Program Overview
Program Overview
The University of Copenhagen offers a comprehensive program in Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility, which is designed to provide students with advanced knowledge on the biological, chemical, and physical processes affecting plant nutrient availability and losses of nutrients applied in inorganic fertilizers, organic manures, and soil amendments.
Program Objectives
The program aims to equip students with the following skills and knowledge:
- Describe the biological and chemical processes affecting soil fertility, with a special focus on processes controlling the availability of essential plant nutrients, soil carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Describe key aspects of plant nutritional physiology and the functionality of nutrients in plants, including the effects of climate change and how the nutritional status affects plant resilience to stress.
- Describe the effects of fertilization and soil fertility management on crop yield and quality.
- Demonstrate an overview of the effects of fertilization on plant growth, nutrient losses, and greenhouse gas emissions to the environment.
Program Structure
The program is organized into three major themes:
- Soil Fertility: The key parameters controlling plant nutrient availability in soil, soil organic matter stability, carbon sequestration, and emission of greenhouse gases from the soil, water, and plant system.
- Plant Nutritional Physiology: The key roles of plant nutrients in plant metabolism and how climate change will affect the nutritional status of plants and their ability to resist drought, salinity, and acidity stresses.
- Fertilization: Inorganic fertilizers and quality of organic manures and other bio-based fertilizers, how to maximize crop nutrient use efficiency, and reduce fertilizer-derived greenhouse gas emissions.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Evaluate soil fertility and the nutrient status of crops using soil and plant analyses.
- Diagnose nutrient disorders in crops.
- Suggest appropriate and sustainable remediation strategies to restore and optimize soil fertility and plant productivity.
Teaching and Learning Methods
The program employs a range of teaching and learning methods, including:
- Lectures
- Theoretical exercises
- Experimental exercises
- Demonstrations of plants with nutritional disorders in the university greenhouse
Workload
The program has a total workload of 206 hours, broken down into:
- Lectures: 60 hours
- Preparation: 109 hours
- Theory exercises: 20 hours
- Practical exercises: 5 hours
- Exam: 12 hours
Assessment
The program is assessed through a combination of continuous assessment and a written exam. The continuous assessment consists of two tests, each lasting 60 minutes, and a written exam lasting 2 hours. The marks from the three tests contribute equally to the average final course grade.
Course Information
- Language: English
- Course code: NPLK14019U
- Credit: 7.5 ECTS
- Level: Full Degree Master
- Duration: 1 block
- Placement: Block 1
- Schedule: C
Study Board and Department
- Study Board: Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science
- Contracting department: Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
- Contracting faculty: Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators and Lecturers
- Course coordinator: Søren Husted
- Lecturers: Søren Husted, Lars Stoumann Jensen, Daniel Persson, Veronika Hansen, Grmay Lilay, Francesco Minutello
Recommended Academic Qualifications
It is recommended that students have passed fundamental courses in inorganic and organic chemistry, as well as biochemistry and plant biology. Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree are also recommended. For Danish students, the following courses are recommended: LBIB10188 Jord, Vand og Planter and LPLB10306 Grundlæggende Plantebiologi.