The overall objective of the course is to give students a basic
background in soil science and hydrology, including key concepts
in these fields such as:
- how to describe and interpret landscape and soil profile
information in the field and from soil maps;
- how to read and interpret topographic and hydrologic
information within a landscape and watershed framework;
- basic familiarity with key soil properties and how they relate
to soil management and productivity;
- understanding of the hydrologic cycle and how management
affects hydrologic processes in forest and cultivated settings;
- the effect of management on environmental quality in terms of
soil productivity and water quality

1.  Landscapes	
a. Landscapes: soil, water, rock
b. Views of a Landscape
c. Watersheds and landscape formation	
Lab 1:   Maps; Rocks and Soil Profiles

2.  Soil Profiles and Their Formation
a. Weathering of rocks	
b. Soil profile formation
c. Soil horizons	
Lab 2:   Soil Properties and Profiles

3.  Soil Horizons and Classification	
a. The soil taxonomy system				
b. Diagnostic horizons
c  Soil orders	
Lab 3:  Soil Profiles and Classification (field trip, Whitehall
Forest)

4.  Physical Properties of Soils
a. Soil texture	
b. Soil density and porosity
c. Managing soil physical properties	
Lab 4:  Soil and Landscape Interpretation  (field trip, Whitehall
Forest)

5. Chemical Properties of Soils
a.  Soil mineralogy	
b.  pH and ion exchange
c.  Acidity and salinity
Lab 5: Measuring Soil Physical Properties (in 1201 Plant Sci.)
Exam 1  (Wks 1-4)
	
6.  Plant Nutrients
a. Plant nutrition and essential elements
b. N, P, and K in soils
c. Microelements
Lab 6: Cation Exchange Capacity  (in 1201 Plant Sci.)

7.  Soil Biology and Productivity
a. Soil organisms
b. Roles of soil organisms (humus and nutrient cycling)
c. Productivity of agricultural and forest soils
Lab 7: Soil Sampling  (field trip)	

8. Fertilization
a.	Fertilizers
b.	Nutrient and soil management	
c. Sustainability  	
Lab 8:  Soil Testing and Organic Matter  (in 1201 Plant Sci.)

9.  Soil  Water
a. Interaction of water with soil
b. Storage capacity of soils and profiles
c. Water flow in soils	
Lab 9: Soil Water  (in 1201 Plant Sci.)
Exam 2  (Wks  5-8)
	
10. Precipitation and Evapotranspiration
a. Precipitation forms, storm events and measurement	
b. Evapotranspiration
c. Field water budgets
No Lab (Fall Break: No class Th, F) 

11.   Infiltration, Streamflow, and Ground Water
a. Infiltration (forest and crop land)
b. Sources of stream flow
c. Aquifers
Lab 10: Soil and Water Calculations (in 1201 Plant Sci.)

12. Hydrologic Statistics and Hydraulics
a. Hydrographs
b. Basic hydraulics
c. Management effects on hydrology
Lab 11: Rainfall and Runoff  (field trip--Greenhouse Complex)
Exam 3  (Wks 9-11)
	
13.  Erosion and Sedimentation
a.  Importance of erosion	
b.  Erosion mechanics
c.  Erosion control	
Lab 12: Measuring Streamflow  (field trip)

[Thanksgiving Break] CLASS HELD ON MON; NO LAB	

14.  Soil Quality and Contamination
a.  Soil contamination— kinds, sources	
b.  Movement of contaminants in the landscape
c.  Risk assessment and soil management
Lab 13: Discharge and Soil Erosion  (in 1201 Plant Sci.) 
Exam 4  (Wks 12-14) 
	
15. Issues in Water Quality
a. Water quality regulations				
(T is F schedule; no class F)
b. Components of water quality
c. Managing landscapes for water quality
Optional lab: Watershed Management (field trip, Botanical Gardens)