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| ORML7410 | @Soil Ecology | 3+0+0 | ECTS:7.5 | | Year / Semester | Fall Semester | | Level of Course | Third Cycle | | Status | Elective | | Department | DEPARTMENT of FOREST ENGINEERING | | Prerequisites and co-requisites | None | | Mode of Delivery | | | Contact Hours | 14 weeks - 3 hours of lectures per week | | Lecturer | Prof. Dr. Bülent TURGUT | | Co-Lecturer | | | Language of instruction | Turkish | | Professional practise ( internship ) | None | | | | The aim of the course: | | To introduce soil organisms by considering soil as a habitat and to examine their relations with each other and their environment and their duties in terms of material cycles and to evaluate the pollution problem of soil. |
| Programme Outcomes | CTPO | TOA | | Upon successful completion of the course, the students will be able to : | | | | PO - 1 : | Define the fundamental concepts of soil ecology and explain its importance to ecosystems. | | 1, | | PO - 2 : | Analyze the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil and discuss their impacts on soil health. | | 1, | | PO - 3 : | Identify the types of microorganisms and macroorganisms in soil and explain their ecological roles. | | 1, | | PO - 4 : | Describe the cycles of nutrients (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, etc.) in soil and evaluate their effects on ecosystems. | | 1, | | PO - 5 : | Explain plant-root-microorganism interactions and discuss their significance for agricultural production and soil health. | | | | PO - 6 : | Identify the characteristics of extreme soil conditions (saline, acidic, alkaline) and explain the adaptation mechanisms of organisms living in these conditions. | | 1, | | PO - 7 : | Identify sources of soil pollution (heavy metals, pesticides, etc.) and analyze their impacts on soil biota. | | 1, | | PO - 8 : | Explain techniques such as bioremediation and phytoremediation for rehabilitating polluted soils and develop application strategies. | | 1, | | PO - 9 : | Explain the relationship between soil ecology, climate change, carbon storage, and greenhouse gas emissions. | | 1, | | PO - 10 : | Evaluate sustainable soil management approaches and discuss innovative technologies to improve soil health. | | 1, | | CTPO : Contribution to programme outcomes, TOA :Type of assessment (1: written exam, 2: Oral exam, 3: Homework assignment, 4: Laboratory exercise/exam, 5: Seminar / presentation, 6: Term paper), PO : Learning Outcome | | |
| Soil conditions, soil organisms, relationships between soil organisms and ecological interactions, ecology of nutrient cycling, ecology of extreme soil conditions, ecology of polluted soils |
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| Course Syllabus | | Week | Subject | Related Notes / Files | | Week 1 | Introduction to Soil Ecology
Definition and scope of soil ecology
Soil as a dynamic ecosystem: physical, chemical, and biological components
Importance of soil in ecosystem functions and services | | | Week 2 | Soil Formation and Development
Processes of soil formation (weathering, organic matter accumulation)
Soil horizons and soil profile
Factors influencing soil formation (climate, organisms, parent material, etc.) | | | Week 3 | Physical Properties of Soil
Soil texture and classification
Soil structure and porosity
Water movement in soil: infiltration, percolation, and water retention | | | Week 4 | Chemical Properties of Soil
Soil pH and its effects on nutrient availability
Cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soil buffering capacity
Essential plant nutrients and their chemical forms in soil | | | Week 5 | Biological Properties of Soil
Soil microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes) and their roles
Macroorganisms (earthworms, insects) and their ecological functions
Soil organic matter and its role in biological activity | | | Week 6 | Nutrient Cycles in Soil : Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles, Phosphorus and Sulfur Cycles
Carbon cycle: soil organic matter decomposition and carbon sequestration
Nitrogen cycle: ammonification, nitrification, denitrification, and nitrogen fixation
Role of soil biota in carbon and nitrogen cycling
Phosphorus cycle: availability, fixation, and release mechanisms
Sulfur cycle: microbial transformations and its role in soil fertility
Interactions between nutrient cycles
| | | Week 7 | Plant-Root-Microorganism Interactions
Rhizosphere: a hotspot for plant-microbe interactions
Symbiotic relationships: mycorrhizal fungi, nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)
| | | Week 8 | Extreme Soil Conditions : Saline and Sodic Soils,acidic and alkaline soils
Characteristics and formation of saline and sodic soils
Effects of salinity and sodicity on soil health and plant growth
Adaptation mechanisms of plants and microorganisms
Characteristics of acidic and alkaline soils
Effects of extreme pH on nutrient availability and soil biota
Management strategies for acidic and alkaline soils | | | Week 9 | Midterm exam | | | Week 10 | Soil Pollution and Contamination
Sources of soil pollution (heavy metals, pesticides, hydrocarbons)
Impact of soil contamination on soil health and biodiversity
Risk assessment and monitoring of polluted soils
| | | Week 11 | Soil Remediation Techniques
Bioremediation: microbial approaches for cleaning polluted soils
Phytoremediation: using plants to restore soil health
Case studies on successful soil remediation projects | | | Week 12 | Soil Ecology and Climate Change
Role of soil in carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions
Impacts of climate change on soil processes and biodiversity
Soil management practices for climate change mitigation | | | Week 13 | Sustainable Soil Management
Principles of sustainable soil management
Conservation tillage, crop rotation, and organic farming practices
Innovative technologies for improving soil health | | | Week 14 | Soil Ecology in Agricultural Systems
Soil health indicators in agricultural ecosystems
Role of soil ecology in enhancing crop productivity and resilience
Challenges and opportunities in soil management for sustainable agriculture | | | Week 15 | General Review and Final Project Presentations
Summary of all topics covered during the semester
Discussion of real-world applications of soil ecology concepts
Student project presentations and peer feedback" türkçeçe çevirir miisn? | | | Week 16 | Final Exam | | | |
| Method of Assessment | | Type of assessment | Week No | Date | Duration (hours) | Weight (%) | | Mid-term exam | 7 | | 1.5 | 30 | | Homework/Assignment/Term-paper | 12 | | 1.5 | 20 | | End-of-term exam | 16 | | 1.5 | 50 | | |
| Student Work Load and its Distribution | | Type of work | Duration (hours pw) | No of weeks / Number of activity | Hours in total per term | | Yüz yüze eğitim | 3 | 15 | 45 | | Arasınav için hazırlık | 12 | 2 | 24 | | Arasınav | 1.5 | 1 | 1.5 | | Dönem sonu sınavı için hazırlık | 15 | 2 | 30 | | Dönem sonu sınavı | 1.5 | 1 | 1.5 | | Total work load | | | 102 |
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