GESTIONE SOSTENIBILE DEL SUOLO E DEI SISTEMI ZOOTECNICIModule SOSTENIBILITA' DEL SISTEMA SUOLO
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: CRISTINA ABBATEExpected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: the course aims to provide students with the cognitive tools necessary for understanding sustainable soil management. At the end of the course the student must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the main contents of the course.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the knowledge acquired will allow students to plan the actions necessary for land sustainable use in an agricultural farm.
Making judgement: teaching aims to provide critical and judgmental skills through lectures and all other theoretical-practical activities (laboratories, seminars held by external experts, technical visits); the student must also be able to evaluate and interpret experimental and literature data.
Communication skills: attending lessons and reading recommended texts, also in English, will help the student in the acquisition and use of technical language.
Learning skills: teaching aims to provide useful tools to students to keep their knowledge and skills updated in order to undertake futher studies with a high degree of autonomy.Course Structure
The course will include:
7 hours frontal lessons
28 hours other activities (in classroom and/or in laboratory and/or educational visits).
If teaching is given in a mixed formula or remotely, necessary changes may be introduced to what was previously stated in order to comply with the provided and reported syllabus.
Learning assessment may be done remotely if necessary.
As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline.
It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs), in the persons of Prof. Anna De Angelis.
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
The course aims to provide a general understanding of the chemical-physical and biological properties of the soil and the interaction of the soil-plant system for a correct sustainable management.
Teaching contributes to the pursuit of the following Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030 through lectures, dedicated seminars, workshops and educational visits:
GOAL 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
GOAL 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
Detailed Course Content
Introduction. Soil genesis and evolution. Gas and liquid phases of the soil. Solid phase of the soil: inorganic and organic components. Organic matter: evolution and properties. Physical and morphological characteristics of the soil. Soil chemical properties: pH, anion and cation exchange. Soil fertility and bioremediation. Soil-root interactions: the rhizosphere. Root absorption of water and ions. Nutritional requirements of plants. Laboratory activities: soil fertility assessment, agri-environmental indicators.
Textbook Information
Text 1: Fondamenti di Chimica del suolo (2017). Sequi, Ciavatta, Miano. Patròn Editore, Bologna.
Teaching material provided on Studium platform.
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | Text 1: Cap. 1 (Par. 1.1-1.3-1.4) |
| 2 | Soil genesis and evolution | Text 1: Cap. 2 (Par. 2.1-2.2) |
| 3 | Gas and liquid phases of the soil | Text 1: Cap. 5 |
| 4 | Solid phase of the soil: inorganic and organic components. | Text 1: Cap. 3 e 4 |
| 5 | Organic matter: evolution and properties. | Text 1: Cap. 6 (Par. 6.1-6.2-6.4) e Cap. 7 (Par. 7.1) |
| 6 | Physical and morphological characteristics of the soil. | Text 1: Cap. 2 (Par. 2.4) |
| 7 | Soil chemical properties: pH, anion and cation exchange. | Text 1: Cap. 8 (Par. 8.1-8.2-8.3-8.4) e Cap. 9 |
| 8 | Soil fertility and bioremediation | Text 1: Cap. 13 |
| 9 | Root absorption of water and ions | Text 1: Cap. 7 (Par. 7.2) |
| 10 | Nutritional requirements of plants | Text 1: Cap. 10 |
| 11 | Soil-root interactions: the rhizosphere. | Text 1. Cap. 7 |
| 12 | Laboratory activities: soil fertility assessment, agri-environmental indicators. | Studium |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Verification of learning takes place through an oral interview. Learning assessment may be done remotely if necessary. The evaluation of the student's preparation will take place on the basis of the following criteria: learning ability and level of depth of the topics covered, synthesis and exposition properties, and the student's reasoning ability.
Voting follows the following scheme:
Not suitable
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Important shortcomings. Significant inaccuracies.
Analysis and synthesis skills: Irrelevant. Frequent generalizations. Inability to synthesize.
Use of references: Completely inappropriate.
18-20
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: At threshold level. Obvious imperfections.
Analysis and synthesis skills: Just sufficient skills.
Use of references: As appropriate.
21-23
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Routine knowledge.
Analysis and synthesis skills: Able to correctly analyze and summarize. Argue logically and coherently.
Using references: Use standard references.
24-26
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Good knowledge.
Analysis and synthesis skills: Has good analysis and synthesis skills. The arguments are expressed coherently.
Using references: Use standard references.
27-29
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: More than good knowledge.
Analysis and synthesis skills: Has considerable analysis and synthesis skills.
Use of references: He explored the topics in depth.
30-30L
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Excellent knowledge.
Analysis and synthesis skills: Has considerable analysis and synthesis skills.
Using references: Important insights.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Organic matter evolution.
Soil phases.
Cation exchange capacity.
Agri-environmental indicators.
Soil colloids.