DOCSLIB.ORG

LECTUER 9 SOIL MORPHOLOGY Soil Morphology Is the Aspect of Soil Science That Deals with Field Observable Attributes of a Soil Wi

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
LECTUER 9 SOIL MORPHOLOGY Soil Morphology Is the Aspect of Soil Science That Deals with Field Observable Attributes of a Soil Wi LECTUER 9 SOIL MORPHOLOGY Soil morphology is the aspect of Soil Science that deals with field observable attributes of a soil within the various soil horizons or layers and the description of the arrangement of such horizons. They are properties of the soil that can be observed either by sight of feel. The observable attributes described in the field include: Soil Colour, composition, form, soil structure, organisation of the soil, features such as mottling, distribution of roots and pores, evidence of translocated materials (e.g. carbonates, iron, manganese, carbon and clay) and the soil consistence. These observations are typically performed on a soil profile. A profile is a vertical two dimensional cut in the soil that binds one side of a pedon. A Typical Soil Profile Soil Horizons can be designated as Master or Transitional Horizons. 29 MASTER HORIZONS Horizontal layers of soil called horizons can be described by their different morphological characteristics. Capital letters designate master horizons. They are as follows: O Horizon: O horizon is an organic horizon. It is a surface layer characterized by accumulation of organic matter which may be dominated by partially decomposed or undecomposed organic material. A Horizon: The A horizon is the uppermost mineral layer. It may lie below the O horizon. An A horizon has a high concentration of humus and it is usually regarded as an elluvial surface horizon (an horizon characterized by the movement away of materials e.g carbonates, clay etc) E Horizon: The E horizon is also an elluvial surface horizon. It has experience the loss of clay, organic matter, iron and aluminum oxides with the resultant accumulation of quartz and other resistant minerals. It is also characterized by bleached appearance because of the loss of the above materials. B Horizon: The B horizon is a subsurface mineral horizon showing evidence of illuvial accumulation of silicate clay, iron, aluminum, gypsum, silica, carbonate, sesquioxides, coating of sesquioxides etc moved down from A and E horizons above. C Horizon: The C horizon is a layer of minimal alteration. It consists majorly the weathered parent materials. Material may be similar to or may be unlike that of the other horizons formed above. R Layer: An R layer refers to hard consolidated bedrock. The R layer is presumed to be the material from which the overlying horizons are developed. If it is a different material from that of the overlying mantle, it is represented by IIR, indicating what is called Lithological Discountinuity. TRANSITIONAL HORIZONS Transitional horizons occurs when the soil layers are dominated by properties of one master horizon but have the subordinate properties of another. These are designated by two capital letters, for example, AB, EB, BE, or BC. The first letter represents the dominant horizon characteristics while the second represents the subordinate one. SOIL MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS 1. COLOR The most obvious soil characteristic is color. Soils come in a wide range of colors – shades of brown, red, orange, yellow, gray, and even blue or green. Color alone does not affect a soil, 30 but it is often a reliable indicator of other soil properties. Although color is not used as a quantitative measure, it does give a good indication of the organic matter contents, drainage conditions and the mineralogical compositions of a soil at a specific point in time. For example, a black soil may indicate the presence of organic matter while red soil colouration may indicate the presence of oxidized iron while gray color indicates water saturation. Soil color is described by three attributes: Hue, Value, and Chroma. Hue: is the dominant spectral color. It is related to the wavelength of light reflected by soil particles. Value: Value is the lightness or darkness of the color. It is a measure of the amount of light it can reflect. Chroma: Chroma is the strength or purity of the color. Munsell Soil Color Charts is the book or chart used in the determination of soil color and contain several series of distinctively colored chips. Each page represents a different hue. The chart normally has 15 pages, each with a number (e.g. 10, 7.5, 5, or 2.5) followed by a letter or letters indicating red (R), yellow (Y), green (G), blue (B), or combinations of