Learning objectives
<br />The aim of the corse i sto providethe basic tools, applied in pedology for soil investigation.<br />The concepts of soil forming process and factors will be introduced. Soil composition as well as mineral weathering and organic matter transformation will be discussed in detail. An overview on the main soil type and soil classification will be given and a practical training on soil survey and on the main laboratory analysis will be done.
Course unit content
<br />The soil concept. Soil forming factors: bed rock, topography, climate, biotic factor, time. The main soil forming processus. Mineral weathering. Organic matter transformation. Soil leaching and illuviation. Soil profile and the main soil horizon. Zonal, azonal and intrazonal soils. The main soil classifications: French classification, Soil Taxonomy, WRB. The main soil type. Soil description and the lecture of landscape. The main soil analysis: texture, bulk density, aggregate stability, pH, salinity, organic carbon, total and active carbonate, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable base.<br /> <br />
Bibliography
<br />A. Giordano, 1999. Utet<br />S.G. Mc Rae, 1991, Pedologia pratica, Zanichelli
