2025
Soils and Resouces Conservation
Name: Soils and Resouces Conservation
Code: BIO08104M
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/162 hours
Scientific Area:
Ciências da Terra
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
To know the abiotic and biotic components of soils and its importance in the genesis and dynamics of soil. To understand the relationship between the soil and the other compartments of terrestrial ecosystems. To understand the forms of degradation of the soil under different human pressures, local or global. To know the principles and techniques used on soil conservation and soil restoration.
Contents
The importance of soil for terrestrial ecosystems. Functions of soil on resources management. The soil as the subsystem necessary to life and environmental regulation. General processes of soil genesis and evolution. The soil, transformation of residuals and nutrient cycling (geochemical and biological nutrient cycles). Organisms and soil ecology. Soils and global changes. Mineral and organic soil constituents: nature and soil functions. Constitution and architecture of soil: retention and flux of fluids, nutrients and substances. Soil and the hydrological cycle. Use and misuse of soils, degradation. Secondary acidification and alkalinity. Soils physical degradation. Erosion and conservation measures. The soil and the chemical pollution, mineral and organic contaminants. The soil and extreme events, drought and tire. Restoration of soils and substrates.
Teaching Methods
Theoretical teaching is performed by powerpoint a presentations and copies in pdf format (and other texts) are made available for students. Practical modules are performed in the laboratory, in which experimental procedures, aiming application of knowledge regarding theoretical presentations, are demonstrated and applied. A field study trip is realized for observation of case studies of degradation and recover of soils.
Theoretical module: written test (50%);
Practical modules: elaboration of reports (40%);
Study field trip: Oral presentation of a subject associated with the field trip (10%)
Theoretical module: written test (50%);
Practical modules: elaboration of reports (40%);
Study field trip: Oral presentation of a subject associated with the field trip (10%)
Accreditations and Certifications
