University of Liege | Version française
Study programmes 2011-2012Last update : 14/06/2012
AGRO0011-1  Pedology of tropical and subtropical environments

Duration :  12h Th, 12h FT
Number of credits :  
Required preliminary complements to register in the Advanced Master in Development, Environment and CommunitiesSecond semester2
Master in Forests and natural Areas Engineering, Professional Focus, 1st yearFirst semester2
Required preliminary complements to register in the Advanced Master in Rural Economics and SociologySecond semester2
Required preliminary complements to Advanced Master in Plant and Animal Resource Management in tropical environmentFirst semester2
Lecturer :  Laurent Bock
Language(s) of instruction :  
French language
Course contents :  
Principles of geomorphopedological identification and soil quality evaluation. Guidelines for profile description and implementation (handbook and form of the Laboratory). Concepts of representative samplings and of adaptated soil analysis menus. Systems of soil use and management in relation with their specificities (context of shifting cultivation and improved or intensive cropping). Elements of soil conservation and improvement. Special questions (soils mapping for irrigation, saline soils and mangroves, rice growing, desertification, ...) = personal report.
Learning outcomes of the course :  
To apply the principles of general pedology to the knowledge and the appropriate management of soils in the frame of hot sub-continental specificities. Examples are taken from personal experiences
After completing the course the student is expected to
- use the existing documents on a given overseas land context or to palliate their lack,
- initiate a soil survey and perform a soil description,
- conceive a strategy of soil sampling and soil analyses,
- evaluate (top)soil suitability and fertility,
- suggest adapted and integrated solutions of soil conservation and recapitalization.
Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :  
-- GEOP0002-1 - Pedology
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :  
Framework of a methodology developped during near 40 years Overseas
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :  
Lectures : 12h
Field-study trip and visits : 12h
Recommended or required readings :  
Van Wambeke A. (1995), Sols des tropiques, CTA, Wageningen, NL, 335 p.
Sanchez P.A. (1976), Properties and Management of soils in the tropics, J.Wiley, New York, 618 p.
Booker tropical soil manual (1991), J.R. Landon ed., Longman, New York, 474 p.
FAO Soils Bulletin.
Assessment methods and criteria :  
Oral examination on personally collected documents
Organizational remarks :  
Numerous documents published by the service or acces free given during lectures
Contacts :  
Bock, Laurent (Professeur - Gestionnaire)
Science du Sol
081 62 25 38
laurent.bock@ulg.ac.be


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