Elective theoretical subjects - Biotehniška fakulteta - Univerza v ...

1. Course title:
AGROECOSYSTEMS AND POLLUTION
Course coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Domen Leštan
Lecturers: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Domen Leštan, Assist. Prof. Dr. Zalika Črepinšek, Prof. Dr.
Franc Batič and invited lecturers
No. of hours: Lectures: 20 Seminar: 45 Lab. work: 15
250
Other: 170
ECTS: 10
2. Entry requirements:
Completed university or 2nd level Bologna studies from the wider field of natural
history, mathematics and computer studies or the narrower field of life sciences
(Klasius classification).
3. Objectives of the course and intended learning outcomes :
(competences)
Goals:
The student acquires knowledge of anthropogenic pollution of the environment,
especially agroecosystems. The student recognizes the atmospheric factors important
for transport of pollutants in the environment.
Results:
The student learns how to use methods of chemical and biological monitoring in the
environment, to recognize sampling methods, methods of chemical analysis and data
evaluation. The student becomes acquainted with the possibilities of remediation of
contaminated soils and ecosystem rehabilitation.
4. Syllabus outline
Anthropogenic pollution of the environment due to land use: pollution sources, inputs,
transport and effects on agroecosystems. The influence of pollution on the atmosphere
and spread of pollution in agoecosystems due to physical factors (temperature,
pressure, winds, humidity, irradiation).
Inorganic contaminants (e.g., NO3 - , radionuclides, trace potentially toxic elements) and
organic contaminants (e.g., residues of phyto-pharmaceuticals and chemicals used in
veterinary medicine, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, persistent organic pollutants (POPs))
in agroecosystems.
The effect of organic and inorganic contaminants on soil quality and on the functioning
of agroecosytems.
The effect of atmospheric pollutants (e.g., ozone, SO2, NOx) on agroecosystems.
The inputs of the aforementioned and other contaminants in agroecosystems, their
states and occurrences in various agroecosystems, containment of their use, and
methods of resolving pollution problems in agroecosystems are presented and
discussed.
Regulations and legislation on agroecosystem contamination are presented, including
biomonitoring in bioindication of pollutants. Legislation on water quality and quantity
related to agricultural use and agroecosystems is presented.
Remediation of contaminated soil and methods of agroecosystem rehabilitation are
presented.
5. Literature (in the case of books and monographs, study sources are only
selected chapters from them):
Ahrens, C.D. 2000. Meteorology today: An introduction to Weather, Climate and
Environment. 6th. ed. Brooks/Cole, New York, ISBN 0-534-37201-5 (selected
chapters)