Soil Ecology

Prerequisite: ENGT 2001 and 2002.

Explores the fundamentals of soil ecology. Topics include: overview, formation and profile of soil development, fitness of the soil environment, primary production processes and effect on ecosystem, secondary production processes (decomposition, microbial activities, measures of biomass, sterilization techniques, heterotrophic organisms, decomposition and nutrient recycling), soil food webs, soil biodiversity and linages to soil processes ( ecosystem impacts and challenges), and future developments in soil ecology. Theory and fundamentals are advanced to an in-depth understanding of soil ecology in this seminar.

Credit: 3