AESC20060

Source: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=MODULE&MODULE=AESC20060&TERMCODE=202500&ACYR=2026 Parent: https://hub.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=COURSE&MAJR=ESS1&AUDIENCE=

Academic Year 2025/2026

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Soil Science Basics (AESC20060)

Subject: : Agricultural&Environmental Sci

College: : Health & Agricultural Sciences

School: : Agriculture & Food Science

Level: : 2 (Intermediate)

Credits: : 5

Module Coordinator: : Dr Thomas Cummins

Trimester: : Autumn

Mode of Delivery: : On Campus

Internship Module: : No

How will I be graded? : Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module is a basic introduction to soil science. Themes are: Soil Functions, Soil Components, Soil Structure, Soil Biology, Soil Water, Soils of Ireland, Soils of the World, Soil Colloids, Soil Acidity, Soil Nutrients, Soils and Climate.\ \ A short series of three practical classes give hands-on examples of the methods used to describe soil materials in the field, and allow students to demonstrate the effects of soil-structure on soil behaviour. Compliance with instructions on the use of personal protective equipment (lab coats and protective eyewear), and safe work practices with glassware and hazardous chemicals are required.

About this Module

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What will I learn?

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students should understand the nature of soil, its constituents and how they are organised, the main terms used to describe soil, and the major physical and chemical processes that have occurred during its formation and continue today. Students will have been introduced to the role of soils in productive agriculture and other land management systems, and the contribution of soil management to sustainable production systems. Practical skills in observing soil materials, and in describing them from a constrained technical vocabulary will have been gained.

Indicative Module Content:

Soil components: mineral material, organic material, soil water, soil air, and pores, roots and soil organisms.\ Soil literacy: soil ecosystem services; how soils are observed and described, soil classification and formation factors.\ Soil stucture: arrangement of soil particles, and the pores they define.\ Soil biology: plant roots and other organisms in soil.\ Soil fertility: fertility concepts, acidity and liming, soil nutrients (N, P, K, S) and managing soil fertility.\ Soil management: soils and water quality, the climate system, and threats to soil ecosytem services.\

How will I learn?

Student Effort Hours:

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Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

Live lectures will be the main mode of delivery of module content.\ Additional recorded or online materials will be provided, but the main material will only be presented in the live lectures.\ Practical sessions will give hands-on access to soil materials.\ \ As the MCQ assessment approach is open, allowing access to reference sources and collaboration, students are understood to use it as a further learning experience; the student is responsible for use of any tools in this process, including generative AI resources.

Am I eligible to take this module?

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Learning Requirements:\

Since a chemistry module is a prerequisite for this course, students are expected to be familiar with the requirements of safe practice in a laboratory environment, the need for compliance with use of personal protective equipment (lab coats and protective eye wear), and handling of glassware with hazardous substances.

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Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Pre-requisite:\ CHEM00020 - Introductory Chemistry (Ag), CHEM10010 - Intro to Biomolecules, CHEM10040 - The Molecular World, CHEM10050 - Basis of Organic & Biol Chem, CHEM10060 - Phys & Inorg Chem\ \ Incompatibles:\ AESC20070 - Soil Resources, AESC40410 - Soil, Plant & Water Resources\ \ Additional Information:\ Students must have taken one of the required CHEM modules listed.\ \ \  \

How will I be assessed?

Assessment Strategy

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Carry forward of passed components

Yes

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What happens if I fail?

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \

Assessment feedback

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment\ • Online automated feedback\

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

During 10 hours of practicals, students have opportunities to discuss the practicals and broader topics with staff. Automated feedback is given, with individual feedback for both correct and incorrect answers, for formative multiple-choice quizzes in Brightspace. A grading guide will be given following grading of each practical, showing example answers, and the range of possible answers, on each task in the practical answer-sheets.

Associated Staff

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.

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