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Soil-Plant Water Relations
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:47:31
Abstract
Water limitation is a primary constraint on plant growth and terrestrial fluxes worldwide. In this course, the principles of water flow in soil and plants are discussed, with particular attention on the effect of drought on root water uptake, transpiration and plant growth. Strategies of plants to tolerate drought are discussed.
Objective
The students are able to: explain and compare systematically the drivers of water stress to plants; to solve the equations of water flow in soil and plants and to calculate plant water status for varying pedoclimatic conditions and plant traits; to critically review and present one research question in soil-plant water relations; to openly debate on the current trends in soil and plant water research.
Content
24.09: Introduction. 01.10: Soil water relations; Principles of soil water retention and soil water flow; Soil hydraulic properties. 08.10: Root water uptake; soil hydraulic constraints on transpiration 15.10: Rhizosphere processes and properties; root-soil contact; root hairs; mycorrhiza; rhizodeposition. 22.10: Water flow in roots and xylem; root anatomy, architecture and plasticity; cavitation. 29.10: Transpiration; Vapor Pressure Deficit; Photosynthesis; Stomatal regulation. 05.11: Soil-plant-atmospheric continuum; Below- and above-ground feedbacks; Soil and atmospheric drivers of transpiration losses. 12.11: Modelling Soil-Plant Water Relations (Concept) 19.11: Modelling Soil-Plant Water Relations (Implementation) 26.11: Plant response to drought and consequences for agriculture and forests. Open questions and introduction to seminar topics. 03.12: Group work in the class 10.12: Seminar (presentation of papers) 17.12: Seminar (presentation of papers) 24.12: Seminar (presentation of papers)
Resources
Literature
Lecture notes; selection of articles
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 40
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Soil-Plant Water Relations |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Elective Modules (For all majors.)
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EM: Soil (Elective Module for Majors "Environmental Technologies", "Resource Management", "River and Hydraulic Engineering", "Urban Water Management" and "Water Resources Management".)
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Minor in Soil-Plant Relations and Land Use (This minor will only be offered in the academic year 21/22. As of the academic year 22/23, the minor can no longer be chosen. The course units offered in the minor can still be taken as electives.)
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