Soils for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

44M0527

Master

English

5.0

only winter term

1 semester

Soils play an important role in climate change mitigation strategies. Their potential to act as a sink or source of carbon dioxide emissions is explored in this course, as are options for mitigating nitrous oxide emissions from soils. At the same time, adapting to climate change by increasing the resilience of soils is important for sustainable high-yield crop production. Students learn to understand the fluxes of climate relevant elements and the structuring processes in soils, and they practise applying methods for evaluating the ecosystem services of soils. 

1 Climate change mitigation through soils
1.1 Carbon dioxide fluxes from soils and carbon sequestration potential
1.2 Nitrous oxide emissions from soils and mitigation options

2 Climate change adaptation through soils
2.1 Improvement of water storage and movement in soils
2.2 Enhancement of soil resilience through improvement of soil structure

3 Methods for evaluating soil services
3.1 Analysis of carbon storage and fluxes
3.2 Analysis of soil structure

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Portfolio exam or
• Field work / Experimental work or
• Homework / Assignment

The standard examination form is a portfolio with presentation/report and an oral examination (max. 50 points + max. 50 points); deviations from this will be announced in the first four weeks after the start of lectures.

presentation/report: ca. 20-30-minutes presentation with 5–10-pages written summary + oral examination ca. 20-30 minutes per student

alternative:

term paper, 15-20 pages

experimental work: 2-4 week of experimental analysis with 10 pages of written summary

Basic knowledge in soil science is recommended. 

For indepent study of basics in soil science the following literature is helpful:

Weil, R. R. and Brady, N. C. (2016): The nature and properties of soils - global edition. Pearson International, p. 1104, ISBN 978-1292162232. 

Students understand the relationship between soil and atmosphere and can identify important factors of soil management on climate change. They can describe measures that lead to an increase in the resilience of soils and thus ensure sustainable crop production.

Students can argue, according to the specific situation, which management measures are suitable for achieving climate protection goals and increasing the resilience of soils.

Students can develop suitable concepts for climate-friendly soil management and assess their climate protection effect. They can adapt crop production systems to ensure the sustainable yield capacity of soils in light of climate change. They can determine and evaluate selected laboratory parameters to describe the climate protection effect and the resilience of soils.

Students can present concepts for climate-friendly and climate-adapted land use on a scientific basis and discuss them with experts.

Students are able to critically reflect on the design of adapted soil management systems based on their theoretical and methodological knowledge. They act responsibly and consider societal expectations and necessities for climate protection in their professional decisions.

• Deiglmayr, Kathrin

• Deiglmayr, Kathrin