these. Value units range between 0 and 10 with the numbers ascending vertically on the page from the lowest to the highest numbers. This indicates dark to light values. Chroma units are arranged horizontally across the page from 0 to 10, increasing in numbers from left to right. Low numbers indicate an increase in grayness, while high numbers signify a pure color with little mixing with other hues. Colour Mottles The mottles must be described by their abundance, size, and contrast to the background. Abundance: Abundance is the relative amount of mottling. Abundance can be classified as few; common or many. Size: Size is a measure of the estimated average diameter of individual mottles along their greatest dimension. It could be fine; medium; or coarse. Contrast: Contrast is an indication of the relative difference in color between the soil matrix and mottles. Mottle contrast may be described as faint, distinct or prominent 31 2. TEXTURE A soil’s texture depends on its content of the three main mineral components of the soil: sand, silt, and clay. Texture is the relative percentage of each particle size in a soil. Texture differences can affect many other physical and chemical properties and are therefore important in measures such as soil productivity. Soils with predominantly large particles tend to drain quickly and have lower fertility. Very fine –textured soils may be poorly drained, tend to become waterlogged, and are therefore not well-suited for agriculture. Soils with a medium texture and a relatively even proportion of all particle sizes are most versatile. A combination of 10 to 20 percent clay, along with sand and silt in roughly equal amounts, and a good quantity of organic materials, is considered an ideal mixture for productive soil. 3. AGGREGATION Individual soil particles tend to be bound together into larger units referred to as aggregates or soil peds. Aggregation occurs as a result of complex chemical forces acting on small soil components or when organisms and organic matter in soil act as glue binding particles together. Soil aggregates form soil structure, defined by the shape, size, and strength of the aggregates. There are three main soil shapes: platelike, in which the aggregates are flat and mostly horizontal; prismlike, meaning greater in vertical than in horizontal dimension; and blocklike, roughly equal in horizontal and vertical dimensions and either angular or rounded. Soil peds range in size from very fine-less than 1mm to very coarse-greater than 10 mm. The measure of strength or grade refers to the stability of the structural unit and is ranked as weak, moderate, or strong. Very young or sandy soils may have no discernible structure. 32 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Morphological Characteristics and Classification of Soils Derived from Diverse Parent Materials in Central Cross River State, Nigeria
    GLOBAL JOURNAL OF PURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES VOL. 14, NO. 3, 2008: 271 - 277 271 COPYRIGHT (C) BACHUDO SCIENCES CO. LTD. PRINTED IN NIGERIA. 1SSN 1118-0579 MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS DERIVED FROM DIVERSE PARENT MATERIALS IN CENTRAL CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA M. E. NSOR and I. J. IBANGA (Received 5 October 2007; Revision Accepted 5 December 2007) ABSTRACT Variation in soil characteristics is usually a reflection of the difference in materials from which the soil was formed. This study sought to investigate the characteristics of soils formed on different parent materials with a view to classifying them. This study was carried out in selected soils derived from three major types of parent materials in central Cross River State, South Eastern Nigeria. A total of six (6) pedons were excavated, two (2) pedons in each of the identified parent materials. The parent materials were Sandstone-shale-siltstone intercalations. Basement complex and Basalt. The study indicated that soils derived from sandstone-shale-siltstone materials are characterized by ochric sandy loam and loamy sand epipedons with moderate medium sub-angular blocky structures. These soils are also light coloured with dominant hues of 7.5YR with hard to slightly hard and hard to very hard dry consistence at the surface and sub-soil respectively. Soils of basement complex are characterized by the possession of loamy sand epipedons with weak medium crumb and sub-angular blocky structures having predominantly dull yellowish brown and bright yellowish brown colours at the surface and sub-soils. The dry consistences of the surface soils are slightly hard while the sub-soils are hard to very hard.
