Content (Syllabus outline)
Soil forming factors and processes of soil development: influence of parent material, topography, climate, time and human activities. Geological processes important for soil formation and landscape development. Soil colloids and minerals, anion and cation sorption capacity and importance for environmental protection. Characteristics and processes of soil solution, soil water characteristics and porosity. Biogeochemical cycles of elements and nutrients (C, N, P, K, S,...) in soil-plant-groundwater system, degradation of organic matter and humus formation. Sustainable land use for soil fertility conservation.
Soil degradation processes. Sources of soil pollution, fate of hazardous substances in soil (metals, pesticides, PCB, mineral oils,...), and potential remediation measures. Soil quality monitoring and data interpretation based on environmental standards and legislative limits.
Soil architecture (structure, color) and physical properties of soil (texture, consistence) as a base for soil horizon description and classification. Slovenian and world Soil classifications (WRB/FAO). Soils of Slovenia: characteristics, spatial variability and soil associations (pedosequences). Soil and land evaluation. Soil vulnerability to human activities in landscapes.
Prerequisites
Student has to be imatriculated.
Attendance at laboratory and filed work is compulsory.