Course code LauZ6114

Credit points 7.50

Soil Resources Inventory

Total Hours in Course200

Number of hours for lectures24

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes56

Independent study hours120

Date of course confirmation23.04.2021

Responsible UnitInstitute of Soil and Plant Science

Course developer

author Augsnes un augu zinātņu institūts

Aldis Kārkliņš

Dr. habil. agr.

Prior knowledge

LauZ5131, Fertilizers and Fertilization Systems

Course abstract

Soil resources inventory: objectives and structure. FAO recommended system for soil diagnosis, Soil Map of the World. Legends of the Map, USDA soil classification system Soil Taxonomy, World Reference Base for Soil Resources: its use for soil classification. Soil Map of the European Union and Soil Analytical database. FAO recommended land evaluation system. Use of PC programs for soil productivity and land evaluation modeling. European and global information systems for soil resources inventory, their applications. Partnership of Latvia in above mentioned systems, advantages and possibilities.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will get an extended knowledge about internationally recognised methods and systems of soil inventory and obtain skills for practical its realization. As result students will be competent independently work in the sphere of soil survey as well as to prepare professional and scientific publications.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Introduction. Soil resources within the context of economy and environment – national and international dimension. (Lectures – 2 h, Practicals – 1 h).
2. Soil resources inventory – the main structure and framework. (Lectures – 2 h, Practicals – 1 h).
3. FAO recommended system for soil resources inventory. (Lectures – 2 h, Practicals – 1 h).
4. Soil Map of the World – principles, history. (Lectures – 2 h, Practicals – 1 h).
5. Seminar – Soil diagnosis – practical skills. (3 h).
6. USDA soil classification – Soil Taxonomy. (Lectures – 2 h, Practicals – 1 h).
7. WRB – objectives, principles, layout. (Lectures – 2 h, Practicals – 1 h).
8. EU Soil Map and Soil Analytical Database. (Lectures – 2 h, Practicals – 1 h).
9. Seminar – Identification of diagnostic horizons, properties, materials. (3 h).
10. Soil degradation – problem, assessment methods. (Lectures – 2 h, Practicals – 1 h).
11. Methods of soil resources inventory. (Lectures – 2 h, Practicals – 1 h).
12. The European and Global Soil Information systems. (Lectures – 2 h, Practicals – 1 h).
13. Seminar – Soil classification according WRB. (3 h).
14. Soil information system in Latvia – history, developments. (Lectures – 2 h, Practicals – 1 h).
15. Seminar – Transformation of Latvia soil data according WRB. (3 h).

16. Workshop – presentation of individual studies. Examination – practicals. (3 h).

Requirements for awarding credit points

During semester – home work, seminar, tests. Individual work and presentation. Cumulative grade (tests, seminar, individual work, presentation, activity score).

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Home work
1. Interpretation of soil data. Soil classification, construction of Soil map legend. Compilation of soil database.
2. To do the individual presentation for selected topic – seminar with discussion part.

Individual studies, preparation of written report, oral presentation.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Cumulative exam, includes assessment of three tests, seminar, individual studies with oral presentation and activity score.

Average score: [(Test No. 1 + Test No. 2. + Presentation) : 3] ± 0.5 = Final grade.

