The soil biochemistry course integrates knowledge of soil,
biochemistry and the environment. The
course deals with the life processes activities of living organisms in soil
especially microorganisms and plants. In addition, the study of soil organic
matter, its origin and biochemical reactivities, are also included. In this
course the important steps in elemental cycles and their effect on soil
chemical and physical processes. the course is concerned with what the microbes
are doing in soil than with precisely what they are in respect to size and
shape or the ingredients of taxonomic schemes. In this context, the course is
concerning soil organic matter, reactions of the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus,
and sulfur cycles, inorganic biochemistry of soils, and the biochemistry of the
plant-root rhizosphere. Specific topics are covered which are considered most
important for a student of soil biochemistry to become familiar. The
degradation of xenobiotics in soil investigate the relationship between the
structure of a chemical and its degradation in soil and some of the ecological
aspects of applying xenobiotics to soil.
The production of biologically active compounds in soil such as plant
hormones, allelopathic compounds, and antibiotics. The activity and survival of
these compounds greatly influences the overall biochemistry of the soil. The
fate of genetic material will address the sources and fate of nucleic acids in
soil. Techniques to extract and probe soil DNA and RNA will be introduced. The
course will focus on the rhizosphere and its influence in augmenting many
important biochemical reactions as well as controlling the immediate
environment in which a plant grows. Although directed primarily to the students of soil
science and students of biochemistry, microbiology, forestry, horticulture, agronomy,
plant pathology, organic geochemistry, and environmental science, this course
may benefit others dealing with biochemical processes in soil.
Intended learning outcomes
By the end of the course the
student will be able to:
A. Knowledge
and understanding
A.1
Recognizes the chemical
composition of soil organic matter and memorizes the most important building
blocks of its components.
A.2
Describes the biochemical reactions carried
out by different types of soil microbes.
A.3
Learn about the most important enzymes
secreted by soil microbes and their functions.
A.4
Recognizes the factors
affecting the biochemical activities of soil microflora and microfuna.
B. Mental
skills
B.1
Associate the activity of soil
microbes with the enzymes possessed by each type of microbe.
B.2
Proposes solutions to problems confronted
in agricultural lands by controlling soil enzymes reactions.
B.3
Relates biochemical
interactions and soil health and quality
C. Practical & professional skills
C.1
Distinguishes soils that contain a significant percentage of organic matter.
C.2
Diagnose the reasons for the activity or inactivity of soil enzymes
C.3
Design a plan to solve a field problem using soil microbes or their enzymes.
D. Generic and transferable skills
D.1
Be able to solve field
problems.
D.2
The ability to use computers
and Internet to find and present information in a written
report and presentation.
D.3
Reinforcement of Reading Comprehension through individual research topics and written paper.
