Soils

To achieve the objectives of the course and providing to the students the needed skills, the teaching-learning process is based on case studies, accompanied by a set of instructions that lead the student to analyze them, to draw conclusions and making decisions or suggestion of actions; the implementation of practical work application of theoretical concepts, which can be either numerical nature, as laboratory or field; in the literature necessary to supplement the information obtained in the classroom and for running the reports.

This course aims to enable the student of knowledge about:
1) The constituents and properties of soils and their effects on soil quality.
2) The dynamics of mineral elements in the soil-plant-atmosphere system and the importance of physical fertility, chemical and biological soil.
3) The general factors and processes responsible for the formation and differentiation of soils.
4) The soil degradative processes (fireworks, loads, wind and water erosion, intensive production).
5) Management practices and structures for the conservation and improvement of soil quality.

Functions of soils in terrestrial ecosystems.
The soil as a support of biodiversity.
Mineral and organic soil constituents: soil mineralogy; organic matter and the carbon cycle.
Soil properties and its relation to mineral and organic constitution.
Soil water: content, retention and movement in saturated and unsaturated soil; Availability of water in the soil biota.
Effects of the constitution and properties of soil in plant growth and development.
Factors and processes of soil formation: Horizons of diagnosis; Main soil types.
Factors and laws of plant growth: Biogeochemical cycle and balance of organic matter and mineral nutrients.
Effects of forest fires on soil structure, water infiltration, runoff concentration and erosion losses.
Classification of erosion; factors and processes; methods to combat erosion and soil conservation practices; universal soil loss equation.

• - written test - 60.0%
• - reports of case studies - 40.0%

NAO

ISSS/ISRIC/FAO. World Reference Base for Soil Resources. World Soil Resources Reports 103, FAO. Roma. 2006
MADRP – Manual Básico de Práticas Agrícolas: Conservação do Solo e da Água. INGA Ed.1999
MENGEL, K, KIRKBY, E, KOSEGARTEN, H. & APPEL T. Principles of Plant Nutrition. 5th Ed. Int Potash Inst, Berna. Kluwer Acad Pub Nether. 2001
PORTA, J, LOPEZ, AM, ROQUERO, C Edafologia para la Agricultura e el Medio Ambiente. Ed Mundi-Prensa 2Ed. 1999
SANTOS, JQ. Fertilização Fundamentos da Utilização dos Adubos e Correctivos. J. Quelhas Santos 3ª Ed. Publicações Eur-América, 2002
VARENNES A. Produtividade dos Solos e Ambiente. Esc Ed. 2003

AGASSI, M. Soil erosion, conservation and rehabilitation. Marcel Dekker 1996
BRADY, NC.; WEIL, RR. The Nature and Properties of Soils. 13ªEd. Mac Millan Pearson Education Inc. New Jersey, 2002
CARDOSO, JC, BESSA, MT, MARADO MB Carta de Solos de Portugal. Agr Lusitana 33: 481– 602, 1973
GARDINER, DT, MILLER, RW Soils in our Environment. Ed. Pearson. N J 2004