Nutrients, carbon and water models

To introduce students to the knowledge of the concepts of carbon and nutrient cycles and the water cycle as well as in the use of models for these cycles. This knowledge and tools will be useful in the proposal and assessment of forest management alternatives.

The memory of the degree includes for this course the following contents: Models for nutrition management and nutrient cycling in forests. Replenishment of nutrients through natural processes and fertilization. Balance of water, nutrients and carbon. Environmental benefits. Models of carbon sequestration in forests.
These contents will be developed according to the following list of units:
I. Introduction and essential nutrients
II. Essential processes in nutrient cycling
III. The water cycle. The carbon cycle
IV. Macronutrients cycles
V. Nutritional status: visual diagnosis
VI. Nutritional status: foliar diagnosis and fertilization trials
VII. Fertilizers for forest use
VIII. Applied forest fertilization
IX. Nutritional management of plantations
X. Interactive. Process and water consumption models
XI. Tutorial. Carbon fixation models
XII. Interactive. Visit to experimental plots of ash and fertilizer application

-Dell, B., Malajczuk, N., Xu, D., Grove, T. S., 2001. Nutrient disorders in plantation eucalypts, 2nd edn. ACIAR Monograph No.74. Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, Australia, 188 pp.
-Fisher, R.F., Binkley, D., 2000. Ecology and management of forest soils. Wiley, 489 pp.
-Attiwill, PM, Adams, MA., Nutrition of Eucalypts, CSIRO PUblishing
-Bonneau, M., 1995. La fertilization des forêts dans les pays tempérés. ENGREF, Nancy, 367 pp
-Will, GM., Nutrient deficiencies and fertilizer use in New Zealand exotic forests. FRI Bulletin 97. Rotorua, 53 pp.
-Bará, S., 1990. Fertilización forestal. Xunta de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
-Barker, Allen V., Pilbeam, David J. 2007. Handbook of plant nutrition. CRC Press, 613 pp.

In this course the student will acquire or perform a number of generic and specific competences, distinctive of forest engineering. Within the framework of competences designed for the degree, the following will be worked on:
Basic, general and transversal competences:
CB6 – To acquire and understand knowledge that provide a basis or opportunity for originality in developing and/or applying ideas, often in a research context.
CB9 - Students will be able to communicate their conclusions and the knowledge and rationale underpinning these to specialists and non-specialists in a clear and unambiguous way.
CB10 - Students will possess the learning skills that enable them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.
CG2 - The ability to design, manage, develop, implement and interpret projects and comprehensive action plans in the natural environment.
CT7 - The ability to perform a public presentation in a clear, concise and consistent manner.
CT10. Using bibliographic information and Internet.
CT11 - Using information in a foreign language.

Specific competences
CE48 - To develop an understanding of processes and models of nutrients, carbon and water cycles, which occur in productive and natural systems. These tools will allow assessing the sustainability of different types of management and the environmental benefits of these systems.

Teaching will include classroom activities, both presentational (9 h) and interactive (12 h), as well as laboratory and field practices.
The presentational teaching will include summaries and general analysis of the state of the art in key issues, guiding the students to access supplementary information in their personal work. In the interactive classes, the exercises carried out by the students will be discussed and laboratory practices or field visits, in particular to experimental plots, will be made. The attendance to classes is considered necessary to pass the course.
The specific methodologies to be used will be:
- Participatory master lectures.
- Field practices.
- Use of the virtual classroom
- Performing computer presentations
- Resolution of exercises
- Individualized Tutoring

The student evaluation will be done through a combination of the following:
Attendance at lectures and interactive classes (compulsory). 20% weight.
Written tests: 40%. Competences covered: CG2, CT10, CT11, CE48
Delivery of exercises and assignments: 20%. Competences: CB6, CB10, CG2, CE48
Presentations: 20%. Competences: CB6, CB9, CB10, CT7, CT10, CT11 and CE48

The time corresponding to 3 ECTS. The memory of the Master includes 2 hours for group work, 18 hours for reading and studying, 5h for completion of exercises, 8 h to prepare practices and further working on them, 5h to elaborate presentations, 10 hours to prepare exams, and 3 h to perform exams.

Class attendance and use of the tutorial hours of professors.