Course Description
Soils as a natural component of the ecosystem, including morphology, landscape distribution, formation, identification of diagnostic horizons and features, and classification.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to make an oral presentation and answer additional questions on exams.
Athena Title
PEDOLOGY
Non-Traditional Format
A one-day trip to North Georgia and a two-day trip to the Coastal Plain will be required at student's expense.
Prerequisite
CRSS(FANR) 3060-3060L
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. To be able to describe, using proper terminology, the morphological characteristics of soils as they are found in their natural setting. 2. To understand, use, and interpret Soil Taxonomy, the U.S. system of soil classification. 3. To understand processes and factors important to the formation of soils. 4. To be able to apply objectives 1, 2, and 3 to understand and interpret soil behavior and proper use and management.
Topical Outline
I. Introduction and rules of the road II. Soil morphology a. General terminology b. Horizon properties c. Horizon designations d. Site characteristics e. Interpretations III. Geomorphology and soils IV. Models of soil genesis V. Soil Survey VI. Soil Classification a. History and rationale b. Structure of Soil Taxonomy c. Laboratory data as related to Soil Taxonomy d. Genesis, properties, and global distribution of diagnostic horizons and features e. Genesis, properties, and global distribution of the soil Orders f. Lower categories of classification i. Suborder ii. Great Group iii. Subgroup iv. Family v. Series VII. Other soil classification systems
Syllabus