Compulsory reading

1. Augsnes diagnostika un apraksts / Sast. A. Kārkliņš. – Jelgava: LLU, 2008. – 336. lpp.
2. Augsnes diagnostika un apraksts: Lauku darbu metodika / Sast. A. Kārkliņš. – Jelgava: LLU, 2007. – 120 lpp.
3. Kārkliņš A. (2012). Zeme, augsne, mēslojums: Terminu skaidrojošā vārdnīca. Jelgava: LLU. 477 lpp.
4. Switoniak M., Kabala C., Karklins A., Charzynski P. et. al. (2018). Guidelines for Soil Description and Classification: Central and Eastern European Students’ Version. Polish Society of Soil Science, Torun. 286 p. http://www.academia.edu/36680011/Guidelines_for_Soil_Description_and_Classification_Central_and_Eastern_European_Students_Version
5. Latvijas augšņu noteicējs / A. Kārkliņa red. – Jelgava: LLU, 2009. – 240 lpp.
6. Kārkliņš A. (2016). „Ilgtspējīgas zemes resursu pārvaldības veicināšana, izveidojot digitālu augšņu datubāzi”. Pārskats par veikto pētījumu (01.09.2014. – 31.03.2016). 87. lpp.
7. Encyclopedia of Soil Science / Ed. by Rattan Lal. – New York, Basel: Marcel Dekker, 2002. – 1476 p.
8. Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment / Ed.–in–chief D. Hillel. – Elsevier Academic Press, 2005. Vol. I, 548 p., v. II 542 p., v. III, 570 p., IV, 459 p.
9. Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils, Version 2.0. / P.J. Schoeneberger, D.A. Wysocki., E.C. Benham, W.D. Broderson (eds). – Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, 2002. – 228 p. INTERNET.
10. Guidelines for Soil Description – 4th edition / FAO. – Rome, 2006. – 97 p. INTERNET.
11. Handbook of Soil Science / Ed. Malcolm E. Sumner. CRC Press, 2000. – 2000 p.
12. Keys to Soil Taxonomy / 12th edition. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2014. – 360 p. INTERNET.
13. Soil Atlas of Europe. – European Soil Bureau Network, European Commission, 2005. – 128 p. INTERNET.
14. Soil Taxonomy: A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys / 2nd edition. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 1999. – 869 p. INTERNET.
15. World Reference Base for Soil Resources: Atlas / E.M. Bridges, N.H. Batjes, F.O. Nachtergaele. – ACCO Leuven, Amersfoort, 1998. – 79 p.
16. World Reference Base for Soil Resources: Introduction / J.A. Deckers, F.O. Nachtergaele, O.C. Spaargaren. – ACCO Leuven, Amersfoort, 1998. – 165 p.
17. IUSS Working Group WRB (2015). World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2014, update 2015. International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. In: World Soil Resources Reports, No. 106, Rome: FAO, 2015. 192 p. INTERNET.

18. Blum W.E.H., Schad P., Nortcliff S. (2018). Essentials of Soil Science. Borntraeger Science Publishers, Stuttgart. – 171 p.

Further reading

1. Soil databases to support sustainable development / C. Le Bas, M. Jamagne. INRA, 1996. – 149 p.
2. European land information systems for agro–environmental monitoring / D. King, R. J. A. Jones, A. J. Thomasson. Brussels: Office for official publications of the European Community, 1995. – 285 p.
3. Soil Resources of Europe, second edition. R.J.A. Jones, B. Houškova, P. Bullock and L. Montanarella (eds). European Soil Bureau Research Report No. 9, EUR 20559 EN, (2005), 420 pp. Office for Official publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. INTERNET.
4. Multilingual Soil database / World Soil Resources Reports No. 81. Rome: FAO, 1995. – 95 p.
5. Soil Classification 2001 / E. Micheli, F.O. Nachtergaele, R. J. A. Jones, L. Montanarella. – EUR 20398 EN, 2002. – 248 p. INTERNET.
6. Soil Geographical Database for Eurassia & the Mediterranean: Instruction guide for elaboration at scale 1:1,000,000 version 4.0 / J.J. Lambert, J. Daroussin, M. Eimberck, C. Le Bas, M. Jamagne, D. King, L. Montanarella. – European Commission Joint Research Centre, INRA, 2002. – 58 p. INTERNET.

7. Mūsdienu Latvijas topogrāfiskās kartes. Rīga: Valsts zemes dienests, 2001. – 203 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Augsnes kolekcijas.
2. Tematiskās planšetes.
3. Informācija katedras vitrīnās.
4. Materiāli E-studiju vietnē.

5. Zinātniskās publikācijas, INTERNET resursi.

Notes

Restricted elective (Part B) Master study program, specialization – Field crops and Horticulture.