Duration
36h Th, 36h Pr, 9h FT
Number of credits
| Master in environmental bioengineering, professional focus | 9 crédits |
Lecturer
Substitute(s)
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The soil, as bio-physical and chemical reactor, interface between the atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere, appears and evolves from the parent material under the effect of the weather and the vegetation.
This course will deal with the various processes involved in the soil genesis.
We will start with the soil formation, organic matter dynamics, water dynamics and phases exchanges. Then we will talk about the cycles of soil evolution. In the end, we will discuss the soils classification systems (belgian, WRB-FAO, IUSS), and the main principles of soil management.
The fundamental concepts will be applied through a field trip which will allow the students to understand the diversity of physico-chemical properties of soisl and their formation processes. This will be carried out trough soil profile investigation in different geological regions.
The originality of the course lays in the fact that the soil genesis, the chemical and physical aspects will be presented in parallel. We will develop the soil physics, the links between the liquid ans solid phases in saturated and unsaturated soils. The notions of anisotropy and the effect of water on the matrix itself will also be studied.
The soil chemistry section of the lectures will concern issues linked to soil quality assessment, identification of pressures and threats on soil quality, as well as concepts of soil ecosystemic services and soil health.
An important part of the course will consist in the building and instrumentation of a soil column using various probes in order to measure the main chemical and physical variables under controlled conditions. Therefore, the theoritical aspects will be complemented with various measurement techniques dedicated to soil physics, data collection chain, data management and interpretation. The objective will be to understand the water and solute flows within a soil column.
The practical exercices in soil chemistry will consist in laboratory determinations of soil properties which should help student to develop skills in critical analysis and interpretation of results (data quality, precision and accuracy...) prior to a functionnal interetation.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of the course, the student will be able to
- integrate various disciplines in view to build a diagnosis of the pedological processes and soils functionning. He/she will be able to assess the impact of human activities on it.
- distinguish and summerize concisely and precisely the laws that explain the functionning of the soil cover. he/she will use the relationship between factors, processes and properties
- master the basics of soil physics and the laws that govern water movment
- describe and predict the pedological prcesses that responsibles of soil evolution depending on the environment. He/She will apply the tools and concepts (like interpretation of soil analyses) presented during the course
- identify the formation processes in the major soil types (in natural or modified invironments), based on the lectures and field trips
- classify soil types unsing the soil typology
- describe the proporties and explain how the major soils in the World do function in the light of their agricultural potential
Have a good idea about threats on soils,
Have a basic knowledge about soil analysis and teir limitations,
Develop strategies of identification and monitoring,
Suggest means of prevention and correction/interpretation
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
HYDR0001-1 General Hydrology
GEOP0008-1 - Earth Science
GEOP0009-1 - Soil Science
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Magistral lectures , lab and field work
the practical work requires daily monitoring (including weekends and holidays) for a period of 2 weeks during the quadrimester (workload to be distributed within the group)
Attendance is mandatory for practicals (lab and field work)
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
face to face
Course materials and recommended or required readings
slideshows and scientific papers available on e-campus
Radcliffe and Simunek (2010) Soil physics with Hydrus. Modelling and applications. Book available at the library as well as at the "office des cours"
Duchaufour Ph. (1997), Abrégé de pédologie, Masson, Paris, 291 p.
FAO (2001), Lecture notes on the major soils of the world, P. Driessen et al. ed., Rome, World Soil Resources Reports, 94, 334 p.
FAO (2006), World reference base for soil resources 2006, Rome, World Soil Resources Reports, 103, 128 p.
Blaize D (2021), Naissance et évolution des sols, Éditions Quae, 160p.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Additional information:
Each student must produce a report (in preparation for the oral exam) presenting a site (soil, land use, climate, geology, etc.) and local pedogenetic processes.
In groups, students must also submit a report on their practical work according to the instructions given on eCampus.
Under yellow code présentations will be organised face to face
under orange code presentations will be organised remotely using Teams
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
mandatory attendence to practicals (lab and field)
Contacts
Gilles Colinet
Echanges eau sol plante
gilles.colinet@uliege.be
Aurore Degré
Echanges eau sol plante
aurore.degre@uliege.be
Stefaan Dondeyne
Echanges eau sol plante
stefaan.dondeyne@vub.be