PLSCS 3630

Soil Genesis, Classification, and Survey

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2022-2023.

Discusses factors and processes of soil formation on which soil survey is based. Practices principles of field identification, classification, survey, and interpretation in a field setting. Provides an overview of soil databases, their content, development, and use for site evaluation and land classification.

When Offered Fall.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: PLSCS 2600.

Comments One all-day field trip required. Offered in even-numbered years only.

• This course will initially examine the historical and changing understanding of these soil landscapes and processes and conclude by examination of our present understanding. The former will be accomplished through the review of historical and contextual documents, while the latter will be through the study of ongoing and recent research as presented by peer-reviewed journal articles.
• Examining the processes of soil genesis and the consequence of their interactions will lead to understand both the landscape distribution of soil and site specific implications of these processes. Further discussion will address the principles of soil classification and the rationale and utilization as applied to the soil continuum. Particular focus will be place on US Soil Taxonomy and on the development of major soil groups of the world. In addition, practical exercises using Soil Taxonomy will be assigned to familiarize students.
• The course will include seven afternoon field trips in the general region to demonstrate particular points concerning soil morphology, genesis and classification.

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