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HU Credits:
3
Degree/Cycle:
1st degree (Bachelor)
Responsible Department:
Soil and Water Sciences
Semester:
2nd Semester
Teaching Languages:
Hebrew
Campus:
Rehovot
Course/Module Coordinator:
Mr. Amir Mussery
Coordinator Office Hours:
Will be published later
Teaching Staff:
Dr. Arcady Beriozkin
Mr.
Course/Module description:
The course 'Soil enhancment practices' deals with complex agriculture systems that are closely connected with the soil and its management, while the main goal is the best utilization of the soil for producing the yield, enhancing its quality and maintaining the soil characteristics over time. The course will focus on the three agricultural practices widespread in Israel and in the world (rain fed agriculture, irrigation systems and grazing) which are connected to each other, on the one hand, buton the other hand , have unique characteristics . In the first stage we will deal with the physical processes involved in soil fertility, its mechanical components, water balance and its erodibility, processes that are the core of all agriculture practices. Afterwards we will study the different mechanical processing tools that characterize the management of rain-fed and irrigation systems together with their influence on the soil and the environment. In additionwe will discuss the tillage timing and direction, in relation to the area's geographic outlines, as crucial factors for the practice success. In addition to the mechanical practices we will deal with agricultural practices (crop rotations, dry and wet fallows, litter effects etc.). Extensive areas of the open spaces in Israel and the world are for grazing, but due to lack of knowledge and lack of legislation there is extensive pressure on these environmental systems, which causes degradation of active agricultural fields causing an irreversible situation. In the course we will study the characteristics of grazing systems and ways to rehabilitate the damaged ones. For all the agriculture practices mentioned above, emphasize will be given to the geomorphological influences (soil runoff, rills and gullies formation and Aeolic erosion), and different ways for reducing/ stopping it. A large part of the course will be dedicated to the un-tillage approach which rapidly changes the used practices, together with the unique mechanical tools developed for implementing this approach. Other issues that will be discussed are remote sensing of soil fertility and erodibility; the effects of different fertilizing and pest control methods on the soil; soil salinization and the holistic approach that attributes the 'health' of the unprocessed surrounding areas as a crucial factor for the success of the agriculture practices.
Course/Module aims:
Acquaintance with the soil processes affecting water balance, fertility and erodibility. Acquaintance withthe mechanical tools used in agricultural practices and their effects on soil characteristics. Acquaintance with advanced agriculture practices that combine or replace the traditional ones (un-tillage approach, holistic view and remote sensing).
Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
At the end of the course the students will be capable of understanding the effects of the different practices on soil fertility and its erodibility. The students will be able to design soil enhancment plans, minimizing the damage to the system. Acquaintance with scientific terminology and the new approaches for the soil enhancment practices and their implementation in different areas.
Attendance requirements(%):
100%
Teaching arrangement and method of instruction:
Lectures
Excercises
Tours
Course/Module Content:
The goal of soil practices, types and problematic aspects of unsuitable ones
Soil structure and physical processes
Mechanical soil processes
Mechanical tools
Dry and wet fallows
Crop rotation
Tillage timing and direction
Fertilizing and insectices and their effects on soil
Soil salinization
Soil runoff (hydraulic and Aeolic)
Tools for analyzing soils
Practices for managing weeds (chemical, tilling and solaric ones)
The no-tillage approach
The interaction between the cropped fields and the surrounding systems- the holistic approach.
Required Reading:
-
Additional Reading Material:
The Encyclopedia of Agriculture: "soil enhancement", Field crops", "winter cereals" (Hebrew)
Additional material will be suggested during the course
Course/Module evaluation:
End of year written/oral examination 0 %
Presentation 0 %
Participation in Tutorials 0 %
Project work 100 %
Assignments 0 %
Reports 0 %
Research project 0 %
Quizzes 0 %
Other 0 %
Additional information:
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