Soil Sciences and Plant Physiology

The course aims to provide:
- knowledge on soil properties and its main functions. The soils will be studied for their agronomic characteristics and for their vulnerability in relationship to different uses.
- knowledge on soil genesis, processes and dynamics of soil formation in relation with the landscape; interpretation of main soil characters connected with soil environmental functions and main international classification rules; world soil distribution, genesis of soil maps, and evaluation of soil capability.
- knowledge on biochemical and physiological processes occurring in plants. A main objective will be the study the effects of environmental conditions on these processes. A particular attention will be on crops.

At the end of the course the student should have acquired:
- knowledge on chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the soil.
- ability in laboratory activity for the determination of the main soil properties.
- capacity to interpret soil chemical, physical, descriptive and cartographic data in relation to vegetation, lithology and geomorphic dynamics in the rural or natural environment.
- knowledge on biochemical and physiological processes of plants. These notions will establish a basis for further studies as well as for research activity.