Soils Properties and Functions

Catalog description

Introduction to soil science for graduate students including fundamentals of and applications to plant production and environmental sustainability. SOILS 502 Soils Properties and Functions (3)This course provides an introduction to soil science, emphasizing the three areas of biological, chemical and physical properties of soils. It is intended as an introductory course in soil science for graduate students whose work would benefit from background knowledge of soil science but who have not previously been exposed to the science of soils as an undergraduate. As a graduate course, the pace of learning will be rapid, and the material covered will be quite comprehensive. The breadth of material is comparable to that covered in an undergraduate introduction to soil science, but with greater depth. The class will incorporate a substantial level of experiential components, including chemical analysis lab practice overview, some labs for gaining insight into physical properties, and field trips to help students gain an appreciation of how soils are influenced by, and also influence, the landscape in which they exist. Landscape visits with guided discussions, research proposal development and analysis, and selected soil management problem analysis provide students opportunities to synthesize classroom and textbook based material. Students will be evaluated based on quizzes, exams and written assignments.