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Soil Science

Course developer

Prior knowledge

Fizi2036, Agrophysics

LauZ2046, Agricultural Resources

Course abstract

Introduction in geology. Geophysical and geochemical parameters of Earth, composition of its crust. Geological processes. Basics in geomorphology and hydrogeology. Geological structure of Latvia territory. General scheme of the soil  forming processes and soil  forming factors. Soil profile development. Soil morphological features. Mineral phase of soil. Soil organic matter. Formation, composition and properties of soil humus. Soil chemical composition. Soil colloids. Soil absorbing processes, soil reaction, buffer capacity of the soil. Soil solution. Soil physical properties. Water in soil. Soil gaseous phase. Soil temperature. Soil genesis and classification. Automorphic, Semihydromorphic and Hydromorphic soils. Soil degradation. Soil mapping. Soil zones. Soil water management. Land reclamation. Soil degradation and conservation.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will get a knowledge and understanding about the basic geological processes, soil formation and genesis, about principal soils’ properties, soil classification, geography, and mapping. Students will obtain skills in morphological, physical and chemical analytical methods, in critical analysis of obtained information, in data processing and interpretation methodology. Students will develop ability necessary for decision making and advisory activities in the field of soil related issues. Examination.

Course Content(Calendar)

Theoretical part
1. Introduction. Lithosphere – constitution, composition. 2 h
2. Exogenous geological processes. Glaciers, formation, movement, types. 1 h
3. Geological formation of Latvia territory. 1 h
4. Soil formation. Factors of soil formation. 1 h
5. Texture and mineralogy of soils and soil forming rocks. 1 h
6. Soil organic matter. 1 h
7. Soil chemical composition. Soil colloids. 2 h
8. Soil structure. Soil physical properties. 2 h
9. Soil hydrophysical properties and soil water. Soil air and aerophysical properties. 2 h
10. Soil thermosphysical properties and heat regime. Soil solution and redox properties. Soil fertility. 2 h
11. Soil genesis and evolution. Soil ecology. 2 h
12. Soil classification. Soil geography. 1 h
13. Soils of Latvia. 1 h
14. Soil degradation. Soil mapping. 2 h
15. Soil water management. Drainage systems. 2 h
16. Irrigation. 1 h

Laboratory and practicals
1. Construction of geological profile. 8 h
2. Soil sample preparation. Coarse fragments of soil. 2 h
3. Hygroscopic moisture. Particle density of soil minerals. 2 h
4. Soil texture. 4 h
5. Soil acidity. 2 h
6. Soil carbonates. 2 h
7. Soil humus. 4 h
8. Soil morphology. 4 h
9. Soil structure. Physical properties. 2 h
10. Organic soil material – properties, analysis. 2 h
11. Soil horizons. 2 h

12. Soil profile description. 6 h

Requirements for awarding credit points

During semester – home work, seminar, tests. Individual work. Cumulative grade (tests, individual work, activity score). All laboratory, practical tasks and tests successfully completed. Final exam – score 4 or higher.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1. During semester – presentation of protocols related to the laboratory works and practicals.
2. Tests related to laboratory works and practicals.
3. Two tests related to the theoretical part of studies.

4. Final exam – written.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Cumulative exam, includes assessment of two theoretical tests, individual studies, activity score and final exam.

Compulsory reading

1. Bambergs K. (1993). Ģeoloģija un hidroģeoloģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne. 327 lpp.
2. Nikodemus O., Kārkliņš A., Kļaviņš M., Melecis V. (2008). Augsnes ilgtspējīga izmantošana un aizsardzība. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds. 256 lpp.
3. Latvijas augšņu noteicējs (2009). A. Kārkliņa red. Jelgava: LLU. 240 lpp.
4. Blum W.E.H., Schad P., Nortcliff S. (2018). Essentials of Soil Science. Borntraeger Science Publishers, Stuttgart. – 171 p.
5. Augsnes diagnostika un apraksts (2008). Sast. A. Kārkliņš. Jelgava: LLU. 336 lpp.
6. Augsnes diagnostika un apraksts: Lauku darbu metodika (2007). Sast. A. Kārkliņš. Jelgava: LLU. 120 lpp.
7. 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
8. Kārkliņš A. (2012). Zeme, augsne, mēslojums: Terminu skaidrojošā vārdnīca. Jelgava: LLU. 477 lpp.
9. Ģeoloģija, augsne, agroķīmija: Metodiskie norādījumi mācību praksei (2008). Prof.
A. Kārkliņa red. Jelgava: LLU. 88 lpp.
10. Labrencis V. (1999). Zemes meliorācija: Mācību līdzeklis lauksaimniecības, ekonomikas un mežsaimniecības specialitātes studentiem. Jelgava: LLU. 76 lpp.
11. Līpenīte I., Kārkliņš A. (2021). Laboratorijas darbi augsnes zinātnē: metodiskie norādījumi Lauksaimniecības fakultātes studentiem. Jelgava: LLU. 39 lpp. Elektroniskais izd., ISBN 978-9984-48-376-4.
12. Kārkliņš A. (2021). Praktiskie darbi augsnes zinātnē: metodiskie norādījumi Lauksaimniecības fakultātes studentiem. Jelgava: LLU. 20 lpp. Elektroniskais izd., ISBN 978-9984-48-375-7.

13. Materiāli E-studiju vietnē.

Further reading

1. Latvija: Zeme, daba, tauta, valsts. O. Nikodemus, M. Kļaviņš, Z. Krišjāne, V. Zelčs (zin. redaktori). Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2018. 752 lpp.
2. Kļaviņš U., Sudārs R. (2016). Meliorācija: Mācību līdzeklis. Jelgava: LLU. 240 lpp.
3. Mežals G. (1980). Meža augsnes zinātne. Rīga: Zvaigzne. 174 lpp.
4. Buol S.W., Hole F.D., McCracken R.J., Southard R.J. (1997). Soil Genesis and Classification, 4th ed. Ames: Iowa State University Press. 527 p.
5. Harpstead M.I., Sauer T.J., Bennett W.F. (1997). Soil Science Simplified, 3rd ed. Ames: Iowa State University Press. 210 p.
6. Soil Atlas of Europe (2005). European Soil Bureau Network, European Commission. 128 p. INTERNET
7. Soil Atlas of the Northern Circumpolar Region (2010). European Soil Bureau Network, European Commission. 144 p. INTERNET
8. European Atlas of Soil Biodiversity (2010). European Soil Bureau Network, European Commission. 128 p. INTERNET
9. Encyclopaedia of Soils in the Environment (2005). Ed.-in-chief D. Hillel. Elsevier Academic Press. Vol. I – 548 pp.; vol. II – 542 pp., vol. III – 570 pp., vol. IV – 459 p.
10. Soil Sequences Atlas II, Ed. by M. Switoniak, P. Charzynski. Torun, 2018. 248 p. INTERNET.

11. Soil Sequences Atlas IV, Ed. by M. Switoniak, P. Charzynski. Torun, 2018. 262 p. INTERNET

Periodicals and other sources

1. Minerālu, iežu un augsnes objektu kolekcijas.
2. Augsnes profilu kolekcija.
3. Tematiskās planšetes.
4. Informācija katedras vitrīnās.
5. Materiāli E-studiju vietnē.

6. Zinātniskās publikācijas, periodika, INTERNET resursi.

Notes

Compulsory (Part A) professional higher education (BS level) study program “Agriculture” (IKK42621), specialization – Field crops and Horticulture. Full time studies – 3 semester, part time studies – 4 semester.