical knowledge, i.e. characterize the soil and interpret the soil to its practical value.
- For the ‘integrated biological team project’, a list of locations of diverse ecosystems will be available. Students are divided in study groups and will choose a ecosystem. The assignment of the team project will be the soil characterization, the survey (inventory) of the fauna and flora of the considered ecosystem and the investigation of interrelations between the observed properties, e.g. relation between soil and land use, relation between soil drainage conditions and fauna/flora,… The students will work autonomously in the field and consult different sources of information (library, internet, soil maps, vegetation maps, …). To stimulate the progress, coaching sessions will be organized mainly oriented to the integration of the knowledge on soil science, botanical and zoological science, .. of the considered ecosystem. Finally, each study group will write a report and present the data and conclusions.
Assessment
- Theory : written examination (open questions)
- Teamproject : permanent evaluation
Impact coefficient :
Lecturer(s)
T: G. BAERT
E: Collaborators integrated biologisch project: F. DEBERSAQUES, V. DERYCKE, B. HEREMANS, J. MICHIELS, S. DE LAETHAUWER.
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