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701-1343-00L 3 Credits MSC D-USYS , D-ARCH , D-BAUG
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Soil-Plant Water Relations

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Andrea Carminati
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:30:27

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 in relation to both agricultural and ecological implications.

Objective

The students are able to: explain and compare the drivers of water stress to plants; review and present one research question in soil-plant water relations; compare approaches to study plant water relations; openly debate on the current trends in soil and plant water research and climate change ecology.

Content

Part 1 - Lectures Week 1: Introduction. Week 2: Soil water relations; Principles of soil water retention and soil water flow; Soil hydraulic properties. Week 3: Root water uptake; soil hydraulic constraints on transpiration Week 4: Rhizosphere processes and properties; root-soil contact; root hairs; mycorrhiza; rhizodeposition. Week 5: Water flow in roots and xylem; root anatomy, architecture and plasticity; cavitation. Week 6: Transpiration; Vapor Pressure Deficit; Photosynthesis; Stomatal regulation. Week 7: Soil-plant-atmospheric continuum; Below- and above-ground feedbacks; Soil and atmospheric drivers of transpiration losses. Part 2 - Seminar Week 8: Plant response to drought and consequences for agriculture and forests. Open questions and introduction to seminar topics. Week 9: Class work - preparation of the presentations/Debate Week 10: Class work - preparation of the presentations/Debate Week 11: Seminar/Debate (presentations) Week 12: Seminar/Debate (presentations) Week 13: Seminar/Debate (presentations) Week 14: Feedback, Summary, Conclusion

Resources

Literature

Lecture notes; selection of articles

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
ungraded semester performance
Oral presentation and written report of selected topic.

Registration & Places

Max Places
50
Priority: Registration for the course unit is until 25.08.2025 only possible for the primary target group

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture Soil-Plant Water Relations
  • Fri 10:15-12:00 (ML H 41.1)
2 h weekly

Offered In