    [Show full text]
  • Sborník Příspěvků Z Konference Pedologické Dny, Velké Bílovice, 2003
    PEDOGENEZE A KVALITATIVNÍ ZMĚNY PŮD V PODMÍNKÁCH PŘÍRODNÍCH A ANTROPICKY OVLIVNĚNÝCH ÚZEMÍ Bořivoj ŠARAPATKA a Marek BEDNÁŘ (Eds.) Sborník referátů z 11. pedologických dnů KOUTY NAD DESNOU, 20.–21. 9. 2006 Editoři © Bořivoj Šarapatka, Marek Bednář, 2006 1. vydání Olomouc 2006 ISBN 80-244-1448-1 2 ÚVOD Vážené kolegyně a kolegové, letošní již 11. pedologické dny jsme zasadili do horské oblasti mikro - regionu Jeseníky. Území, ve kterém strávíme dva jistě pěkné a přínosné dny, je velmi cenné přírodovědně. Na rozloze 740 km2 se zde nachází chráněná krajinná oblast Jeseníky. Na různorodém geologickém podloží se vyvinula unikátní společenstva rostlin a živočichů, která byla začleně- na do reprezentativní sítě zvláště chráněných území. Snad nejvýznamněj- ším maloplošným chráněným územím je známá NPR Praděd s takovým přírodním fenoménem, jakým je ledovcový kar Velké kotliny, který náleží botanicky k druhově nejbohatším lokalitám ve střední Evropě. Zájmové území mikroregionu není významné pouze z přírodo- vědného hlediska. Je i intenzivně zemědělsky a lesnicky obhospodařová- no. Od středověkého osídlení postupně docházelo k trvalému odlesňo- vání a zemědělskému využití území, vyšší polohy regionu zůstávaly bez trvalých sídel. Dnes na zemědělské půdě v oblasti dominují trvalé travní porosty. Nebylo tomu ale tak vždy, o čemž svědčí nejen hospodaření po druhé světové válce, ale i starší údaje např. z 19. století. Tehdy v jesenické oblasti tvořila orná půda více než 70 % z celkové půdy zemědělské (na- příklad v Loučné to bylo v roce 1900 74,8 %). O využití krajiny jak z pohledu zemědělského, tak lesnického bude pojednávat řada konferenčních příspěvků. Většinou budou prezentovat široký záběr týkající se nových poznatků o pedogenezi a kvalitativních změnách půd, a to jak v podmínkách přírodních, tak antropicky ovliv- něných území.
    [Show full text]
  • 2021 Soils/Land Use Study Resources
    2021 NCF Envirothon Soil Test Study Guide Lincoln, Nebraska 2021 NCF-Envirothon Nebraska Soils and Land Use Study Resources Key Topic #1: Physical Properties of Soil and Soil Formation 1. Describe the five soil forming factors, and how they influence soil properties. 2. Explain the defining characteristics of a soil describing how the basic soil forming processes influence affect these characteristics in different types of soil. 3. Identify different types of parent material, their origins, and how they impact the soil that develops from them. 4. Identify and describe soil characteristics (horizon, texture, structure, color). 5. Identify and understand physical features of soil profiles and be able to use this information interpret soil properties and limitations. Study Resources Sample Soil Description Scorecard – University of Nebraska – Lincoln Land Judging Documents, edited by Judy Turk, 2021 (Pages 3-4) Soil Description Field Manual Reference – University of Nebraska – Lincoln Land Judging Documents, edited by Judy Turk, 2021 (Pages 5-17) Correlation of Field Texturing Soils by Feel, Understanding Soil Laboratory Data, and Use of the Soil Textural Triangle – Patrick Cowsert, 2021 (Pages 18-21) Tips for Measuring Percent Slope on Contour Maps – Excerpt from Forest Measurements by Joan DeYoung, 2018 (Pages 22-23) Glossary – Excerpts from Geomorphic Description System version 5.0, 2017, and Field Book for Describing Soils version 3.0, 2012 (Pages 24-27) Study Resources begin on the next page! Contestant Number Sample Soil Description Card Site/Pit Number Host: University of Nebraska – Lincoln Number of Horizons Lower Profile Depth 2021 –Scorecard Nail Depth A. Soil Morphology Part A Score __________ Moist Horizons Boundary Texture Color Redox.
