CODE 57254 ACADEMIC YEAR 2019/2020 CREDITS 3 cfu anno 2 SCIENZE GEOLOGICHE 8763 (L-34) - GENOVA SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR AGR/14 LANGUAGE Italian TEACHING LOCATION GENOVA SEMESTER 1° Semester TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB OVERVIEW Pedology studies the soil characteristics,classification and formation processes.The soil is the system that sustains our life, as well as an essential element of the landscape.The course provides the investigation tools for the interpretation of the soil also as source of information to document and reconstruct the climatic variations during Quaternary. AIMS AND CONTENT LEARNING OUTCOMES The course aims to provide the basic knowledge to understand the soil formation processes through the examination of its composition, organization and characteristics, in order to describe and interpret the soils correctly. AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES Attendance and participation in the planned educational activities (lectures and laboratory activities) will allow the student to acquire the necessary knowledge to deal with pedological survey and classify a soil. Specifically, the student will be able to: know the descriptive techniques of a soil profile interpret the main horizons physico-chemical properties and deduce the formation processes know how to distinguish the main soil groups learn about the main applications of pedology PREREQUISITES The student must not have acquired specific preliminary knowledge. Attendance at "Mineralogy" and "Geomorphology" courses is recommended TEACHING METHODS The course is articulated in lectures conducted by the teacher and a part of theoretical-practical laboratory and exercise on the filed. The laboratory and exercises on the field will be held by the teaching professor, assisted by a laboratory tutor. The laboratory will allow students to observe the constituents of the soil and the characteristics of the main diagnostic horizons under the microscope. During the field exercise, the students, divided into groups, will have to apply the methods for describing the soil profile. At the end of the activity, the students will have to reorder and present the profile sheet. SYLLABUS/CONTENT The soil as an interface between the biosphere, atmosphere and lithosphere • Definitions of soil. • Soil constituents: minerals and organic; water in the soil. The pedological profile • The soil profile and its differentiation in horizons. • Organic horizons and mineral horizons: characteristics and nomenclature. • Profile description on the field. Pedogenesis: processes and factors • Physical and chemical weathering of the rocks. • General processes of soil evolution. • The fundamental processes of pedogenesis. • The factors of soil evolution. Soil classification and mapping Paleopedology and micromorphology of soils RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY All slides used during the lessons and other educational material will be available on aul@web. In general, the notes taken during the lessons and the material on aul@web are sufficient for the preparation of the exam. The books below are suggested as supporting texts. Introduction to the topic: Cremaschi M. (2000). Manuale di Geoarcheologia. Editori Laterza, Roma-Bari. [capitolo “Pedologia”] Italian texts: Certini C. e Ugolini F.C. (2010). Basi di Pedologia. Edagricole, Milano (consigliato) Giordano A. (1999). Pedologia. UTET, Torino. McRae S.G. (1991). Pedologia Pratica. Zanichelli, Bologna TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD IVANO RELLINI Ricevimento: Students are received by appointment, agreed directly with the teacher by telephone, mail or via aulaweb. Exam Board IVANO RELLINI (President) FRANCESCO FACCINI MARCO FIRPO LESSONS LESSONS START 2 October 2019 Class schedule PRINCIPLES OF PEDOLOGY EXAMS EXAM DESCRIPTION The exam consists of an oral test with questions asked by the teacher on topics covered during the course and of a written report of the practical activities carried out during the excursion. ASSESSMENT METHODS The oral test will mainly focus on the topics covered during the lectures and will aim to assess the achievement of the appropriate level of knowledge, the ability to link different topics. The ability to present the topics clearly and with correct terminology will also be evaluated. Finally, the pedological profile sheet, described during the excursion, will also be discussed to verify the real acquisition of soil description methods. Exam schedule Data appello Orario Luogo Degree type Note 23/01/2020 10:00 GENOVA Orale 13/02/2020 10:00 GENOVA Orale 10/06/2020 10:00 GENOVA Orale 24/06/2020 10:00 GENOVA Orale 09/07/2020 10:00 GENOVA Orale 22/07/2020 10:00 GENOVA Orale 10/09/2020 10:00 GENOVA Orale FURTHER INFORMATION Regular attendance at lectures and lab activities is strongly recommended.
