Soil, Water and Ecosystem Sciences
On Campus Courses
Course Listings:
SWS 6932: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOIL TRANSPORT PROCESSES
Instructor:
Ebrahim Babaeian
Assistant Professor
Soil Physics and Hydrology
(352) 294-3106
ebabaeian@ufl.edu
About the Course
Understanding mass and energy transport in soil is essential for managing water and fertilizer
application and mitigating contaminant spills, all of which are critical for sustainable agriculture
and environmental protection. The goal of this graduate-level course is to equip students with
a deep understanding of the theoretical, computational and practical aspects of transport
processes in soil and the environment. These include the flow of water, nutrients,
contaminants, colloids, gas and heat in saturated and unsaturated soils ranging from plot- to
landscape-scale. Students will receive hands-on training in numerical modeling techniques
using HYDRUS and other relevant software to simulate multiple transport processes within the
vadose zone. Students will actively engage in numerical simulation projects through in-class
assignments guided by instructor and choose and conduct a semester-long project solving a
real-world transport problem.
Topics covered include:- Soil Hydraulic Properties and Processes
- Water flow simulations in saturated and unsaturated soils
- Plant root water uptake, water stress and salinity stress simulations
- Solute transport processes, mechanisms, and models
- Solute (nutrients, contaminants) transport simulations and leaching
- Heat and gas flow simulationS
Students will gain skills applicable to solve complex problems related to agriculture, natural
resources and environmental protection.
Credits: 3
Semesters Offered: Fall
Prerequisites: SWS 5050, SWS 4602 or SWS 5605 or equivalent courses
Reading Material: Lectures, articles, web links, HYDRUS software, Python, and manuals