Duration
20h Th, 22h Pr
Number of credits
| Advanced Master in Environmental Sciences and Management in Developing Countries (Registrations are closed) | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
https://uclouvain.be/cours-2019-lbres2105
Main themes :
- Water, wind and tillage erosion : physical processes and quantification
- Modeling of water erosion at plot and watershed scale
- Principles of soil conservation in temperate and tropical environments
- Soil conservation techniques and practices : physical, agronomical, vegetative, and management practices
Content :
Lectures
- Definitions, on- and off-site consequences of water erosion
- Forms of water erosion : interrill, rill, gully
- Factors of water erosion : rain, soil, terrain, cultural practices, crop
- Processes: detachment, transportation, storage
- Measurement of erosion
- Empirical ( RUSLE ) and deterministic modelling
- Principles and methods of soil conservation
* Wind erosion (2h)
* Tillage erosion (2h)
As part of the section on water erosion, a collective brainstorming will be conducted around the fictional development of a site subject to muddy floods. The discussion will focus on the challenges of mastering soil erosion, actors and levers. Through role play, students will be encouraged to think about the complexity of managing an environmental issue.
Practicals
Soil Conservation
- Use of the RUSLE model on simple and complex slopes, and management of a small virtual watershed
- Evaluation of a grass strip
- Measurement of saltation ( wind erosion)
- Estimation of tillage erosion on complex slope (spreadsheet)
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Spreadsheet management (ExcelTM,')
Basic use of Geographical information system)
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
- Upon request, the lectures are given partly in English, but always illustrated by transparencies in French.
- Reference book in English.
- Practical work in the computer room lead the student to operational use of the RUSLE model.
- Practical work in the laboratory (grass strip, wind erosion)
- Exercise sessions (tillage erosion)
- The practicals, to be carried out in a team, and report writing stimulate collective work and the development of skills related to professional communication;
- Role play regarding the management of soil erosion for a fictitious site
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Recommended or required readings
Reference book : 'Soil conservation' de R.P.C. Morgan
Transparencies available on Moodle
Online resources : Moodle
- 3 oral questions with written preparation (40%) - Evaluation of practicals, based on written report (50%) - Participation in the role play (10%)
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
charles.bielders@uclouvain.be