Soil Judging for Land Evaluation

Catalog description

Lecture and field-based course on describing, classifying, and interpreting soils in their natural setting. Topics will focus on a particular land region that will change each term. The course is in preparation for the regional soil judging contest in the Fall and the national soil judging contest in the Spring. Lectures explain land evaluation techniques and include soil morphology, genesis, and classification. Urban and agricultural applications will be considered. The course meets once per week for 8 weeks. Three field trips will be required and count as field work. The weekly meeting time is TBA. Students who complete the class have the option of participating in a regional, intercollegiate, Soil Judging Contest during each fall semester. Participation in the national contest during the spring semester depends on qualifying at the regional level the previous fall.