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
	Explain the reactions of various liming materials in the soil solution
	Determine lime requirements for certain soil types
Soil Management		5	5	0
Fertilization	List essential elements and explain their importance in plant growth and development
	Explain and demonstrate fertilizer application methods
	Determine plant nutritional deficiencies through visual and soil analysis
	Explain and list nutrient antagonisms
	List organic sources of essential plant elements
Soil Erosion	List factors influencing soil erosion
	List and explain various management practices and methods for controlling soil erosion
	Explain land capability classification based on soil erosion
Soil Organisms and Soil Organic Matter		5	5	0
Soil Organisms	Explain how soil organisms contribute to the soils nutritional status
	Explain the contributions of soil organisms to soil nutritional status
	Explain environmental factors affecting soil organisms
Soil Organic Matter	Explain factors affecting organic matter content
	List sources of organic matter

Suggested Resources

Print	Brady, N.C. & Weil, R.R. (1996). The Nature and Propeties of Soils (latest edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Print	Singer, M.J. & Munns, D.N. (1996). Soils, An Introdution (latest edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Posted: 11/12/08