| Course Title | Code | Semester | L+U Hour | Credits | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soil Science | OM203 | 3. Semester | 2 + 2 | 3.0 | 6.0 |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Language of Instruction | Turkish |
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Course Type | |
| Mode of delivery | Face to face |
| Course Coordinator | |
| Instructors |
Oktay YILDIZ |
| Assistants | |
| Goals | The main objective of this course is to teach students the physical and chemical properties of soils as a plant growing medium, classify the soil type and how to improve and sustain the productivity of a site |
| Course Content | Students will gain knowledge about soil type, physical and chemical properties of soils, soil reactions, organic matter and soil water Students will gain ability to define the soil in an ecosystem in terms of plant growing medium. How to tilt soil and improve the site productivity Providing protect and sustainable productivity of soil as an ecosystem’s least renewable resource To evaluate the changes in soil in response to different disturbance regimes such as harvesting, plantation, fire etc. To predict and evaluate the results of management practices in forest sites To give management decisions to ensure sustainable site productivity |
| Learning Outcomes |
- Students will gain knowledge about soil type, physical and chemical properties of soils, soil reactions, organic matter and soil water - Students will gain ability to define the soil in an ecosystem in terms of plant growing medium. - How to tilt soil and improve the site productivity - Providing protect and sustainable productivity of soil as an ecosystem’s least renewable resource - To evaluate the changes in soil in response to different disturbance regimes such as harvesting, plantation, fire etc. - To predict and evaluate the results of management practices in forest sites - To give management decisions to ensure sustainable site productivity |
| Week | Topics | Learning Methods |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Week | Introduction to soil science, soil forming factors, soil genesis, basic concepts / Readings and discussions, slide shows about different soil types, forest, agriculture, meadow soils | |
| 2. Week | Rocks, rock types and their soil forming potentials / Lab demos of common rock types. | |
| 3. Week | Minerals and their classifications, macro-, and micro nutrients. Plant nutrient contents of common minerals / Lab demos of common mineral types. | |
| 4. Week | Weathering, physical breakdown and chemical weathering. Residual and transported materials and their classifications / Slide shows and field trip about weathering and transported materials | |
| 5. Week | Important soil forming processes (melinization, podzolization, calsification etc.). Soil profile and horizons / Soil profile, horizon designation and soil sampling from a soil profile (field) | |
| 6. Week | Soil texture and structure / Lab demo for soil physical analysis. | |
| 7. Week | Physical properties of soils ideal soil type and its moisture, pore, mineral, organic and atmospheric contents / Soil drying, weighing, problem solving about bulk density and porosity | |
| 8. Week | Midterm exam | |
| 9. Week | Soil water, field capacity, wilting point, water potentials, drainage, infiltration, percolation / Problem solving related to saturation, volumetric water contents. Slide shows about, Field trip | |
| 10. Week | Soil compaction, porosity, capillary movement, aeration / Problem solving related to compaction. Field trip | |
| 11. Week | Chemical properties of soil , pH, availability of soil nutrients. Amelioration of asidic and basic soils. Cation exchange capacity, salinity / pH and salinity measurement in lab and problem solving related to CEC, conversions of units | |
| 12. Week | Excursion | |
| 13. Week | Soil colloids, classification of soil colloids and water and nutrient retention potentials of soil colloids, Soil organic matter, structure and component of organic matters, decomposition, Affects of organic matter on soil and environment / Slide shows and lab demos related to soil organic matters and its use | |
| 14. Week | Soil types of different geographical regions of Turkey and their potentials for plant growth / Reading, discussions and slide shows. |
| Kantarcı, M. D. 2000. Toprak İlmi. İstanbul Üniversitesi, Orman Fakültesi |
| Brady, N.C. and Weıl. R.R. 1999. The Nature and Properties of soils. Twelfth edition. Prentice-Hall, Inc. New Jersey. |
| Fisher and Binkley, 2000. Ecology and Management of Forest Soils. John Wiley and Sons Inc., Newyork. |
| Lecture Notes (Handouts) |
| Program Requirements | Contribution Level | DK1 | DK2 | DK3 | DK4 | DK5 | DK6 | DK7 | Measurement Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PY1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | - |
| PY2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| PY3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| PY4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | - |
| PY5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| PY6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| PY7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| PY8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| PY9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| PY10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| PY11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| PY12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| PY13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| PY14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course's Level of contribution | None | Very Low | Low | Fair | High | Very High |
| Method of assessment/evaluation | Written exam | Oral Exams | Assignment/Project | Laboratory work | Presentation/Seminar |
| Event | Quantity | Duration (Hour) | Total Workload (Hour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midterm 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Homework 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Homework 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Quiz 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Quiz 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Final | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Practice | 5 | 5 | 25 |
| Practice End-Of-Term | 2 | 1.5 | 3 |
| Classroom Activities | 11 | 11 | 121 |
| Total Workload | 153 | ||
| ECTS Credit of the Course | 6.0 | ||
