Benjamin Wilde: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2017

Name	Dr. Benjamin Wilde
Address	Institut für Agrarwissenschaften ETH Zürich, LFH B 11 Universitätstrasse 2 8092 Zürich SWITZERLAND
E-mail	benjamin.wilde@usys.ethz.ch
Department	Environmental Systems Science
Relationship	Lecturer

Number	Title	ECTS	Hours	Lecturers
751-5201-00L	Tropical Cropping Systems, Soils and Livelihoods (with Excursion)	5 credits	5G	J. Six, A. Hofmann, B. Wilde
Abstract	This course guides students in analyzing and comprehending tropical agroecosystems. Students gain practical knowledge of field methods, diagnostic tools and survey methods for tropical soils and agroecosystems. An integral part of the course is the two-week field project in southern Ethiopia, which is co-organized with Arba Minch University (Ethiopia) and KU Leuven (Belgium).
Learning objective	Lectures and exercises: (1) Introduction to international soil classification with focus on tropical soils (2) Soil suitability (chemical, physical and biological fertility) for tropical crops (3) Soil conservation practices and stakeholder involvement (4) Approaches to analyzing tropical agroecosystems Field project: (5) Overview of the major land use systems in the South Ethiopian Rift Valley (6) Analysis of agricultural production systems in the Gamo-Gofa region in southern Ethiopia (7) Hands-on training on the use of field methods, diagnostic tools and survey methods (8) Collaboration in international student teams (MSc students from Switzerland, Belgium and Ethiopia)
Prerequisites / Notice	The number of participants is limited to 12 students due to capacity limitations for the field project in Ethiopia. Selection of participants will be based on (1) the student's motivation statement, (2) successful participation in the BSc lectures "Sustainable Agroecosystems I + II" and (3) related topic for BSc thesis/ tentative topic for MSc thesis. The motivation statement is due in the first week of the semester.