Number of participants limited to 18. Priority will be given to students in Agricultural Sciences
Courses
Number
Title
Hours
Lecturers
751-3405-00 G
Chemical Nature of Nutrients and their Availability to Plants: The Case of Phosphorus
The lectures will spread over 13 Friday mornings in the autumn semester. The lecture will be organized in Eschikon, in the Group of Plant Nutrition at the Experimental station Eschikon, 8315 Eschikon-Lindau. The location of the experimental station Eschikon is given at http://www.ias.ethz.ch/researchstation/eschikon.
The course discusses the mechanistic relationships between nutrient speciation in fertilizer and nutrient uptake by plants using phosphorus as an example. The course involves theoretical aspects of nutrient cycling, laboratory work, data analysis and presentation, and the use of advanced methods in plant nutrition studies.
Learning objective
At the end of this course, participants will obtain a mechanistic understanding of why and how the speciation of phosphorus in fertilizer can affect its release to the soil solution and subsequent uptake by plants. Students will be able to use this information for the development of fertilization schemes that maximize the nutrient uptake and fertilizer efficiency of crops or pastures. During the course, participants will become familiar with the use of radioisotopes and nuclear magnetic resonance as approaches to measure nutrient availability and forms, respectively and they will know the limits of these techniques. Students will also have the opportunity to improve their laboratory and communication skills.
Lecture notes
Documents will be distributed during the lecture.
Literature
Documents will be distributed during the lecture.
Prerequisites / Notice
The lecture will take place at the ETH experimental station in Eschikon Lindau. See the location of the station at: http://www.plantnutrition.ethz.ch/the-group/how-to-find-us.html We strongly advise students who are planning to be absent for more than one week during the semester NOT to visit this course. Students must have visited the plant nutrition lectures in the 3rd and 6th semesters and the lecture pedosphere in the 3rd semester of the agricultural study program of the ETH (or bring an equivalent knowledge). This knowledge is indispensable for this 7th semester.
Performance assessment
Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Repetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit.
Admission requirement
Students must have visited the plant nutrition lectures in the 3rd and 6th semesters and the lecture pedosphere in the 3rd semester of the agricultural study program of the ETH (or bring an equivalent knowledge). This knowledge is indispensable for the 7th semester.
Additional information on mode of examination
Final grade = oral presentation of the experimental results on fertilizer and soil: 1/3 of final grade; oral presentation of the experimental results on plant: 1/3 of final grade; and an individual essay: 1/3 of final grade.
Learning materials
No public learning materials available.
Only public learning materials are listed.
Groups
No information on groups available.
Restrictions
Places
18 at the most
Priority
Registration for the course unit is until 15.09.2019 only possible for the primary target group
Performance assessment as a semester course