Soil and Plant Hydrology

Upon completion of this module, students will have an understanding of the principles of soil and plant water relations. This includes studying the physics of water flow across various components of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum such as soils, the rhizosphere, the root system, xylem, and leaves. Additionally, students will be introduced to various techniques for quantifying water flow across these key elements. In the end, students will be encouraged to discuss the potential of different soil and plant traits impacting plant drought tolerance under water and nutrient deficit condition.

This module is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationships between soil, plant, and water. Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Discuss the principle of water flow across soil-plant-atmosphere continuum.
2. Discuss potential mechanisms plants use to cope with drought stress, and how these mechanisms vary depending on the soil and climatic conditions. Indeed, how plants can adapt to different soil conditions, and how this adaptation affects their ability to tolerate drought stress.
3. Mechanistically describe/predict various physiological and anatomical adaptations that can improve plant access to soil resources under drying conditions.
4. Understand the state-of-the-art research in soil and plant hydrology in the context of drought stress.

This module requires students to complete a graded seminar presentation and submit an accompanying extended summary on a chosen topic to demonstrate a solid understanding of topics discussed in the lectures. The oral presentation should be a 15-20-minute presentation, followed by a 30-minute discussion session to showcase the student's ability to respond effectively to any questions or discussions related to their subject matter. The extended summary should be a minimum of 5 pages and will be evaluated using the criteria outlined in a template provided during the lecture. The presentation is scheduled to take place during the last three weeks of the semester, and the extended summary must be submitted by the end of the semester. The oral presentation (counts for 30% of the final grade) is a prerequisite for the submission of the extended summary (counts for 80% of the final grade).

The lecture on soil-plant hydrology will be a 2-hour session held weekly, where students will be introduced to the principles of water flow through the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, starting from an individual single root and extending to the plant and canopy scales. The lecture will consist of a combination of PowerPoint presentations and demonstrations on the whiteboard. The PowerPoint slides will be made available to students before each lecture. For the seminar part, students will be introduced to the latest research and discussions in the field of soil-plant-water relationships and potential strategies to cope with drought stress. Each student will choose a topic from a list of options, conduct a literature review, and prepare an oral presentation and an extended written summary. Students will be offered individual one-to-one meetings to guide them in the preparation of their oral presentation and extended summary.