Soil nature, characters and position on Earth's crust.
Soil archtecture: particle size, texture, structure, porosity.
Soil-water relations, water movement in soil.
Chemical weathering, proton donors, cation mobility.
Soil formed minerals.
Adsorption and ion exchange.
Soil horizons.
Soil forming factors. Main soil types according to time factor. Stratigraphy and soils, palaeosols, soil dating.
Learning Objectives
Ability to reckon soils in geological investigation and to use them as part of geological archives.
Ability to point out the relations between soil and hydrogeological and environmental risks.
Prerequisites
none
Teaching Methods
Frontal lessons aimed at explaining each topic through slides and relational schemes as well as practical lessons by analyzing thematic maps and graphs or relational schemes on the various modules of the program.
Further information
Frequency of lessons is highly recommended, but not mandatory;
Type of Assessment
Single exam, oral; the student will be called to answer some questions about the contents of the course; evaluation will cover knowledge of arguments, ability to make connections between them and critical capabilities
Course program
Soil nature and characters; soil position on the Earth's crust and its functions.
Soil acrhitecture: particle size, texture, structure, porosity.
Soil-water relations, water holding, water movement in soils.
Chemical weathering, proton donors, water solubility of cations. Neoformation minerals: SROMs, clays, iron oxides.
Adsorption and ion exchange.
Soil horizons. Pedogenesis and soil geography, soil-forming factors.
Analysis of major soil types, arranged according to time factor.
Application to soil of stratgiraphic concepts, palaeosols, soil dating.