The soil as a natural body, and its main functions. General concepts of soil formation.
The nature of minerals, weathering and clay minerals.
Soil architecture: texture, structure, porosity; bulk density.
A. Giordano. Pedologia. Ed. UTET; Torino. 1999.
G. Certini e F.C. Ugolini. Basi di pedologia. Edgricole – Ed. Agricole Il Sole 24 Ore Spa; Milano. 2010.
Lecture slides and texts from teacher (pdf)
Learning Objectives
Understanding of main soil characters and qualities, interpretation of soil distribution across the land, in the relation to their potentialities.
Single exam test.
By choice of the student:
Oral exam
Presentation of autonomous soil evaluation project (agreed theme)
For foreign students: written exam
Course program
The soil as a natural body; its relations with the environment and its main functions, productive and ecological.
General concepts of soil formation. Soil horizons, genetic and diagnostic.
The nature of minerals, mineral weathering and soil formed minerals: clays and iron oxides.
Soil architecture, texture, structure, porosity; bulk density. Infiltration, water retention, and water movement in soils. Soil erosion.