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Course Description Course Name : Structure-Yield Relationships Course Code : TBB-538 Course Type : Optional Level of Course : Second Cycle Year of Study : 1 Course Semester : Spring (16 Weeks) ECTS : 6 Name of Lecturer(s) : Assoc.Prof.Dr. İSMAİL ÇELİK Learning Outcomes of the Course : 1) Defines the soil structure and the types of soil structure. 2) Understands and explains the relationship between soil structure and yield. 3) Knows the importance of soil structure in agricultural production and sustainable soil management. 4) Understands and explains the formation of structure and development of soil structure. 5) Understands the methods used in the determination of aggregate stability. 6) Understands the methods used in the determination of aggregate stability. Mode of Delivery : Face-to-Face Prerequisites and Co-Prerequisites : None Recommended Optional Programme Components : None Aim(s) of Course : This course aims to introduce the relations between crop yield and soil structure. Functions of soil structure, the identification and assessment of soil structure are the main objectives of the course. Course Contents : The formation of soil structure, definitions and measurement methods. Factors affecting the strength and formation of aggregates. The laboratory methods for determining the durability of aggregates and aggregate size distribution. Language of Instruction : Turkish Work Place : Classroom   Course Outline /Schedule (Weekly) Planned Learning Activities Week Subject Student's Preliminary Work Learning Activities and Teaching Methods 1 Soil structure and types of structure. Pre-reading Lecture and discussion 2 The formation of structure and functions in soil. Pre-reading Lecture and discussion 3 The role of soil structure in sustainable soil management and relationship with crop yield. Pre-reading Lecture and discussion 4 The relations of soil structure with other soil properties. Pre-reading Lecture and discussion 5 The methods conserving and improving the soil structure. Pre-reading and literature review Lecture and discussion 6 Major factors effective on formation, stability and degradation of soil aggregates. Pre-reading Lecture and discussion 7 General approaches for determining the aggregate stability. Pre-reading Lecture and discussion 8 Methods used for determining the aggregate stability. Pre-reading Lecture and discussion 9 Importance of soil sampling in determination of aggregate stability, soil sampling methods, important issues in soil sampling and preparation of soil sample for analyses. Pre-reading and literature review Lecture and discussion 10 Mid-term Exam 11 Determination and evaluation of aggregate stability by wet sieving method with multiple-sieves. Pre-reading Lecture and discussion 12 Determination and evaluation of aggregate stability by wet sieving method with a single sieve. Pre-reading Lecture and discussion 13 Determination and evaluation of aggregate stability by dry rotary sieve method. Pre-reading Lecture and discussion 14 Determination and evaluation of aggregate stability by hydrometer method. Pre-reading and literature review Lecture and discussion 15 Evaluation and comparisons of aggregate stability obtained by different methods. Pre-reading Lecture and discussion 16/17 Final exam   Required Course Resources Resource Type Resource Name Recommended Course Material(s)  1) Lal, R. 1994. Soil Erosion Research Methods. Soil and Water Conservation Society 7515 Northeast Ankeny Road, Ankeny, IA 50021. 1994.  2) Demiralay, İ. 1993. Soil Physical Analyses . Atatürk University, Agriculture Faculty Press. No: 143, Erzurum (in Turkish).  3) Kemper, W.D., Rosenau, R.C., 1986. Aggregate stability and size distribution. In: Klute, A. (Ed.), Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 1. Physical and Mineralogical Methods, 2nd Edition, Agronomy Monograph No.9, Soil Science Society of America, Madison,WI, pp. 425-442. Required Course Material(s)   Assessment Methods and Assessment Criteria Semester/Year Assessments Number Contribution Percentage     Mid-term Exams (Written, Oral, etc.) 1 50     Homeworks/Projects/Others 4 50 Total 100 Rate of Semester/Year Assessments to Success 40   Final Assessments 100 Rate of Final Assessments to Success 60 Total 100   Contribution of the Course to Key Learning Outcomes # Key Learning Outcome Contribution* 1 Recognising the principles of ecological farming in terms of sustainable and ecological farming, contributes to the practical use. 2 2 Based on the BSc adequacy, improves in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition at specialist level 3 3 Understands the interactions between Soil Science and Plant Nutrition and other disciplines 4 4 Has abilities to develop and apply new ideas by identifying the taxonomic level of soils according to natural and technical classification systems and provides sustainable uses of soils using theoretical and applied knowledge in this branch and applies them to other engineering branches. 2 5 Gain perfection and prepare projects in every kinds of soil, plant, fertilizer and water analyses and their interpretations 0 6 Increases his/her qualification to develop new techniques and ideas for plant nutrients necessary for healthy, high quality and economical plant production and to apply these techniques and ideas in practice. 1 7 Applies his/her knowledge on conservation of soils, protection against each kind of misuse and pollution by recognising the relations between other disciplines. 3 8 To analyse soils, their components or actual processes, to plan them to accomplish the requirements of sustainable agriculture principles by adding information from other branches, plans/applies a new research project which might solve an existing project or makes judgements with existing information 1 9 Has skills to prepare and apply a project including other disciplines and can retrieve information to solve the problems in nutrition of plants grown in every kinds of soil or soilless growth medium 0 10 Creates new projects to use and to develop new technologies, methods and measuring systems in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition discipline, under the scope of scientific, economic and rational uses of agricultural areas 3 11 Conducts a project working effectively as an individual and as a team member to solve problems related to the discipline. 3 12 Identifies the possible and future problems in relation to his/her professional area and takes responsibility to solve them by developing new strategies 2 13 Is able to get access to knowledge searching literature, databases and using other sources effectively. 2 14 Makes a critical evaluation of information retaled to the field and conducts advanced studies independently. 2 15 Transfers the current developments and their own studies to people who may need them by using different tools. 1 16 Analyzes the social relations and the norms directing these relations in a critical way and takes resposibility to improve them. 0 17 Can communicate in English written and orally. 0 18 Develops strategies, policies and application plans in the field and assess the obtained results under the scope of quality processes. 2 19 Is sensitive about scientific and ethical values during the collection, interpretion and announcement of data related to their subject. Is also capable of teaching and checking them. 1 20 Is able to transfer the information and skills to solve a problem in the field to interdisciplinary studies. 2 * Contribution levels are between 0 (not) and 5 (maximum).   Student Workload - ECTS Works Number Time (Hour) Total Workload (Hour) Course Related Works     Class Time (Exam weeks are excluded) 14 4 56     Out of Class Study (Preliminary Work, Practice) 14 5 70 Assesment Related Works     Homeworks, Projects, Others 4 5 20     Mid-term Exams (Written, Oral, etc.) 1 1 1     Final Exam 1 1 1 Total Workload: 148 Total Workload / 25 (h): 5.92 ECTS Credit: 6