OEKB301852 Soil chemistry laboratory

Type
Exercise course
Semester hours
2
Lecturer (assistant)
Leitner, Simon , Mumelter, Gloria , Keiblinger, Katharina
Organisation
Soil Research
Offered in
Wintersemester 2026/27
Languages of instruction
Englisch
Content

Project-oriented laboratory work in small groups connects soil chemical processes with practical questions in crop production, environmental protection and natural resource management. The course explores how soil properties and interactions at mineral surfaces influence nutrient retention and metal mobility, and how laboratory methods help us investigate these processes.

*) Formulation of a research problem and hypotheses, for example concerning nutrient sorption, metal retention and release, or the effects of soil chemical conditions.

*) Selection of suitable methods and discussion of what different measurements can reveal.

*) Conduct of experiments using fundamental and specific methods of soil chemistry. Depending on the project, these include sorption experiments, extraction procedures, pH and electrical conductivity measurements, photometric analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).

*) Computer-based data management and calculation of results from raw measurements, including calibration, dilution factors and quality checks. Experimental data may be complemented by provided datasets for comparison.

*) Joint interpretation of results in relation to soil chemical mechanisms, with attention to methodological limitations and implications for soil fertility, soil and water quality, and the management of natural resources.

*) Presentation and discussion of the final results in a scientific format.

Safe laboratory practice and traceable documentation accompany all stages. Students maintain individual laboratory records and work with shared group datasets. Transparent data organisation, clear documentation of calculations and responsible data sharing introduce practical elements of the FAIR principles.
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

• apply fundamental soil chemical methods correctly and in accordance with laboratory safety requirements;

• explain and analyse soil chemical processes using their own and provided data;

• apply problem-oriented approaches, formulate scientific questions and hypotheses, and justify the suitability of the methods used to address problems in science and technology;

• apply scientifically sound data analysis techniques, calculate results from raw measurements, and assess their plausibility and potential sources of error;

• explain sorption processes in soils using theoretical principles of surface properties and intermolecular interactions, and critically interpret experimental results on this basis;

• document laboratory procedures and calculations transparently, and organise and share group data with consideration of basic FAIR principles;

• present and discuss results scientifically, and justify conclusions while taking methodological limitations into account.
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.