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Lecturer(s)
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Gryndler Milan, prof. doc. RNDr. CSc.
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Course content
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Introduction (2 hours) Why is soil biology so interesting? How much soil is available for us, which agricultural commodities are produced and how the production can endanger the soils? Agricultural soils in the Czech Republic and on Earth. The value of the soil in contemporary society, appreciation and pricing the soil. Soil properties (2 hours) Pedology. Formation and evolution of soils. Classification of soils. Soil granulometry. Soil profile, soil horizons. Soil abiotic components I. - Clay minerals (2 hours) Formation and structure of clay minerals. Their importance for soil sorption complex functioning. Soil abiotic components II. Humus and other forms of organic matter (2 hours) Formation and development of humus, the role of soil organisms. Fractionation of humus. Physico-chemical properties of humus. pH buffering. Soil and global carbon cycle. Soil abiotic components III. Water (3 hours) Soil humidity. Water potential and its components. Soil porosity and capillarity. Water retention curves. Hydrolimits and importance of water availability for soil organisms. Tensometer and its function. Soil organisms and main mineral nutrients (4 hours) Available natural resources of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Fate of N, P and K in soils. Forms of soil nitrogen. Biological nitrogen fixation, nitrogenase complex. Diazotrophic organisms. Haber-Bosch synthesis as industrial alternative to biological nitrogen fixation. Soil bacteria (3 hours) Molecular diversity of the soil bacterial community. Bacterial community and soil pH. Rhizosphere and rhizosphere effect. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. Mycorrhiza helper bacteria. Soil fungi (4 hours) Decomposition of plant litter by fungi. Lignocellulose as main source of humus: humification. Decomposition of crop residuals and humus formation in agricultural soils. Symbiosis of fungi with plants and animals. Potential for saccharification of cellulose by fungal enzymes. Soil fauna (3 hours) Trophic levels, trophic networks. Predation. The flux of energy through complex community of soil organisms. Ecological niche. Relationship between ecosystem productivity and diversity and stability of soil microbial communities. Litter transformers and ecosystem engineers. Fecal pellets. Exploitation of soils (3 hours) Production load. Risk of soil degradation. Intensive, organic, integrated and extensive agriculture. Soil compaction. Energy balance in agriculture. "Clean bio-energy" from agriculture?
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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unspecified
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Learning outcomes
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The course is directed to the soil as a natural product, a result of interaction of living organisms with their abiotic environment. The soil is able to support the plant growth, which is the feature crucial for the nutrition of mankind. This ability depends on the properties of the community of soil organisms. Students will receive basic knowledge on different groups of soil organisms (mainly bacteria, fungi and animals) and their contributions to soil functioning with emphasis on effects of abiotic soil components (clay minerals, humus, water, mineral nutrients). The role of soil in global carbon cycle will be mentioned and the possibilities of the production of "clean bioenergy" in agriculture will be evaluated in the light of risks of soil destruction by excessive production load.
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Prerequisites
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unspecified
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Assessment methods and criteria
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unspecified
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Recommended literature
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Gryndler M. Život v půdě: podpůrný text k přednášce.. 2011.
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Rejšek K, Gryndler M, Miko L, Šantrůčková H. Život v půdě 1. Vesmír 85(4): 212-219.. 2006.
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Rejšek K, Gryndler M, Miko L, Šantrůčková H. Život v půdě 2. Vesmír 85(5): 284-290.. 2006.
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Rejšek, Klement ; Matějů, L; Čtyřoká, J. Biologie půd. In: HAUPTMAN, I. -- KUKAL, Z. -- POŠMOURNÝ, K. Půda v České republice. 1. vyd. Praha: MŽP ČR a MZe ČR, s. 85-105.. 2009. ISBN 80-7360-456-6.
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