Experimental soil analysis

The aim of the course is to get knowlegde and be able to master the methods used for physical and chemical characterisation of soil in the laboratory. With the hands on training also increase the knowledge of properties and processes in soils essential for soil quality, plant production and environment.

After completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to:
Knowledge
Be able experimentally to quantify and critically assess key soil physical and chemical properties of importance for plant growth and environmental protection.
On the highest level have knowledge and overview of the range of key soil physical and chemical properties common for Danish soil types.
Be able to identify scientific challenges in this field.
Skills
Conduct central experimental soil analyses.
Evaluate and explain the relationships between land use and physical/chemical soil properties, and vice versa.
Explain fundamental scientific laws, principles, concepts and methods within the course topics.
Evaluate and assess which experimental methods and principles to be used to characterise the soil as a growth medium for plants, and in relation to the risk of pollution of soil and water as consequence of plant production or other land use.
Apply and chose the correct mathematical mechanistic and statistical models to describe own experimental results, and use the models to predict relevant properties of the soils studied, including critical assessment of limitations to the models applied.
Competences
Identify and determine essential soil physical and soil chemical aspects of the concept soil quality, interpret experimental results and draw appropriate conclusions.