SW4304 : Advanced Soil Survey and Classification

Department

Department of Soil and Water

Academic Program

Master in Soil Science

Type

Compulsory

Credits

04

Prerequisite

Overview

The advanced soil survey and classification course aims to identify the different types of soils and their geographical distribution. Also, during this course, a distinction is made between the cartographic and taxonomic units of the modern American soil system. Also, the traditional and modern methods of land evaluation are identified according to different methodologies. In this course, the student will know how to use geographic information systems technology in soil mapping and its different characteristics

Intended learning outcomes

A. Knowledge & understand

A.1. Learn about global and local soil classifications, scientific foundations and soil classification levels.

A.2. Understand the different types of survey and methods of implementation at the field and laboratory levels, and write an survey report that is used as a basis for agricultural programmes, plans and projects.

A.3. Lists the studies and research that have been conducted on Libyan soils and their soil classification systems.

A.4. Discover the different ways of evaluating lands.

A.5. Understand the spatial and temporal mapping of soil physical and chemical properties using GIS technology.

B. Mental skills

B.1. Understand the scientific bases used in soil classification in the modern American system and compare it with soil classification studies in Libya.

B.2. It compares the ranks of different soils on the global level and compares them with the ranks of soils in Libya.

B.3. A number of soil survey and classification studies in Libya evaluate the variance of the soil classification systems used in Libya.

B.4. Proposes some models for evaluating lands for some agricultural crops in Libya.

B.5. Understands how to digitize soil and land maps and how to produce them.

C. Practical & professional skills

C.1. Discover the criteria used in different soil classification systems.

C.2. Understand soil formation factors and how they are used to determine the different types of soil.

C.3. Explains the discrepancy between the different methods of some of the soil studies in Libya.

C.4. Discovers terrestrial resource information management systems.

C.5. Understands different approaches to databases for land resources.

D. Generic and transferable skills

D.1. Possesses the ability to perform the necessary steps to conduct any type of soil survey.

D.2. Possesses the ability to team work in the field.

D.3. Possesses the ability to write reports of soil survey studies in a distinguished scientific manner.

D.4. Contribute to setting the necessary measures to reduce soil degradation and desertification.

D.5. Modern software is used for temporal and spatial mapping of different soil properties.

Teaching and learning methods

1. Theoretical lectures.

2. Laboratory applications

3. Independent study

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)