<p> 

<p>Soil
Science global note can be assessed by continuous evaluation following Bolonia
criteria.</p>

Evaluations may be
performed not only in English, but also in Galician or Spanish languages, if this is requested by students. </p>

Learning outcomes	Study programme competences
El suelo actúa como sustrato de las comunidades vegetales, adsorbente y absorbente de los elementos nutritivos, es decir soporta la vida de numerosos organismos vegetales y animales. Por tanto, se presta particular atención al análisis de la edafosfera como un medio organizado, complejo y dinámico, en la zona de contacto entre la biosfera, la litosfera, la hidrosfera y la atmósfera.	A6 A20 A26 A27	B2 B5 B6 B9	C2 C4 C6 C7
Because of the role of the soil for terrestrial ecosystems, Edaphology has a particular interest in Environmental Biology. The soil food chain describes a complex living system and how it interacts with the environment, plants, and animals. The nature of soil makes direct observation of food webs difficult. Soil microbial communities are characterized in many different ways. The activity of microbes can be measured by their respiration and carbon dioxide release. The cellular components of microbes can be extracted from soil and genetically profiled, or microbial biomass can be calculated by weighing the soil before and after fumigation.	A21 A28 A29 A30 A31 A32	B1 B8 B10 B11	C3 C6 C7
Soils act as substrates for vegetal communities and also as adsorbent and absorbent for nutritive, and allow life of many animal and vegetal organisms. Therefore our program pays particular attention to the “edaphosphere” as a complex dynamic and organised site, located in the interface between biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. Soil is also the support of man-made spaces or sites influenced by man activity, such as urban-industrial areas and transport infrastructures.	A1 A6 A18 A20 A22 A23 A24	B1 B9 B10	C1 C5 C6
The scientific study of the soil is important for Biologists, mainly from an ecological perspective. Soil is essential in environmental studies and soil science contributes to understand important processes such as biogeochemical cycles, the structure ecosystems and factors from which primary production depends.	A6 A22 A23 A30 A31 A32	B3 B4 B10	C1 C5
The course of Soil Science is designed to provide an overview of the fundamental: Physical processes, Chemical processes, Fertility, Biology, and Land Use. Both theoretical and practical contents in soil science should contribute to enhance the skills of Biology students at the UDC in the use of several instrumental techniques.	A2 A6 A25 A27	B2 B7 B12 B13	C1 C5 C8

