Soil Chemistry

Definition of the soil: the soil as open system. The soil main functions: production function, protective, natural function. Soil as a three-phase system: solid, liquid and gaseous. Theoretical structure of a soilprofile. Minerals and rocks: mineral silicates, classification and structure of silicate minerals. Processes ofminerals alteration: disintegration and decay, action of water, wind, glaciers and biotic entities. Products ofalteration: clays. Structure of the clay: 1:1 clays, 2:1 clays, heterovalent isomorphous substitutions. Thephysical properties of the soil: real and apparent texture, structure, density and porosity. The organicmatter: humic and non humic component, processes of accumulation and consumption in relation to soilfertility. Action of the substance on the chemical, physical and biological properties of the soil. Chemicalproperties of the soil: adsorption and exchange: main theories, the characteristics and composition of theexchange complex of the soil, degree of base saturation, cation adsorption and anion specific andnon-specific, complex inner-sphere and outer-sphere. The soil-water relationships. The soil-air relations:soil as a "respiratory system". Red-ox potential of the soil. Chemical properties of soil: different pH values (in water and potential). Acid, basic, sodium, submerged soils. Soils with extreme pH: possible correction. Soil fertility. Nitrogen cycle. The phosphorus cycle. Sulfur cycle and other meso and micro elements inrelation to the availability in the soil. Fertilizers: mineral, organic, amendments and corrective. The use ofsludges and manures: principals agronomic and environmental aspects. Soil Taxonomy. Land Capability Classification. Soil analyses (laboratory).