SW4153 : Advanced Soil Minerals

Department

Academic Program

Type

Elective

Credits

Prerequisite

Overview

The advanced soil minerals course describes the different types of clay minerals, their crystalline and atomic systems, in different geographical environments. This course focuses on the dominant types of clay minerals in Libyan soils. The student also understands how to use X-rays, infrared rays, and thermal analysis in the study of different clay minerals.

Intended learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student will be able to:

A. Knowledge & understand

A.1 The student recognizes the names of different clay minerals.

A.2 The student will be able to classify the different clay minerals

A.3 The student will be familiar with the different techniques in determining the different properties of clay minerals.

B. Mental skills

B.1 The student understands clay minerals and their different sizes

B.2 The student distinguishes between the crystal structure of clay minerals.

B.3 The student searches for the different types of clay minerals present in the Libyan soils and compares them with the soils of the humid areas.

C. Practical & professional skills

C.1 The student will be able to classify the different clay minerals.

C.2 The student performs the classification through the data of soil survey and classification studies.

C.3 The student will be able to use different techniques and tools to study the properties of clay minerals.

D. Generic and transferable skills

D.1 The ability to know the most important principles generally accepted in naming each of the different clay minerals.

D.2 The ability to know the different effects of clay minerals on different soil properties.

D.3 The ability to understand the impact of the properties of clay minerals and their relationship to the cultivation of different crops.

Teaching and learning methods

1. Theoretical lectures

2. Laboratory applications

3. Field visits

Methods of assessments

No	Assessment Methods	Assessment date	Percentage
1	First midterm exam	After the fifth week of study	20 %
2	Second midterm exam	After the tenth week of study	20 %
3	Final midterm exam (Lab)	After the week of twelfth study	20 %
4	Final midterm exam	After the week of twelfth study	40 %
Total		100 %

Advanced Soil Chemistry (SW4104)
Advanced Soil Survey and Classification (SW4304)
Advanced Soil Fertility and Fertilization (SW4203)
Advanced Soil Microbiology (SW4404)
Advanced Soil Physics (SW4503)
Advanced Soil Minerals (SW4153)
Advanced Plant Nutrition (SW4253)
Advanced Soil and Water Conservation (SW4313)
Advanced Soil Biochemistry (SW4453)
Advanced Pollution of Agriculture Environment (SW4353)
Advanced Ecology of Soil Bacteria (SW4414)
Advanced Topics (SW4903)
Seminar (SW4971)
Advanced Remote Sensing (SW4973)
Thesis (SW4996)