    [Show full text]
  • Color Interpretation and Soil Textures
    COLOR INTERPRETATION AND SOIL TEXTURES ACT PRESENTATION 1 SEPTEMBER 2013 David Hammonds, Environmental Manager Florida Department of Health Division of Disease Control and Health Protection Bureau of Environmental Health Onsite Sewage Programs 850-245-4570 • Materials for the soils training section were provided by the FDOH, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wade Hurt, Dr. Willie Harris, Dr. Mary Collins, Dr. Rex Ellis, the Florida Association of Environmental Soil Scientists, Dr. Michael Vepraskas, the University of Minnesota and the US EPA Design Manual. • Properly identifying soil morphology (soil characteristics observable in the field, including horizonation) is the most important step leading to a properly permitted, functional onsite sewage treatment and disposal system. If you make mistakes at this step, the worst‐case scenario is that the system will not meet required health standards and put the public at risk of waterborne disease. Properties used in describing soil layers Color: A key property in soil interpretation • Most evident • Influenced by Organic Matter (OM) and redox‐ sensitive metals such as Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) • REDOX=Oxidation/Reduction reaction‐ a process in which one or more substances are changed into others • Wetness affects OM and redox‐sensitive metals Basics: • Soil Color ‐ the dominant morphological feature used to predict the SHWT • Matrix – dominant (background) color(s) of soil horizon (can be ≥1 color) • Mottle – splotch of color, opposite of matrix • Redoximorphic (Redox) Features –specific features formed from oxidation‐reduction reactions used to predict seasonal high water tables, includes certain types and amounts of mottles. They are caused by the presence of water and minerals in the soil.
    [Show full text]
  • Section C – Soil Information
    SECTION C │ Soil Information SECTION C - SOIL INFORMATION 1) Preface Soil information and its proper application can contribute to the solution of many waste disposal problems in Georgia. It can effectively be combined with geology, engineering and ecology to yield an integrated approach to environmental improvement. This Manual concentrates primarily on evaluating the suitability of soils for disposal of liquid waste from individual homes through septic tanks and subsurface soil absorption systems. It is hoped that the following information will help to point out how to avoid the mistakes frequently made in choosing suitable development sites where the soil is to be used for treatment and disposal of liquid waste. Such mistakes can result in increased land use conflict, environmental degradation and a waste of time and money. Although these sections of the Manual were developed to provide information to all people interested in solving relevant waste disposal problems where soil characteristics are contributing factors, the majority of the material will probably be most useful to environmental health specialists and other environmental health workers, surveyors, engineers, developers and other persons and groups frequently confronted with making significant land use decisions. 2) Introduction A. Soil and Environmental Health - Soil is a term that means different things to different people. To some it is a material in which plants grow in a yard or a field. To some, the color of the soil is important and they speak of red soil, yellow soil or blue clay. To others, the soil texture is important and they speak of sandy soil, clay soil, light soil or heavy soil.
    [Show full text]
  • Soils in Landscaped Public Areas - Wolfgang Burghardt
    AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES – Vol. II - Soils in Landscaped Public Areas - Wolfgang Burghardt SOILS IN LANDSCAPED PUBLIC AREAS Wolfgang Burghardt Institute of Ecology, University of Essen, Germany Keywords: soil, park, playground, burial ground, soil pollution, soil compaction, pollution, aeration Contents 1. Introduction 2. Parks 3. Playgrounds 4. Burial Grounds Glossary Bibliography Summary Demands of public use determine the quality of urban ground and soils. On the other hand city history, location and availability of the ground have greater influence on the use than do the soil characteristics. In addition the use of the ground and the urban environment can effect the soil in an extreme way. This mutual relationship is pronounced for soils of parks, cemeteries and playgrounds. To a minor extent, very old remnant areas survive in many cities. They can have well developed soil morphology, not touched by agriculture, of low maintenance input and are in many respects in a natural state, but which are under the impact of the environment of urban atmosphere. Often they are strongly acid and can be a source of groundwater pollution. Most areas are exposed to landscaping by tipping and excavation. The reasons for this are numerous. New substrates are the body of soil formation. These soils are young and not much developed or stratified into horizons. Accumulation of humus will be visible, indicating that the soils are already sinks for carbon dioxide. An adverse characteristic of soils tippedUNESCO in the last 30 to 40 years –is strong EOLSS compaction, which is not found to the same extent in rural areas. Compaction can be dominant.
