ajUniversity of Jordan
Plant-Soil-Water Relations (604321)
Faculty of Agriculture
Instructor: Dr. Ayman Suleiman
Dept. of Land, Water & Environment
email: ayman.suleiman@ju.edu.jo
Office: 121 Agric
Phone: 5355000/ext2554
Office hours: 11:00-12:00 Sunday and Thursday
Course aim and objectives:
This course is concerned with the movement of water in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum and
the impact of soil water stress on plant growth. The overall aim of the course is to provide the
student with a solid background in the basic concepts of water properties and water dynamics
within soil and plant. The specific objectives of the course are:
1- To enable the student to develop mathematical and quantitative skills needed to solve
applied problems in Plant-Soil-Water Relations.
2- To provide the student with required background in soil, water, plant and atmosphere
interactions.
3- To enable the student to quantify the main water properties and flow processes within the
soil-plant-atmosphere continuum
Learning outcomes:
A) Knowledge and Understanding
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The importance of water for plant growth at different spatial scales and the water
properties that make water so important.
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Mechanisms and flow paths associated with movement of water in the soil-plantatmosphere continuum.
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Methods to measure water availability and water potential components.
B) Intellectual Skills
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Implementation of different approaches for solving mathematical problems related to
plant-soil-water relations.
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Examination of the different components of water balance within soil-plant-atmosphere
continuum
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Analysis of fate and transport of mass and energy within soil-plant-atmosphere
continuum.
C) Subject Specific Skills
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Implementation of mathematical and physical background in plant-soil-water relations.
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Understanding the different instruments for measuring soil water availability and water
potential components.
D) Transferable Skills
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Adoption of scientific approach for understanding plant-soil-water relations.
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Ability to write scientific reports for some assignments and to work in team to solve
scientific problems.
Teaching Methods:
1) Duration: 17 weeks including exams.
2) Lectures: 34 lectures, 2 lectures per week.
3) Homework: suggested problems at the end of each chapter, training exercises for
mathematical derivations.
4) Quizzes: unannounced short quizzes should be expected at the start of each lecture.
Tests and Evaluation:
Midterm exam, Wednesday
April 11, 2007
Drop quizzes and homework
Final hour exam
30%
20%
50%
Course Outline
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Introduction (1 hr).
Physical properties of water and their biological implications (2 hrs)
Functions and properties of aqueous solutions (2 hr)
Thermodynamics in relation to water and solute movement (3 hr)
Components of water potential and measuring water potential methods (6 hrs)
Methods of measuring water status (3 hrs)
Soil water relations (6 hrs)
Mechanisms and flow paths associated with movement of water in the soil-plant-atmosphere
continuum (9 hrs).
Transpiration (6 hrs).
Water use efficiency (3 hrs).
Plant response to water deficit (5 hrs)
Plant response to soil saturation (3 hrs)
Reference Book:
Kramer, P.J. and J.S. Boyer. 1995. Water Relations of Plants and Soils. Academic Press, New York.
Scott, H. D., 2000, Soil Physics: Agricultural and Environmental Applications.
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