Forest Soils

Catalog description

The course will evaluate how forest soils form in the natural environment, but also their relations to forest management and sustainability. Coursework includes soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, and also special topics such as soil fertility, soil formation, soil taxonomy and classification, soil organic matter management, and soil C and N cycles. There are many factors that contribute to forest soils differing from traditional cultivated soils. These factors will be explored in addition the variation in management styles for forest soils. The goal of this course is to gain an understanding of the basic properties and processes of forest soils as well as evaluate the role of these soils in sustainable forest management. Two Saturday Labs will be required.