2025/2026

Learning objectives Providing the knowledge required to understand the characteristics and spatial variability of soils, also using proximal soil sensors and digital soil mapping techniques, for proper site-specific soil management in agriculture and agro-ecosystem. Knowledge and ability to understand the student shall demonstrate to have understood the main aspects of soil mapping and monitoring, namely: (i) the main chemical, physical and hydrological characteristics of soils; (ii) the principles of soil mapping, especially digital mapping, using methods of data spatialization and clustering of homogeneous units through GIS software. Applying knowledge and understanding The student will be able to use the acquired knowledge to i) describe the main characteristics of a soil, understanding the links between environmental characteristics and the chemical-physical and hydrological ones; ii) apply proximal soil sensing techniques using sensors and carry out the spatialization of soil data; iii) be able to identify any problems or risks related to soil functionality and circumscribe them. Making judgement the student must know how to set up a soil survey and a description of a soil profile or soil borehole, as well as interpret a soil map or a soil description and analysis. They must also know how to interpret data obtained from proximal geophysical sensors, how to spatialize the data in the plot of interest and understand which soil characteristics are associated with the variability of these data. Communication skills The students should have the ability to explain in a simple and comprehensive manner the knowledge acquired, trying to connect the basic notions to the more complex topics related to soil mapping and applications of pedology. Learning ability The students will have to refer to the teaching program and to the lesson plan of the course, deepening the various topics addressed through the handouts provided by the lecturer, the consultation of recommended texts and publications of national and international relevance.

Preliminary knowledge of general chemistry, biology and ecology, useful for understanding the course contents.

For exam preparation, students are required to use the lecture slides provided by the instructor and selected scientific articles provided during the lessons.

Soil and soil quality: definition and components. Physical properties of soils. Water movement in soils. Chemical properties of soils. Soil organic matter. Biogeochemical cycles in soils (nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur cycles in the soil–plant system; micronutrients). Definitions and categories of soil quality indicators. Soil degradation. Desertification. Soil salinization. Heavy metals and environmental issues related to their occurrence in soils and the environment. Soil remediation strategies.

For exam preparation, students are required to use the lecture slides provided by the instructor and selected scientific articles provided during the lessons.

Attendance at lectures is strongly recommended, considering the nature of the topics covered.

The assessment of learning outcomes is carried out through an oral examination, aimed at evaluating the knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in the course.

    Eleonora COPPA