Overview

The module aims to give you a fundamental understanding of the importance of soil and water in ecosystem function. It will equip you with the skills to start to ‘read the landscape’ to be able to recommend appropriate ways to manage land for sustainable development and climate resilience. You will gain an academic understanding in the global issues around current soil and water management as well as how that might change with a changing climate. The module also aims to equip you with practical skills to measure and interpret soil health, hydraulic function and catchment management data. The module covers the spectrum of land uses from fully afforested to pasture/arable land and gives a fundamental grounding in soil and water function.

Topics covered in this module include:

• Global water/soil management and use, catchment processes and soil classification;
• C-sequestration and net zero;
• Soil degradation & restoration;
• Understanding indicators of soil health/quality/fertility and belowground interactions;
• Effects of drought/waterlogging on soil;
• Natural flood management;
• Catchment-scale water management and landcover impact.

Practical skills that students will develop may include:

• Soil & water sampling methods;
• Soil identification and assessment (soil health/fertility in lab & field etc);
• Data analysis and interpretation;
• Catchment management modelling.

Assessment Strategy

Threshold (50-59%/ C grades) -Reports and presentation show a basic knowledge of the essential facts and key concepts presented in the module. Written work demonstrates a basic ability to synthesise and interpret data from lectures and readings in a structured and logical manner, and all assessments should demonstrate the general capacity to organise acquired knowledge. (Grade D mark range 40-49%)

Good (60-69% - B grades)-Reports and presentation show a thorough factual knowledge across all aspects of the module, citing examples and case studies where appropriate. Written work should demonstrate an ability to think about the subject and to synthesise lecture material and some information from background reading into coherent arguments.

Excellent (70% and above; A-grades) -Reports and presentation show a high level of detailed factual knowledge across all aspects of the module and be able to detail examples and case studies where appropriate. Written work should demonstrate an ability to think critically about the subject and to synthesise lecture material and information from extensive background reading in support of detailed, developed arguments. (Grade A; mark range 70-100%)

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse and interpret the effects of soil and water management techniques for different land uses.

• Apply a detailed understanding of soil and water management strategies to sustainable resource use and climate adaptation and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in specific contexts

• Develop practical skills to assess soil health and hydraulic function and apply these skills to problem-solve across contrasting soil types and scenarios.

• Synthesise the effects of land use changes on soil and water resources using modelling.