911300 Soil physics and chemistry


Type
Lecture
Semester hours
2
Lecturer (assistant)
Wenzel, Walter , Inselsbacher, Erich
Organisation
Offered in
Wintersemester 2024/25
Languages of instruction
Englisch

Content

Fundamentals of soil physics and soil chemistry

Part soil physics:
-Introduction
- Fundamentals of soil physics
- Soil formation
- Soil texture
- Soil density
- Soil structure
- Soil organic matter
- Soil colour
- Porosity
- Water availability
- Soil analyses of selected soil physical parameters

Part soil chemistry:
- Introduction
- Fundamentals of soil chemistry
- Terminology and some definitions
- Soil constituents and main processes
- Chemical equilibrium in soils
- Sorption
- Fate of selected elements in soils
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorus
- Arsenic
- Cadmium
- Soil analysis
- General soil properties
- Soil nutrients
- Soil pollutants

Previous knowledge expected

Knowledge of fundamental physics, chemistry and soil science is required (at least bachelor level).

Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

Know and understand the fundmental principles of soil physics and soil chemistry.

Soil physics:
Aim: Overview of selected soil physical parameters
Objectives:
- Make you familiar with the importance and relevance of soil physics in various fields
- Give you an understanding for interrelated soil and environmental properties
- Introduce you to selected analytical procedures in soil physics
- Make you familiar with the complexity of soil systems


Soil chemistry part:
Aim: Give an introduction to soil chemistry
Objectives:
- Ensure that you know fundamental aspects of soil systems relevant for soil chemistry
- Give you an appreciation of fundamental concepts of soil chemistry and their application to specific problems
- Make you familiar with the fate of selected elements (P, N, As, Cd) in soils
- Make you familiar with fundamentals of soil analysis and their interpretation

For soil chemistry detailed learning outcomes are listed in the course handouts (available online at "course documents" and BOKULearn)
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.