Overall objectives:

1 - A soil conditioner can be defined as any material used to restore damage and help maintain soil quality. soil quality. Even though they contain limited amounts of nutrients, these conditioners can be used mainly for their beneficial impact on the physical, chemical and biological parts of the soil. beneficial impact on the physical, chemical and biological parts of the soil. This course aims to present different soil conditioners, as well as techniques for converting waste in the process of improving and/or recovering soil quality as well as reintegrating them into agricultural practice as biofertilizers, biostimulants and biopesticides. At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to understand which soil conditioners can be used in organic farming.

Syllabus:

1 - Soil Quality Indicators
2 - No-Till, Minimum-Tillage and Crop Rotation
3 - Soil Conditioners
4 - Biochar, Hydrogels and Zeolites
5 - Use of Sewage Sludge
6 - Composting
7 - Waste Conversion Technologies
8 - Characterization and management of agricultural waste
9 - Methodologies for extraction and purification of compounds with bioactivity
10 - Processes and microorganisms involved in waste transformation

Literature/Sources:

Araújo, E. A., Ker, J. C., Neves, J. C. L., & Lani, J. L. , 2012 , Qualidade do solo: conceitos, indicadores e avaliação ,
Bünemann, E. K., Bongiorno, G., Bai, Z., Creamer, R. E., De Deyn, G., de Goede, R., Fleskens, L., Geissen, V., Kuyper, T. W., Mäder, P., Pulleman, M., Sukkel, W., Van Groenigen, J. W., & Brussaard, L , 2018 , Soil quality. A critical review ,
Giri, B., Prasad, R., Wu, Q. S., & Varma, A. , 2019 , Biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture and environment. ,
Sik Ok, Y., Uchimiya, S. M., Chang, S. X., & Bolan, N.(2015). , 2015 , Biochar: Production, Characterization, and Applications ,

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
The teaching and learning methodologies are in line with the pedagogical model of the study cycle as they have been structured according to the principle of 75% of ECTS in distance learning (30h), and 25% in face-to-face activities (10h). In order to achieve the objectives and implement the syllabus, the contact hours are divided into 16 asynchronous hours (PT), 14 synchronous hours (PT), 4 face-to-face hours (PT) and 6 face-to-face hours (PL). The theoretical components of the syllabus are taught using expository methodologies and audiovisual projection. In the practical components, classes are held using explanatory and questioning methodologies of the UC contents with practical exercises, encouraging discussion of the topics and group interaction. Learning is complemented by study visits to organic farms in the region. Students will be monitored asynchronously using the e-learning platform.