- Soil and Watershed Science for a Crowded Planet

Catalog description

An introduction to the ecology, geography, and management of the soil resource, with a focus on sustainable watersheds and the resource demands of an ever-expanding human population. Soil properties and processes are the foundation of ecosystem functioning and provide many of the ecosystem goods and services upon which all life on earth depends, including regulation of hydrologic cycles, climate, and global water and food security. Most regional to global-scale environmental challenges are related to soil. Students will acquire an understanding of soil properties in relation to watershed-scale processes and dynamics, sustainable management of the soil resource, and the consequences of policy decisions related to soil and water. Specific topics include nutrient availability in time and space, organic matter turnover, and the role of soil in the climate, water, and food systems. Field- and laboratory-based activities will focus on forest, agricultural, and urban watersheds of the upstate NY region.