Course Description

FOREST SOIL FORMATION

5 

 0

0 

Factors of Forest Soil Formation

Understand the influences of climate and parent material on soil formation.

FOREST SOIL PROPERTIES AND SITE PRODUCTIVITY

 10

5 

0 

Properties of the Forest Floor 

Identify the physical properties of forest soils and their influence on tree growth and vegetation development. These properties include soil texture, soil structure, soil color, and soil temperature.

Understand the important chemical properties of forest soils. These properties include soil acidity and the essential elements.

Conduct soil pH test.

Site Productivity

Discuss the capacity of a tree species to thrive and successfully compete on a particular site.

Discuss the biotic factors that contribute to the overall productivity of a site. These factors may include stand density, genetic differences, competition control, and disease and insect problems.

Discuss the abiotic factors of the environment that affect tree growth. These factors may include climate, topography, soil depth, soil moisture, soil aeration, and soil nutrients. 

SOILS AND SILVICULTURAL RECOMMENDATIONS

10 

10 

0 

 Land Clearing

Introduce the use of fire in a land clearing operation and understand its effect on the soil.

Introduce the use of land clearing equipment and describe its effect on the soil.

Introduce the use of herbicides and determine how the soil is affected by their use. 

Site Preparation

Discuss in detail how chopping will affect the soil and nutrient value of the soil.

Discuss how disking and sub-soiling will affect the soil and rooting medium.

Discuss how root-raking will affect the soil and the possible loss of topsoil when slash is piled.

Discuss how bedding will affect the soil and why tree growth is affected.

Observe a site preparation operation and evaluate its effect on the site. 

 Tree Planting

Discuss how to determine what species of tree should be planted on a site.

Discuss the stand density capabilities of certain soils.

  FERTILIZATION

5 

5 

0 

Types of Fertilizer Used 

Develop an understanding of the meaning of a fertilizer formulation.

Discuss how to determine the amount of fertilizer and what formulation is needed on a particular site.

Take a soil sample, send off to be analyzed, and interpret the findings.