    [Show full text]
  • Spatializing the Soil-Ecological Factorial: Data Driven Integrated Land Management Tools
    Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2015 Spatializing the Soil-Ecological Factorial: Data Driven Integrated Land Management Tools Travis Nauman Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Nauman, Travis, "Spatializing the Soil-Ecological Factorial: Data Driven Integrated Land Management Tools" (2015). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 6299. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/6299 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Spatializing the Soil-Ecological Factorial: Data Driven Integrated Land Management Tools Travis Nauman Dissertation submitted to the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resource and Design at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Plant and Soil Sciences
    [Show full text]
  • 1988) Teaching Soil Morphology to Introductory Soil Science Students (JNRLSE
    Teaching soil morphologyto introductory soil science students M. J. Vepraskas,* P. A. McDaniel, and J. J. Camberato ABSTRACT ly, students must be given an opportunity to gain "hands- on" .experience in describing soil morphological Introductorysoil sciencestudents should receive practicalin- characteristics. Students need to practice identifying and structionin soil morphologybecause it can be a tool to assess describing horizons on "real soils" where they can use soil limitations for variousland uses. "Realsoils" shouldbe soil characteristics such as color and texture (by feel) examinedwhenever possible. Soil corescollected froma topose- delineate horizons. Monoliths consisting of soil profiles quenceare well-suitedfor classroominstruction because the soils permanently glued.to boards or trays (Malo and Nielsen, frequently exhibit a wide range of morphologicalfeatures associatedwith differencesin drainage.Cores of soil 1.0 mlong 1985) are not well-suited for this purpose because only can be collected quickly using a hydrauliccoring machine and certain visual properties (e.g., color, structure) can can be stackedand stored conveniently on special trays. In the assessed. Other important morphological properties such laboratory,soil profile descriptionsare completedas wouldbe as texture and consistence cannot be evaluated in donein the field by describinghorizon type, thickness,color, monoliths. Use of soil pits for soil morphologyinstruc- texture, structure, etc. Toposequencecross-sections can be tion is ideal but can impose logistical problems in preparedfrom prof’tle descriptionsto showvariations in horizon transporting students to the site, providing adequate space propertiesdown the hillslope. Soil series andsoil boundaries for students to workin the pit, and waiting for reasonable can be readily seen in the cross-sections. Surveysof students weather to work outdoors.
    [Show full text]
  • Advanced Soil Genesis What Is a Soil? Useful Terms in Pedology
    What is a soil? Advanced Soil Genesis “a natural body consisting of layers (horizons) of mineral and/or organic constituents of variable thickness, which differ from the parent material in their morphological, physical, chemical, and SWES 541 mineralogical properties and their Spring 2006 biological characteristics” (Birkeland, Instructor: Craig Rasmussen 1999; Joffe, 1949). Useful terms in Pedology: Useful terms in Pedology: • Pedon (rhymes with “head on”) • Profile: basic 2-D unit for observing the 3-D representation of the smallest volume of vertical arrangement of soil components material that accurately represents the characteristics of each soil horizon 2 A • Horizon: soil material • At least 1 m lateral area - extends to “not soil” with properties formed B largely by soil forming A processes B C C Useful terms in Pedology: O • The pedon should describe any cyclical variation that occurs over a distance less than 10 m laterally A A < 10 m E B A Bss A B C B Pedon size C A BwR Bw 1 Concepts of Soil Genesis • Polypedon • Principle of Uniformitarianism –Group of – Geologic principle stating that processes occurring pedons that today also occurred in the past comprise a • Simultaneous soil forming processes soil landscape – Many processes occurring at once • Pedogenic regimes – Distinctive combination of climate, geology, and landforms produce distinctive soils – Soils are a function of climate, organisms, relief, parent material, and time Concepts of Soil Genesis Soil Morphology • Soil succession – Present day soils represent a continuum
    [Show full text]
  • Using Soil Morphology to Develop Measurement Methods and Simulation Techniques for Water Movement in Heavy Clay Soils J
