BSEN40740
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Academic Year 2025/2026
Soil Technology (BSEN40740)
Subject: : Biosystems Engineering
College: : Engineering & Architecture
School: : Biosystems & Food Engineering
Level: : 4 (Masters)
Credits: : 5
Module Coordinator: : Dr Sharon O'Rourke
Trimester: : Spring
Mode of Delivery: : On Campus
Internship Module: : No
How will I be graded? : Letter grades
Curricular information is subject to change.
This module covers developments in digital soil tools for soil characterization and agronomic soil management. Digital soil resources and technological tools will be explored for describing the soil resource and for use in soil sampling, nutrient management and soil carbon monitoring.
About this Module
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What will I learn?
Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module students will be able to; \ \ - Identify digital soil resources for soil management\ - Use digital tools in soil sampling\ - Navigate online Nutrient Management Plan portals\ - Employ tools for targeted application of agronomic inputs\ - Understand how soil carbon sequestration is measured, monitored, reported & verified\
Indicative Module Content:
Each topic will be covered by lectures with occasional input from industry partners.\ \ 1. Introduction to the soil resource (conventional chemical methods)\ 2. Introduction to soil fertility (conventional chemical methods)\ 3. Digital soil mapping at the global, European and national scale\ 4. Introduction to pedometrics\ 5. Spectral methods for soil analysis \ 6. GPS and barcoding to geo-tag soil sample locations\ 7. Nutrient Management Plan Platforms\ 8. Spectral methods for manure and organic fertilizer analysis\ 9. Variable rate application for agronomic inputs\ 10. Soil carbon stock monitoring using direct/indirect measurement\
How will I learn?
Student Effort Hours:
| Student Effort Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Specified Learning Activities | 60 |
| Autonomous Student Learning | 30 |
| Lectures | 21 |
| --- | --- |
| Total | 111 |
\
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
- This module will be delivered as face-to-face scheduled lectures with occasional input from industry partners. There will be an opportunity for class-based discussions at stages throughout the module. \
- Active student learning will be facilitated through two assignments. The first assignment is literature based and presents students with an opportunity to explore literature in soil applications of professional interest. The second assignment is designed to give students an opportunity to apply their learnings from the module in the critique of a self-selected mobile app for soil management. Students will be encouraged to share their main findings from each assignment with the class in structured class discussion.\
Am I eligible to take this module?
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Not applicable to this module.
\
Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module. \ \
How will I be assessed?
Assessment Strategy
| Description | Timing | Component Scale | Must Pass Component | % of Final Grade | In Module Component Repeat Offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment(Including Essay): Comparison of decision support tools for soil carbon stock assessment. | Week 5 | Graded | No | 50 | No |
| Assignment(Including Essay): Production of a user guide for farmers to install precision agriculture equipment. | Week 10 | Graded | No | 50 | No |
\
Carry forward of passed components
No
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What happens if I fail?
| Remediation Type | Remediation Timing |
|---|---|
| In-Module Resit | Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board |
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \
Assessment feedback
Feedback Strategy/Strategies
• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment\
How will my Feedback be Delivered?
- A marking Rubric will be available for the student assignments.
- Feedback will be provided individually to students on draft assignments submitted to Brightspace approximately one week prior to assessment.
Associated Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Gafaru Sumaila | Lecturer / Co-Lecturer |
When is this module offered?
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 | Tues 14:00 - 16:50 |