Study Guide

Objective

The student is able to explain the main factors of soil influencing plant growth as well as the role of soil as carbon sink. The student is able to determine the objectives of fertilization and liming based on soil data taking into account environment, sustainability and circular economy.
The student is able to describe the factors related to the formation, composition, function and quality of soil. The student is able to define the soil types and their properties, and is able to apply data in agricultural use.
The student is able to explain basic meteorological concepts and is able to explain the factors influencing weather phenomena, especially in Finnish conditions.
The student is able to assess the need for drying and irrigation required for arable farming and to present different drying and irrigation methods.

Content

The chemical, physical and biological condition of the soil and their importance for crop cultivation.
Nutrient cycles and environmental effects of nutrients, fertilization according to plant need and environmental support conditions, fertilizers including livestock manure and other organic and circular fertilizers,
Soil formation, soil types and their properties, soil minerals and soil organic matter,
Weather observations, Climate zones and Finland's climate, meso- and micro-climates, Weather services for farming,
Principles of soil water management, drainage and irrigation methods.

Materials

Heinonen yms. (toim.) 1992. Maa, viljely ja ympäristö. Luvut 1,2, 3, 4. WSOY. Kalkitusopas. Kalkitusyhdistys; Alakukku yms. 2002. Maan rakenteen hoito. Tieto tuottamaan 98. Maaseutukeskusten liitto; Ravinteet kasvintuotannossa, Tieto tuottamaan 127;
Elomaa ym. 1988. Sää ja maatalous. Maaseutukeskusten liitto.
Saavalainen (toim.) 1981. Salaojittajan käsikirja, osa 1a. Suomen olosuhteet kuivatusta silmällä pitäen. Salaojituksenkannatusyhdistys
Pajula ja Triipponen (toim.) Selvitys Suomen kastelutilanteesta. Suomen ympäristö 629. Saatavuus: http://tiny.cc/t73ikx
(tai Sadetusopas 1979 Maatalouskeskusten liitto.) Saatavuus: http://tiny.cc/n13ikx
Pajula ja Järvenpää (toim.), 2007 Maankuivatuksen ja kastelun suunnittelu. Suomen ympäristökeskuksen raportteja 23/2007, 187 s. Julkaisu on saatavana vain verkkojulkaisuna. Saatavuus: https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/39840/SYKEra_23_2007.pdf sequence=1
Peltomaa 1999. Salaojien kunnossapito-opas (myös verkko-julkaisu), Salaojakeskus, Salaojituksen tukisäätiö ja Tekninen korkeakoulu. Saatavuus: http://tiny.cc/m93ikx
Maan vesi ja ravinnetalous. Ojitus, kastelu ympäristö. (soveltuvin osin). Saatavuus: http://tiny.cc/6c4ikx
Electronically available Finnish, Swedish and English material, which is pointed out in Moodle

Teaching methods

Teaching in classroom, group work, independent excercises, field observations, lab work and exam.

Student workload

Total work load 135 h, of which scheduled studies 30 h, obligatory lab work 12 h, field observations 20 h and autonomous studies 73 h

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Students are able to study the basics of the period.
The student mainly knows the nutrients in soil and is able to determine the main objectives of fertilization and liming based on soil data.
The student knows the factors related to the formation, composition and function of soil, soil types and their properties.
The student knows basic meteorological concepts and is able to explain the factors influencing weather phenomena, especially in Finnish conditions.
The student knows the need for drying and irrigation required for arable farming and to present different drying and irrigation methods.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Students are able to study course things well.
The student knows well the nutrients in soil and is able to determine the objectives of fertilization and liming based on soil data.
The student knows well the factors related to the formation composition and function of soil, soil types and their properties.
The student knows well basic meteorological concepts and is able to explain the factors influencing weather phenomena, especially in Finnish conditions.
The student is able to assess the need for drying and irrigation required for arable farming and to present different drying and irrigation methods.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Students are able to course things well and know how to apply them in practice.
The student knows well the nutrients in soil and is able to determine the fertilization and liming based on soil data.
The student is able to describe the factors related to the formation and composition and function of soil, soil types and their properties.
The student is able to explain meteorological concepts and is able to explain the factors influencing weather phenomena.
The student is able to assess the need for drying and irrigation required for arable farming and to present different drying and irrigation methods, based on local conditions.