701-0518-00L  Soil Resources and Global Change

Courses

Catalogue data

Abstract	Introduction to the importance, problems and concepts of soil development and the use of soil resources in a changing world. The lecture deals with the topic with examples from a global, European and Swiss context. Active participation and presence during the lectures are part of the performance assessment.
Learning objective	Understanding the - conditions under which soils develop and are used at the global scale - consequences and problems of the use of soil and the resulting pressure on soil resources - impact of climate and global change on the future development of soil resources - competencies concerning process understanding, system understanding as well as data analysis & interpretation of pedogenetical data will be taught and examined
Content	Despite their numerous functions and their role in evaluating ecosystem services, soils and their diversity are often a sidelined element when it comes to the development of sustainable land use concepts. In many disciplines, soils are perceived as an important interface between dead and living elements of nature. All too often, however, soil processes are only included in a greatly simplified way for usage concepts or modeling of environmental and agricultural systems. This simplification does not correspond to the great global diversity of soils. They often vary greatly in terms of their resilience to, and ability to recover from, environmental stress. Also among the general public, the perception of the importance of soils as the basis of our ecosystems is diffuse at best. Measures for local soil protection and for the renaturation of near-natural ecosystems are widely supported, but as little as possible should change in the wallet and in consumer behavior. The result are translocation effects and more intensive use of soils and ecosystem resources in countries of the Global South to fulfill consumer needs of the Global North. The lecture gives an introduction to the meaning, problems and concepts of soil development and the use of soil resources in a changing world. The lecture also deals with the following current topics: What are the consequences of different conflicts (e.g. Russian attack on Ukraine) for soil health and food production in the affected region for the world market? What are the consequences of climate change for carbon storage in Swiss mountain soils? Or: How does massive deforestation and soil degradation affect nutrient cycles in tropical soils? The lecture is aimed at students in later semesters in the bachelor's program in environmental sciences, agricultural and environmental engineering as well as students in earlier semesters in the master's programs of the same name. It provides an overview of the global framework conditions under which soils develop and are used. It also sheds light on the impact of humans on different types of soil and how this changes the soil. Above all, skills for process and system understanding as well as data analysis and interpretation in soil research are taught. Indirect distrubances such as the effects of climate change (global warming, permafrost or drought stress) are treated as well as direct disturbances through land use (erosion, chemical pollution or soil destruction). Soil functions and soil formation, differences in regional and global soil development, disturbances of the water and air cycling of soils, forms of soil pollution as well as regional and global assessments of soil pollution are also discussed. The focus is thereby always on the consequences and problems of soil use and the resulting pressures and dangers for biogeochemical (nutrient) cycles, for the landscape water cycle and the restriction of soil functions through soil degradation. In addition to these focal points in the field of soil degradation and soil development, the lecture also gives insights into methods of regenerative agriculture, soil improvement and the remediation of polluted soils. Finally, the lecture illuminates the planning and legal implementation of soil protection with examples from different climate and land use zones in order to give the students an insight into the later professional practice of the future environmental and agricultural scientists.
Lecture notes	Handouts will be available for download. Related scientific articles will be recommended after each session.
Literature	Some useful text books to know of: - Scheffer/Schachtschabel - Soil Science, Springer, Heidelberg, 2016. - Brady N.C. and Weil, R.R. The Nature and Properties of Soils. 14th ed. Prentice Hall, 2007. - Press & Siever: Allgemeine Geologie, 7th ed., Springer, Heidelberg, 2016. - Mason/Burt - Physical Geography, 5th ed., Oxford Uni. Press, Oxford, 2015.
Prerequisites / Notice	Prerequisites: Interest in land use, climate change and soil development. Basic knowledge in chemistry, biology and geology. A previous participation in lecture "Pedosphere" (701-​0501-00L) is highly recommended. Knowledge of the content taught in the lecture series is a strict requirement.
Competencies	Subject-specific Competencies Concepts and Theories assessed Techniques and Technologies assessed Method-specific Competencies Analytical Competencies assessed Problem-solving assessed Personal Competencies Creative Thinking assessed Critical Thinking assessed Self-direction and Self-management assessed

Performance assessment

Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course
ECTS credits	3 credits
Examiners
Type	session examination
Language of examination	German
Repetition	The performance assessment is offered every session. Repetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit.
Mode of examination	written 60 minutes
Written aids	Keine Hilfsmittel zugelassen.
This information can be updated until the beginning of the semester; information on the examination timetable is binding.

Learning materials

Groups

Restrictions

Offered in

Programme	Section	Type
Environmental Sciences Bachelor	Soil Sciences	W