SOQ-21306 Soil Pollution and Soil Protection

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

Introductory level course on soil science.

Continuation courses:

SOQ-21806 Soil Quality; SOQ-31806 Nutrient Management; SOQ-34806 Applications in Soil and Water Chemistry; SOQ-35306 The Carbon Dilemma.

Contents:

Lectures and tutorials: Treatment of several aspects of soil pollution and soil protection: soil quality evaluation procedures; soil protection and soil remediation policy; effects on soil biota, plants and human beings; risk assessment of polluted soil for humans and ecosystems. Also sources, effects and behaviour of various pollutants in soils (heavy metals, organic compounds, pesticides, cyanide, phosphate and nitrogen). Basic concepts of reactivity of soil particles (clay, metal-(hydr)oxides, organic matter), bio-accumulation, bio-availability, speciation (complexation, adsorption) and mass transport (leaching).
Practical: Experimental work related to soil pollution research. Subjects: soil sampling including statistical data handling; effects of heavy metal pollution on plants including estimation of bio-availability and determination of dose-response relationships (jar experiment with treatments: soil type, pH and heavy metal); chemical analysis of soil and plant.

Learning outcomes:

After this course the student is expected to be able to:
- recognize and describe the impact of soil pollution on the environment;
- describe compound behaviour in soils;
- execute a risk assessment for polluted soil;
- carry out soil sampling and simple dose-response experiments, including simple statistical data handling and report writing.

Activities:

- attend lectures;
- attend tutorials;
- study textbook;
- make assignments;
- attend practical.

Examination:

- lectures and tutorials: written exam (75%);
- open-book exam with closed questions;
- practical: written report of the experiments (25%).
Successful partial interim examinations remain valid for a period of 5 years.

Literature:

Textbook:
Soil Pollution and Soil Protection. Wageningen Agricultural University.
Practical manual Soil Pollution and Soil Protection. Wageningen Agricultural University.