Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand the principles of soil structure formation and of water and gas movement in the soil.
2. Recognise mechanisms of soil structure degradation.
3. Distinguishe the influence of the above mentioned on soil productivity.
4. Perform common methods for the determination of soil physical properties.
Course Content (Syllabus)
The solid phase of the soil: particle size distribution (texture), bulk density and porosity. Specific surface of soil particles. Mass-volume relationships of soil solid, liquid and gaseous phase. Aggregation of soil particles and soil structure. Physical, chemical and biological agents of soil structural unit formation and stabilization. The influence of structure on soil properties and plant growth. Soil liquid phase: soil moisture, soil water suction and potential. Water movement and redistribution in uniform and heterogenous soil profile. Soil water balance. Clay-water interaction (swelling, shrinkage, flocculation, dispersion). Soil gaseous phase: soil aeration, gas movement in soil. Soil temperature. Basic method principles for the determination of soil physical properties.
Keywords
soil physics, structure, suction, aeration