SOQ-31806 Nutrient Management

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

Soil Plant Relations (CSA-20306) or Soil Pollution and Soil Protection (SOQ-21306), Soil Quality (SOQ-21806) or comparable

Continuation courses:

MSc courses for MSc programs Soil Science, Organic Agriculture, Plant Sciences

Contents:

Any ecosystem that is managed in order to produce output for human ends needs nutrient management, because nutrient cycles become unbalanced by extraction of products. Nutrient managers must keep nutrient cycles in balance in order (1) to maintain the soil's capacity to supply the nutritional needs of plants and (2) to reduce environmental problems caused by loss of excess nutrients. This course deals with these two goals of nutrient management and the tools that can help to achieve these goals. The course begins with basic concepts of nutrient cycling in soils. Next, the tools to achieve sustainable nutrient management will be dealt with. Students will learn how to make and use nutrient balances at farm level as a diagnostic tool. The model QUEFTS will be introduced to evaluate nutrient management strategies for (tropical) soils. The importance of organic matter management will be discussed within the context of reducing chemical fertilisation, and organic matter decomposition models will be evaluated. The importance of management of a trace element (zinc) for food quality and human health will be highlighted. The possibilities and limitations of policy measures to improve nutrient management will be discussed. Within this context, students are trained in skills needed to do research and/or to function in a professional environment, including debating and writing a research proposal and a scientific manuscript.
The course is intended for students with an interest in soil science, environmental science, organic agriculture and (tropical) crop science.

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the course unit, the student is expected to be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of the key soil processes of soil nutrient cycles;
- process data straight-from-the field tracing the fate of a stable isotope of nitrogen;
- design a farm-scale nutrient balance and use it to evaluate nutrient management options;
- use mineralisation models predicting nutrient availability;
- evaluate consequences of policy measures regarding nutrient management.

Activities:

Lectures will provide students with theoretical background of nutrient management options. Six large assignments will introduce the student to current topics in nutrient management and train specific skills. These skills include writing of a project proposal, data processing, use and evaluation of models and primary scientific literature, evaluation of research data, scientific writing and debating.

Examination:

Assignments need to be handed in on time. Performance during and quality of assignments will be assessed.

Literature:

Lecture notes will be available at the start of the program.