Pedology

Basic knowledge of geology

In order to achieve the objectives of the UC and the conference of the competences foreseen for the students, the teaching/learning process is based:

– In case studies, accompanied by a set of instructions that lead the student to analyze them, draw conclusions and make decisions or suggest actions;

– In the identification and characterization of profiles corresponding to different types of soils;

– In the execution of practical work to apply theoretical concepts, which can be numerical, laboratory or field in nature;

– In the bibliographical research necessary to complement the information obtained in the classes and for the realization of the reports.

During the course it is intended that students acquire the following skills:

1) Identify the constituents of soils and their effects on the quality of the soil as a porous medium where water and gaseous transfers occur and as a means of transforming polluting substances.

2) Identify the factors and processes responsible for the formation and differentiation of natural soils, soils used for agricultural production and the role of soil in the transformation and remediation of polluting substances.

3) Understand soil degradation processes and practices that contribute to the conservation and improvement of soil in terms of hydrological characteristics and as an ecosystem support.

4) Distinguish the main types of soil and know the soil classification systems.

Part I (50%)

Mineral and organic constituents of the soil; Soil mineralogy; Organic matter and the carbon cycle; Soil properties and their relationship with the constitution; Environmental factors determining the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil; Effects of soil constitution and properties on soil quality as a means of transforming and remediating pollutants. Soil biodiversity. Importance of organic matter and interactions between soil, plant roots, microorganisms, soil fauna and the rhizosphere for soil quality, plant nutrition and ecosystem functioning. Soil water: content, distribution and energetic state of soil water; water infiltration into the soil; water retention and movement in saturated and unsaturated soil; water availability for plants; soil and the hydrological cycle.

Part II (50%)

Soil formation factors and their interactions; Soil formation and evolution processes; Differentiation and nomenclature of horizons; Diagnostic horizons; Main types of soils in Portugal. Soil functions in terrestrial ecosystems. Types of erosion: wind and water; factors and processes; methods to combat erosion and soil conservation practices; methodologies for estimating soil loss: the universal soil loss equation (USLE).

NAO

BONNEAU, M., SOUCHIER, B. – Constituants et Propriétés du Sol. Masson, Paris, 1994

BRADY, N.C.; WEIL, R.R. – The Nature and Properties of Soils. 13ªEd. Mac Millan Pearson Education Inc. New Jersey, 2002.

CARDOSO, J. C., BESSA, M. T., MARADO M. B. – Carta de Solos de Portugal(1 : 1 000 000). Agronomia Lusitana 33 : 481 – 602, 1973.

COSTA, J. B. – Caracterização e Constituição do Solo. 7ªEd., F.C.G., Lisboa, 2004. FOTH, H. D. – Fundamentals of Soil Science. John Wiley and Sons, 1978.

HILLEL, D. – Environmental Soil Physics. Academic Press. New York, 1998

GARDINER, D. T., MILLER, R. W. – Soils in our Environment. Ed.Pearson.New Jersey, 2004.

RICARDO, R. P. – Génese e Evolução dos Solos. ISA, Lisboa, 1969 TAM, K. H.- Environmental Soil Science. Marcel Dekker, Inc. New York,1994

VARENNES A. (2003). Produtividade dos Solos e Ambiente. Escolar editora.

WIGLEY, T.M.L., SCHIMEL, D. S. – The Carbon Cycle. Cambridge University Press, 2000