Soils & Water                                       Spring 2008

Tentative Class Schedule

DATE

TOPIC

READING ASSIGNMENT

Jan. 22, 25

Introduction to Soils

Chapter 1

Jan. 29, Feb. 1

Soil Physical Properties

Chapter 4

Feb. 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22*

Soil Water

Chapter 5

Feb. 26, 29

The Hydrological Cycle

Chapter 6

March 4

Assignment 1

 

March 7, 11, 14

Soil Colloids, Cation Exchange Reactions

Chapter 8

March 18, 21

Spring Break

 

March 25, 28

Soil Reaction: Acidity and Alkalinity

Chapter 9

April  1

Soil Air & Temperature

Chapter 7

April 4

Soil Biotic Systems

Chapter 10

April 8, 11

Soil Organic Matter

Chapter 11

April 15

Assignment 2

 

April 18, 22

Nutrient Cycles

Chapters 12 and 13

April 25

Soil Classification

Chapter 3

April 29

Soils and Climate Change

Lecture Notes

May 2

Student Presentations

 

May 14

Final Exam (4 - 7 pm)

 

*Snow—classes canceled

 

 

Laboratory Schedule

WEEK OF:

UNIT#

LAB#

TOPIC:

Feb. 1

 

1

Review of Basic Concepts

Feb. 8

1

2

Soil Formation, Color, and Texture

Feb. 15

3

Saturated and Unsaturated Water Movement-Part 1

Feb. 22

 

Snow—classes canceled

Feb. 29

4

Saturated and Unsaturated Water Movement-Part 2

March 7

5

Problem Solving and Demonstration—Meet in Rm 323

March 14

2

6

Computer-based Aids in Soil Science—Meet in Rm 323

March 21

7

No lab: spring break!

March 28

8

Properties of Clay Minerals

April 4

9

Soil pH and Salinity

April 11

3

10

Site Evaluation—Field Exercise

April 18

11

Using the Soil Survey

April 25

12

Data Analysis and Interpretation

May 2

 

13

Visit to the Soil Testing Laboratory

*subjected to weather condition