Topic	Sub-topic
PRELIMINARY CONCEPTS Lesson 1.- History of Soil Science. Lesson 2.- Soil descripton in field conditions. Laboratory techniques for soil studies.	Origin and development of Soils Science. Main topics in Soil Science. Profile and horizons. Physical, Chemical and Bioñogical methods of soil analysis.
SOIL COMPOSITION Lesson 3.- Soil mineral composition. Soil clays. Lesson 4.- Soil organic matter.	Soil texture. Specific surface. Soil mineralogy. Soil clays. Structure and properties of most common soil clays. Oxyhydroxides. Soil organic compounds. Humus. Organo-mineral associations. Organic matter and ecosystems: biogeochemical cycles.
SOIL PROPERTIES Lesson 5.- Soil physical properties and soil structure. Lesson 6.- Soil water retention and water dynamics. Lesson 7.- Soil temperature and aeration. Lesson 8.- Soil pH and cation exchange capacity. Lesson 9.- Soil biology. Lesson 10. Soil fertility	Bulk density and solid density. Soil porosity. Pore-size distribution. Aggregate dynamics in soils. Structural stability. Soil moisture content and soil potential. Soil water measurement. Soil moisture characteristic curve. Soil water retention and soil water dynamics. Soil water and water requirements of vegetation. Soil thermal properties. Soil temperature management. Composition of the soil atmosphere. Soil and gases of greenhouse effect. Soil pH and soil acidity. Soil acidity effects. Acidity amendment. Exchange complex of soils. Cation exchange capacity. Soil organisms. Soil enzymatic activity. Nucleic acids in soil. Soil organism and soil properties as indicators of soil quality. Macronutrients and micronutrients. Nitrogen , phosphorus and potassium cycles. Calcium and magnesium. Iron, cupper, zinc, boron and molybdenum. Other oligoelements
SOIL SYSTEMATICS AND CLASSIFICATION Lesson 13.- Soil Systematics. Lesson 14.- Introduction to Soil Taxonomy. Lesson 15.- World Reference Base for Soil Resources. Lesson 16.- Spanish and Galician Soils.	Genesic and diagnostic horizons. Soil profile. Horizon nomenclature. Modern Soil Classifications. Soil Taxonomy. World Reference Base for Soil Resources. Characteristics for soil diagnosis. Moisture and temperature regimes. Oreders, suborders, great groups, subgroups, families, and series. Organic soil. Soil with anthropic influences. Soils conditioned by topography and by time. Soils conditioned by cold, temperate, steppe, arid or semiarid and tropical or subtropical climates. Soil under Atlantic climate. Soils under Mediterranean climate. Galician soils: parent material, climate, topography and vegetation effects.
FACTORS AND PROCESSES OF SOIL FORMATION Lesson 11.- Factors of soil fromation. Lesson 12.- Processes of soil formation.	Parent material. Climate. Topography. Times Vegetations and organisms. Anthropogenic factors. Soil profile differentiation. Clay accumulation. Podzolization. Salinization. Calcification. Hydromorphic processes. Ferralitic alteration.
APPLIED SOIL SCIENCE Lesson 17.- Applications of Soil Science.	Soil cartography. Interactions soil-landscape. Soil functions and society. Soil and environment. Soil contamination. Recovery of contaminated soils. Soil Use and Management.
PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES Laboratory work Field studies	Textural analysis Bulk density and solid density, Porosity. Aggregate stability Soil pH. Organic carbon and nitrogen Cation exchange capacity Soil extractable phosphorus Bological activity and dehydrogenase activity Case studies: Umbrisols, Cambisols, Fluvisols, and Gleysols
TRABAJOS TUTELADOS	La erosión como fuente de contaminación difusa Mecanismos y procesos de erosión hídrica bajo clima atlántico Efecto de los incendios forestales en la degradación del suelo Contaminación por actividades mineras Contaminación por actividades ganaderas Los vertederos y la contaminación del suelo Contaminantes orgánicos Indicadores físico-químicos de la calidad del suelo Indicadores biológicos de la calidad del suelo Suelos de viñedo en Galicia Fertilización excesiva por purines Riesgo de Compactación Balance hídrico del suelo Metales pesados en suelos

Methodologies / tests	Competencies	Ordinary class hours	Student’s personal work hours	Total hours
Guest lecture / keynote speech	A21 A22 A23 A24 A27 A30 C1 C2 C3	20	40	60
Objective test	A22 A23 A31 B1 B2	1	1	2
Laboratory practice	A20 A22 A23 A26 A27 A30 A31 A32 B3 B6 B8 B9 B10 C7 C8	12	28	40
Supervised projects	B2 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 B12 C6 C7	4	16	20
Field trip	A24 A32 C4 C5 C6 C7	5	10	15
Introductory activities	A6 A22 C6 C8	1	2	3

Personalized attention		10	0	10

(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies	Description
Guest lecture / keynote speech	The contents of soil science will be developed. The used audiovisual materials will be provided to students.
Objective test	Short questions about keynote speech contents
Laboratory practice	Analysis of basic soil physical, chemical and biological properties.
Supervised projects	These are guided and supervised academic activities
Field trip	The main soil types in Galicia will be observed.
Introductory activities	Outline of the program, highlighting the main interesting issues for Biologists

Methodologies	Competencies	Description	Qualification
Laboratory practice	A20 A22 A23 A26 A27 A30 A31 A32 B3 B6 B8 B9 B10 C7 C8	Continuous assessment and practical work.	10
Field trip	A24 A32 C4 C5 C6 C7	Assessment of field activities and reports of filed work.	8
Supervised projects	B2 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 B12 C6 C7	Quality of the reports and presentations.	20
Introductory activities	A6 A22 C6 C8	This issue will be assessed together with keynote speech.	2
Guest lecture / keynote speech	A21 A22 A23 A24 A27 A30 C1 C2 C3	Short questions and tests about the keynote speech. Final examination and also partial examinations, if requested.	60

Assessment comments
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