    Using soil morphology to develop measurement methods and simulation techniques for water movement in heavy clay soils J. Bouma Netherlands Soil Survey Institute Wageningen , The Netherlands Abstract Soil morphology data, in terms of number, size and length of large soil pores per unit surface area, are used to define: (1) optimal sample sizes for physical measurements and (2) computer simulation models for water movement in heavy clay soils. The simulation models use standar d numerical procedures to predict vertical and horizontal fluxes , while morphology data provide boundary conditions for the flow system. The morphological techniques being used require not only a description but also application of staining and/or filling of large pores with gypsum. Examples are discussed for cracks (planar voids) and cylindrical worm­ channels. Soil morphology provides data that cannot be obtained with physical methods. However, such data are only rel evant for char acter­ izing water movement when applied in a soil physical context. 1 Introduction Many heavy clay soils have relatively large cracks or root and animal burrows which occur in a fine-porous soil matrix. This matrix has a very low hydraulic conductivity (K) and significant fluxes of water and sol­ ute through the entire soil are therefore only possible when continuous large pores are present. These large pores are unstable as their dimen­ sions change upon swelling and shrinking of the soil following wetting and drying, --· - 298 A particularly complex condition is found when free water infiltrates along vertical cracks into an unsaturated soil matrix. Such processes have widely been observed in the field (e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • DRAFT Geotechnical Engineering Report
    December 4, 2015 DRAFT Geotechnical Engineering Report Nursery Avenue Roadway and Drainage Improvements Town of Purcellville, Virginia 19955 Highland Vista Drive, Suite 170 Ashburn, VA 20147 Phone 703 726 8030 ● www.geoconcepts-eng.com 19955 Highland Vista Dr., Suite 170 Ashburn, Virginia 20147 (703) 726-8030 www.geoconcepts-eng.com December 4, 2015 Mr. Thomas Fleming, PE ATCS, PLC 2553 Dulles View Drive, Suite 300 Herndon, Virginia 20171 Subject: Geotechnical Engineering Report, Nursery Avenue Roadway and Drainage Improvements, Town of Purcellville, Virginia (GeoConcepts Project No. 12422.01) Dear Mr. Fleming: GeoConcepts Engineering, Inc. (GeoConcepts) is pleased to present the following geotechnical engineering report prepared for Nursery Avenue Roadway and Drainage Improvements located in Purcellville, Virginia. We appreciate the opportunity to serve as your geotechnical consultant on this project. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or want to meet to discuss the findings and recommendations contained in the report. Sincerely, GEOCONCEPTS ENGINEERING, INC. Christopher Lynch, EIT Project Engineer [email protected] DRAFT Table of Contents 1.0 Scope of Services .......................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Site Description and Proposed Construction .................................................................................... 1 3.0 Subsurface Conditions ..................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • SOIL GEOMORPHOLOGY FIELD STUDY Geography 408 Fall Semester, 2011
    SOIL GEOMORPHOLOGY FIELD STUDY Geography 408 Fall Semester, 2011 Instructor: Dr. Randall Schaetzl Office: 128 Geography Bldg [email protected] .... I will always answer my email. Office Hours: 10:15-12:15 M, W, and by appointment, and after class Contacts, emergency or otherwise: Ph. 353-7726 (office) 347-0164 (home) 648-0207 (cell) Texts: 1. Schaetzl and Anderson. 2005. Soils: Genesis and Geomorphology. Cambridge Univ. Press. 832 pp. REQUIRED 2. Schoeneberger, P.J., Wysocki, D.A., Benham, E.C., and W.D. Broderson. 2002. Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils. USDA-NRCS, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, NE. RECOMMENDED Lectures: 7:00 - 8:50 p.m. Wednesday, 120 Geography Bldg Prerequisites …they will be enforced: A grade of 2.0 or higher in any ONE or more of the following (or their equivalents elsewhere): CSS 210 (Intro Soil Science), or GEO 306 (Geomorphology), or GLG 201 (Intro Geology), or GLG 412 (Glacial Geology), or ISP 203 (Geology of the Human Environment), or permission of instructor. This class is not open to freshmen or sophomores. Course Goals: This course is intended for those students who have a basic background in physical geography, geology and/or soils, and who wish to advance their knowledge of soils, geomorphology and soil-environment interactions, especially in a field-based setting. GEO 408 is all about soils and landscapes. The major goal of GEO 408 is to provide students with the ability to differentiate soils as they view them on the landscape, and to be able to propose scientifically sound reasons for these differences in morphology and chemistry, both at a site and from place-to-place, based primarily on landform-soil, stratigraphy-soil, and sediment-soil relationships.
    [Show full text]