Arrival of all participants in Tartu, Estonia

Accommodation in the dormitory of the Estonian University of Life Sciences (Kreutzwaldi 52, Tartu)

Morning:

• Programme and organization (v. Wrangell) and
• Introduction in the topic of the IP “Soil & Water” (Kazda, Reintam) (1 h)
• Basic Introductions to soil water relations (Kazda) (2 h)

Afternoon:

• Practical works. Collecting samples for laboratory works outside (Reintam, Kazda, Wrangell, Muhle) (in one group) (2 h)
• Seminars related to soil water relations (2 h)

Morning:

• Estonian soils and nature (Reintam) (2 h)
• Protection and sustainable use of soils (Astover) (2 h)

Afternoon: 

• Soil degradation (Reintam) (1 h)
• Practical works related to soil degradation and soil water in laboratory (half of group) / soil description and classification (second half of the group) (Reintam, Kazda, Wrangell, Muhle, Picek, Urbanova) (3 h)
• Preparation: presentation of the results of the practical work (0.5 h)

Morning:

• Practical works related to soil degradation and soil water in laboratory (half of group) / soil description and classification (second half of the group) (Reintam, Kazda, Wrangell, Muhle, Picek, Urbanova) (3 h)
• Interactions in plant-soil-systems (Astover) (1 h)

Afternoon:

• Soil compaction (Reintam) (1 h)
• Plant stress biology (Kazda) (1 h)
• Seminars related to plant stress and soil degradation/compaction (2 h)
• Presentation of the results of the practical work (0.5 h)

Morning:

• Half day excursion to Järvselja (related to measurements of greenhouse gases, plant stress) (Niinemets)

Afternoon:

• Plant growth in wetlands (Kazda) (2 h)
• Wetlands and carbon cycling (Urbanova) (2 h)

Full day excursion – different types of wetlands in South Estonia, collecting samples

Morning:

• Experimental climate change (Reiter) (2 h)
• Soils and ecosystem dynamics I (Picek) (2 h)

Afternoon:

• Soils and ecosystem dynamics II (Picek) (1 h)
  
• Taxonomy and ecology of wetland organisms (Muhle) (2 h)
• Seminars (1 h)

Free day, facultative tour through the historical city center of Tartu

Morning:

• Introduction in soil zoology (Wanner) (2 h)
• Soil degradation, disturbance, and organismic succession (Wanner) (1 h)

Afternoon:

• Soils under drought (Baldy) (2 h)
• Secondary metabolism of plants - importance and functions (Fernandez) (1 h)
• Seminar related to soil zoology (2 h)

Full day excursions: degradation and protection of soils

First day: oil shale mining area in North-East Estonia, power plant area – degradation and restoration of landscape, forest, agricultural area. Visiting mining museum of Kohtla-Järve (underground)

Staying overnight in Toila camping area

Full day excursions: degradation and protection of soils

Second day: North coast of Estonia – limestone cliffs, national park Lahemaa, visiting Palmse manor (cultural activity)

During excursion collecting samples of soil zoology for laboratory examinations

Morning:

• Allelopathy (Fernandez) (2 h)
• Practical work at laboratory: one group soil animals / second group plant physiology (Wanner, Kazda, Reintam, Fernandez, Wrangell, Muhle, Picek, Urbanova) (2 h)

Afternoon:

• Practical work at laboratory: one group soil animals / second group plant physiology (Wanner, Kazda, Reintam, Fernandez, Wrangell, Muhle, Picek, Urbanova) (2 h)
• Litter decomposition (Baldy) (2 h)
• Seminars and presentation of the results of the practical work (1 h)

Morning:

• Synthesis from Erasmus IP “Soil & Water” (all teachers and students) (2 h)
• Outlook for the activities 2014 (v. Wrangell, Reintam, Reiter) (2 h)

Afternoon:

• Mobility within Erasmus programmes (v. Wrangell) (1 h)
• “Why should you go to ... as an Erasmus-student?” (students) (2 h)

Evening:

• Farewell party

Departure