Unit SOIL CHEMISTRY
- Course
- Food science and technology
- Study-unit Code
- 80005806
- Curriculum
- Viticoltura e enologia
- Teacher
- Daniela Businelli
- Teachers
-
- Daniela Businelli
- Hours
- 54 ore - Daniela Businelli
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2021
- Offered
- 2022/23
- Learning activities
- Affine/integrativa
- Area
- Attività formative affini o integrative
- Academic discipline
- AGR/13
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- oil genesis and composition. Texture and structure. Oxide-hydroxide, clay and humus properties. Soil sorption, pH and buffer capacity. Characteristics of calcareous soils. Acidic soils. Saline soils. Alkalin soils. Irrigation water quality. Soil fertility evaluation. Laboratory practical classes.
- Reference texts
- M. BUSINELLI. Chimica del Suolo. Morlacchi editore, Perugia, 2009.
K. TAN Principles of soil chemistry. CRC Press, Boca Raton, London, New York, 2010. - Educational objectives
- The goal of this course is to provide students with the basic knowledge to understand the processes occurring in soils and determine soil characteristics, enabling them both interpreting analytical certificates to assess the state of soil fertility, and planning practices to improve yield capacity.
The main knowledge gained will cover:
- soil inorganic and organic components,
- soil colloids,
- cation and anion retention and release in soil,
- soil pH and buffering capacity,
- soil macro and micro nutrients,
- anomalous soils and their reclamation,
- effects of saline-sodic-alkaline water on soil behavior,
- chemical characteristics of soil fertilizers.
The main skills (ie the ability to apply their knowledge) will be:
- to work and learn independently,
- to identify problems, create solutions, innovate and improve current practices,
- to generate ideas and adapt innovatively to changing environments,
- to define and analyse problems,
- to apply critical reasoning to issues through independent thought and informed judgement,
- to evaluate opinions, make decisions and to reflect critically on the justifications for decisions. - Prerequisites
- In order to understand, interpret and know how to apply theoretical principles and analytical techniques, subject of this course, it is necessary to have successfully passed the “Chemistry” examination (I year). Knowledge of the basic principles of general and organic chemistry is an indispensable prerequisite for the student who wants to attend this course; such preliminary knowledge is also required for non-attending students to be able to successfully undertake the study of the course, using the available teaching material (UNISTUDIUM UNIPG Chimica del Suolo).
- Teaching methods
- The course is organized as follows:
- Lectures on all subjects of the course
- Laboratory exercises at the Soil Chemistry Lab concerning:
Silicate molecular models. Soil carbonate, texture, organic matter, Cation Exchange Capacity determinations. Determination of soil pH. Determination of electrical conductivity of soil and irrigation water. Critical evaluation and interpretation of soil analysis certificates.
The exercises will be done in a single group, students will follow 4 guided exercises of 2 hours each, preceded by an introduction lecture. At the end of each practical exercise, each student will have to fill out a form reporting his name, data, calculations and results obtained: this form, which will be delivered to the lecturer at the end of the exercise, will allow to verify the student’s participation. This participation, although not mandatory, can affect the final vote. - Other information
- Prof. Daniela Businelli Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, DSA3. Agricultural Chemistry Research Unit. Location: New building, ground floor, to the right of the front door.
Tel. 075/5856228
E-mail daniela.businelli@unipg.it
Receipt by appointment, the request should be sent via e-mail. It is also possible to send questions and receive answers by e-mail.
Schedule and lesson time: link to the DSA3 website http://dsa3.unipg.it/didattica/informazioni-per-studenti/
Clipboard, lesson slides and course information are available on the UNISTUDIUM.
https: //www.unistudium.unipg.it/unistudium/
Attendance: Optional, but strongly recommended. - Learning verification modality
- The exam is an individual oral test, before which the student is given a pen and papers, where he will write chemical reactions, graphics and everything he thinks fit to expose the subject. The test consists on an interview, of about 20-40 minutes long aiming to ascertain the knowledge level and the understanding capability acquired by the student on theoretical contents and practical applications as indicated on the course program (i.e. pedogenesis, colloids, soil retention capacity, pH and buffering capacity of the soil, soils with physical, chemical and nutritional abnormalities, irrigation water characteristics). A student may also choose to be examined only on one of the two parts (soil chemistry principles, i.e. from pedogenesis to soil buffering capacity included) completing the test in the following examination dates. The partial test passed has no deadline. The oral test will also verify the student's communication skills and his autonomy in the organization and exposure of topics.
- Extended program
- Soil genesis. The role of hydrosphere, atmosphere and litosphere. Soil carbonates. Soil silicates: structural classification. Weathering and soil development. Genesis of organic fraction. Soil colloids. Clays: structural characteristics, properties and development of charge. Soil humus: extraction, fractionation and chemical composition. Oxides and hydroxydes. Soil retention capacity. Reactions of phosphates in soil. Soil pH and buffering capacity. Soil porosity. Soil redox potential. Calcareous soils. Acid and alkaline soils. Salt-affected soils. Irrigation water quality parameters. Nutritional elements in soils. Chemical characteristics of fertilizers.
Laboratory practical classes.