JORD213 Chemical and Physical Soil Analysis

The course includes lecture of soil, soil analysis theory and how soil analyses are used for environmental assessment, and in agriculture as a tool for fertilizer and liming recommendation. The following exercises and analyses are performed at the laboratory: Good lab practice, soil and plant sampling (theory), and soil and plant material preparation (drying, sieving, milling). Determination of dry matter, loss on ignition, grain size distribution will be carried out. Analysis of important soil physical (soil density, water retention) and soil chemical parameters (pH, plant available K, Mg, Ca, P and Cu, and soluble NO3- and NH4+) will be demonstrated for and executed by the students. During the last week, students are given the option to focus more in depth on agronomic related soil and plant analyses, alternatively on environmental related soil and speciation analysis. The last week will involve a combination of laboratory experiments and demonstrations of methods were students get access to existing data for their own learning.

After completing the course, students should have the following knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

1) Safety and routines for work in an environmental chemistry laboratory, calibration of simple equipment as well as pipetting of standard solutions, conditions for accuracy and precision.

2) Students will also have in-depth knowledge of the conditions for good soil sampling and pre-treatment to ensure the best possible result, as well as the conditions and limitations of the analysis methods used.

Skills

1) conduct good soil and plant sampling practice, and evaluate good strategies for sampling and methods to be used for a given situation.

2) Prepare soil and plant samples for analysis using standard laboratory protocols and instruments.

3) Conduct selected standardized chemical and physical analysis.

4) Evaluate qualities and uncertainties of own soil and plant analysis results.

5) Evaluate own methods and results as a tool for assessing plant availability and environmental impact of measured parameters.

General competence:

Be able to choose appropriate sampling, sample preparation and analysis method based on knowledge of sample type and analyte (s), as well as requirements for analysis quality. Assess quality in analysis results. Present the work as a report.