NIGK17016U Environmental Soil Science

Volume 2025/2026
Education

MSc Programme in Agriculture
MSc Programme in Environmental Science
MSc Programme in Geography and Geoinformatics
MSc Programme in Geography and Geoinformatics with a minor subject


 

Content

This competence-line course teaches state-of the art research within the field of environmental soil science.

The main topic for the course is: Soil functional and structural responses in relation to environmental and human stressors. Within this frame the course presents and discusses examples of impacts on soil conditions in relation to extreme events (drought, fires), climatic changes, area use and management. Examples are selected from studies particularly in temperate and arctic regions.

The product of the course is a written assignment based on data (GIS) extracted from Danish soil and land-use databases. The report aim i) to provide an estimate for greenhouse gas emissions from Danish agricultural land, and ii) give an evaluation fo the consequences of altered management practices such as set aside and rewetting.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

  • The course addresses specific topics on soil functions in the outlined perspective.

  • Soil nutrient circulation (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus).
  • Soil organic carbon (SOC)-stocks and decomposition.
  • Soil rootzone (rhizosphere) dynamics and assessment of root biomass and function.
  • Soil greenhouse gas (GHG) balances, including calculation of soil GHG production at different scales.
  • Management options to mitigate soil GHG emissions.

 

Skills:

  • Read, present and discuss scientific literature related to the course topics.
  • Use correct scientific definitions and terms.
  • Use algorithms to calculate SOC stocks, soil N-turnover and GHG balances in Danish farmland based on own data drawn from databases on land-use and soil characteristics.

 

Competences:

  • Work out proposal for solving soil geographical challenges using theory, data and methods.
  • Give a short, concise and well-illustrated oral presentation on the basis of scientific papers.
  • Evaluate current Danish soil GHG inventory data based on own calculations and discuss deviations.
  • Write a short, summarizing report based on own data.

Please see Absalon

BSc in Geography and Geoinformatics or equivalent education is recommended.
The form of teaching is theoretical exercises combined with ad hoc lectures. We will also read, present and discuss scientific literature during the course. For the teaching plan, please see Absalon.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Preparation
  • 171
  • Theory exercises
  • 35
  • Total
  • 206
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, Ongoing preparation throughout the course
Oral examination, 20 minutes
Type of assessment details
The written assignment is prepared during the course and must be handed in prior to the exam week. The oral exam includes the titles listed in the officially approved reading list and the written assignment. A combined grade is given after the oral exam.
Aid
Only certain aids allowed (see description below)

Written assignment: All aids allowed

Oral exam: Only certain aids allowed. The student is allowed to bring the written assignment to the exam.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Re-exam

Identical to ordinary exam.

The student has the following options:

Is the quality of the written assignment not acceptable, the student can choose to either hand in a new or revised report.

Is the quality of the written assignment acceptable, the student can choose to either hand in a revised report or resubmit the original report from the ordinary exam.

The written assignment must be handed in prior to the re-examination week. The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure. It includes the titles listed in the officially approved reading list.

Criteria for exam assesment

See learning outcome.