The course wants to provide a knowledge of the structure of the profile and characteristics of horizons in the major soil types, ability to read the reasoned various classifications used in the maps of the soil, associated to the knowledge of the main pedogenitc processes and relation with global biogechmical cycles. The course intend to provide the knowledge to consider the soils as fundamental resource for societal development, the degradation processes and their conservation.
Syllabus: Pedogenetic processes – Physical and chemical weathering – soil profiles and horizons - soil erosion – soil fertility – cation exchange capacity – Soils and the carbon cycle – soil classifications.