SOS 5050

Soil Science for Environmental Professionals

Office hours: Always open. Please call or email me. You can reach me in the Ft. Lauderdale campus on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and in Belle Glade the rest of the week.

Course Prerequisites: Good knowledge of chemistry. Graduate Student status or instructor approval

Credit Hours:3 credits

Times: Class is offered Spring semester every year.
Enrollment Cap: 20
 

Delivery Method: Web

Out-of-state students should consult the UF Soil and Water Science Department Web site for current tuition information http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/distance/
Online meetings /Chat sessions: Mondays from 6-7:30  pm.  For an orientation how to use Breeze Live please visit  http://mbreeze.ifas.ufl.edu/p67991485/
 

Course Overview:
The course is an introductory class in soil science intended for graduate students and professionals in the environmental science area with little or no background in soil science. The course will describe soil physical, chemical and biological properties and processes that determine the fundamental role soils play in the environment.

Course Requirements: Students must have an e-mail account, Internet access, access to a computer that meets the University of Florida computer standards, and purchase the following textbook: The Nature and Properties of Soils by N.B Brady and R.R. Weil, 13th edition, Prentice-Hall 2002, available through the UF Bookstore.

Course Web Site:  http://lss.at.ufl.edu/ , Click on Vista, then University of Florida. Login using your Gatorlink username and password. If you are registered for the course, you will see it listed under MyWebCT. Students must login to class website within the first 2 weeks of class.

** This course is approved for the Employee Education Program **

Objectives

The course is intended for graduate students who have no or minimal knowledge of soil science. The course will cover the basic soil properties (physical, chemical, and biological) as well as soil processes. The course will also cover the management of acid, salt-affected and anaerobic soils. The class consists of three modules

1.      Module I: overview of Soils

2.      Module II: Soil Processes

3.      Module III: Soil Management

Text
The Nature and Properties of Soil (green book) by Nyle C. Brady and Ray R. Weil. 13th Edition, published by Prentice-Hall, Inc. in 2002. You may order the book on line at www.prenhall.com

Supplemental Reading  Materials 

1. Soil Chemistry. Bohn, McNeal, and O'Connor.  John Wiley Publishers. 2001 3rd edition
2. Soils and Environmental Quality. Pierzynsky, Sims and Vance. CRC Publishers. 2000 (2nd edition)

Students Responsibilities
Students are expected to study the assigned text sections and lectures prior to lecture coverage in class

Students are expected to actively participate in class chat discussions.

Exams
There will be three lecture exams. Your final grade will be based on the cumulative score for the three lecture exams and home work assignments.

3 one hour exams = 75% of grade

Homework assignments= 25% of grade

LECTURE SCHEDULE

Module I

Overview of Soils

Introduction to Soils: Chapter 1; Soils around us

            Definition of soils; soils composition

            Review of chemical Principles 

Soil Physical Properties: Chapter 4; Soil Physical Properties

Soil Formation: Chapter 2; Formation of Soils from Parent Materials

             Part I: Parent Materials and Weathering

             Part II: Soil formation factors 

             Part III: The soil Profile

Soil Classification: Chapter 3; Soil Classification

            Part I: The Soil Taxonomy System

            Part II: Soils of Florida

            Part III: Soil Orders

 Exam for Module I

Module II

Soil Processes

Soil Water: Chapter 5; Soil Water

Soil Colloids and Ion Exchange: Chapter 8; Soil Colloids and Ion Exchange

Soil Organic Matter: Chapter 12; Soil organic Matter;

Nutrient Cycles: Nitrogen: Chapter 13; Soil Nitrogen

Nutrient Cycles: Phosphorus: Chapter 14; Soil Phosphorus

Exam for Module II

Module III

Environmental Soil Management

Acid Soils: Chapter 9; Soil Acidity

Saline and Alkaline Soils: Chapter 10; Soils of Dry Regions

Soil Aeration and Anaerobic Soils: Chapter 7; Soil Aeration

Exam for Module III