Marking scale: Pass with distinction = >80%; Pass with credit = 60-80%; Pass = 40-60%; Fail = <40%
Language: English
Prerequisites: English language test: 450 points in written International
TOEFL test or 4.5 in academic IELTS test.
Duration: 1 week
Location: Cantho University
After completion of the course students should be able to:
· Understand the causes of climate change and its predicted impacts on land use patterns, and agriculture in general
· Describe the sources and relative proportions of the principal greenhouse gases (GHG) and especially those that originate from agriculture
· Describe the main mitigation strategies for reducing GHG especially those that relate to agricultural pracises
· Describe strategies for adaptation to climate change with relation to agriculture
· Understand the concept of “peak” oil and of similar peaks in other commodities of importance in agriculture
· Describe technologies for making more efficient use of natural resources especially recycling of wastes
· Describe strategies for sequestration of carbon, especially as components of natural ecosystems
Extensive use is made of the Internet as the up-to-date source of information concerning climate change, resource depletion and carbon sequestration. Students are given assignments which require searching out information on these topics from the Internet and CD-ROMS provided as part of the course. Students will give computer-aided presentations on their assignments.
Scheduled activities
Hours Compulsory
Lectures approx.
12 no
Exercises and discussions approx. 32 yes
Examination and evaluation approx. 8 yes
Individual studies, not scheduled
Literature studies approx. 8 no
Required reading
Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim? James Hansen1*,a,b, Makiko Satoa,b, Pushker Kharechaa,b, David Beerlingc, Robert Bernerd, Valerie Masson-Delmottee, Mark Paganid, Maureen Raymof, Dana L. Royerg and James C. Zachosh
Prehistorically modified soils of central Amazonia:a model for sustainable agriculture in the twenty-first century; Bruno Glaser
Black is the new green; Johann Lehman
Biochar and bioenergy production for climate change mitigation; Peter Winsley
Biological nitrogen fixation by common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) increases with bio-char additions; Marco A. Rondon & Johannes Lehmann & Juan Ramírez & Maria Hurtado
THE NATURAL FIX? THE ROLE OF ECOSYSTEMS IN CLIMATE MITIGATION; Kate Trumper, Monika Bertzky, Barney Dickson, Geertje van der Heijden. Martin Jenkins and Pete Manning
A Global Strategy for Addressing Global Climate Change; Allan Savory
BIO-CHAR SEQUESTRATION IN TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS – A REVIEW; JOHANNES LEHMANN, JOHN GAUNT and MARCO RONDON
Biochar, climate change and soil: A review to guide future research; Saran Sohi, Elisa Lopez-Capel, Evelyn Krull and Roland Bol
Slash and Char as Alternative to Slash and Burn; soil charcoal amendments maintain soil fertility and establish a carbon sink; Christoph Steiner
STERN REVIEW: The Economics of Climate Change
Biomass, biochar and fertilizer; flow diagram
Climate Change: The Evidence; Bob Watson (slide presentation)
Preston T R and Leng R A 1989 The greenhouse effects and its implications for world agriculture. The need for environmentally friendly development. Livestock Research for Rural Development (1). http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd1/1/preston.htm
130 Oxfam Briefing Paper 6 July 2009 Suffering the Science Climate change, people, and poverty
Written examination and/or oral presentation of assignments
