Standard

R State Standard £ Institutionally Developed College: NA

EHO 141 - Soils
Course Description The formation, classification, composition, properties, management, fertility and conservation of soils in relation to the growth of plants. Topics include: introduction, soil formation, soil classification, soil physical properties, soil chemistry, soil management and soil organisms and organic matter.
Competency Areas	Hours
Introduction	Class	4
Soil Formation	D. Lab	2
Soil Classification	P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
Soil Physical Properties	Credit	5
Soil Chemistry
Soil Management
Soil Organisms and Organic Matter

Prerequisite:	Provisional admission
Corequisite:

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will be able to:	Hours
		Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.
Introduction		5	0	0
Soil	Define
	List and explain functions
	Explain soil profile and horizons
	List and explain soil components and their importance to the soil environment
Soil Formation		5	0	0
Parent Material	Define parent material
	Define and explain chemical and physical weathering processes of parent material
	Define residual and transported soils
Soil Formation	Factors influencing soil formation
	Identify mineral components important to soil formation
	Explain soil profile development in relation to parent material and soil formation factors
Soil Classification		5	0	0
Classification	Explain nomenclature of soil taxonomy
	List and explain categories in soil taxonomy
Diagnostic Horizons	List and explain diagnostic horizons and their role in soil classification
Soil Orders	Explain chemical and physical properties of soil orders
Soil Surveys	Read soil surveys
Soil Physical Properties		5	5	0
Soil Texture	Explain size distribution of soil particles
	Define soil textural classes
	Explain mineralogical and chemical composition of soil separates
	Determine soil texture
Soil Pore Space	Explain how soil texture influences soil pore space
	Explain how soil pore space affects the plant growth environment
Soil Structure	Define soil structure
	Define and determine bulk density for a given soil
	Define soil aggregation
	Describe and list soil aggregates
	Explain how soil structure can influence soil pore space
	Explain tillage and tilth
	Explain soil compaction and the factors that influence soil compaction
Soil Chemistry		10	5	0
Cation Exchange Capacity	Define cation exchange capacity
	List and explain soil colloids and their contribution to cation exchange capacity
	List exchangeable cations in field soils
	Relate cation exchage capacity to nutrient availability in the soil solution
Anion Exchange Capacity	Define and list soil anions
Soil pH	Define soil pH
	List and explain sources of hydrogen and hydroxide ions in soil solution
	Describe factors causing pH to change
	Relate soil pH to cation exchange capacity and nutrient availability
	Explain soil buffering capacity
	List and perform methods of determining soil pH