SOIL 3433*
Soil Genesis, Morphology, and Classification.

Credit Hours: 3

Semesters Offered: F

Prerequisite: Lab 3. SOIL 2124

Basic principles dealing with how and why soils differ, their descriptions, geographic distributions and modern classification of soils. Soil genesis and classification a prerequisite to sound land use planning and land management.

Office Hours: Drop in or by appt. (See secretary in Ag. Hall, Room 162)

Objectives

To examine and learn the physical and chemical processes that determine soil formation.
To study the factors of soil formation which regulate these physical and chemical processes.
To learn and understand the variation of Oklahoma, U.S., and world soils with respect to the factors of soil formation.
To teach terms and nomenclature used in the communication of soil morphology, soil genesis, and soil classification.
To learn through actual field and laboratory exercises to use soil profile descriptions, to understand soil genesis, and make better land use decisions.

Fees in Addition to Tuition

$40.00 covers cost of field trips.

Grading

8 Laboratory assignments = 16%
4 Quizzes = 32% of grade
1 midterm = 26% of grade
1 Final = 26% of grade

Laboratory Exercises

Study and review soil properties - 1 lab period - Room 161
Write soil profile descriptions - 4 lab periods - Field trips
Study soil forming factors - 2 lab period - Field trips
Study soil minerals and fabric, (soil micromorphology) - 1 lab period - Geology Dept. - Noble Center
Study soil survey methods and develop soil map - 1 lab period - Room 161
Examine soils of Oklahoma - 6 periods – One - all day field trips (Sept. 29)

Attendance

Required at all lectures, laboratories, and field trips.

Text

Required reading:

Schaetzel, R.J. and S. Anderson. 2005. Soils: Genesis and Geomorphology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Schoeneberger, P.J., D.A. Wysocki, E.C. Benham, and W.D. Broderson. 2002. Field book for describing and sampling soils. Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, NE.

Required internet viewing:

Please review information found at the following web site: http://soils.usda.gov
This National Soil Survey Center, NRCS, USDA site contains information on recommended readings as well as access to soil profile descriptions for Oklahoma and USA soil series.

Birkeland, P. W. 1999. Soils and Geomorphology. Oxford University Press, New York.

Recommended readings :

Buol, S. W., R J. Southard, R. C. Graham, and P. A. McDaniel. 2003. Soil Genesis and Classification. Iowa State University Press, Ames. 5th edition.

Soil Survey Staff. 1993. Soil Survey Manual. U.S.D.A. Handbook 18. U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington.

Soil Survey Staff. 1999. Soil Taxonomy. U.S.D.A. Handbook 436. U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington. 2nd edition.

Course Outline

1. Soil Morphology
  1. Describing the Profile (Distinguishing Horizons)
    1. Color
    2. Texture
    3. Structure
      1. concept of pedality - simple, compound, structureless
      2. shape
      3. size
      4. grade
    4. Consistence
      1. strength
      2. plasticity
      3. stickiness
    5. Horizon Boundaries
  2. Designations for Horizons
    1. General Concepts
    2. Masters Horizons
    3. Transitional Horizons
    4. Lithologic Discontinuities
    5. Use of the Prime Designation
    6. Suffix Designations
  3. Major Properties Used to Characterize Soils
    1. Infiltration (saturated hydraulic conductivity)
    2. Permeability (most limiting subsurface horizon)
    3. Runoff
    4. Available Water Capacity
    5. Soil Characterization
2. Soil Classification
  1. History of Soil Classification in U.S. and Word
  2. Soil Taxonomy (current U.S. system)
    1. Order
    2. Suborder
    3. Great Group
    4. Subgroup
    5. Family
    6. Series
3. Soil Genesis
  1. Weathering (Physical and Chemical)
    1. Physical
      1. unloading by erosion
      2. expansion by freezing
      3. thermal expansion and contraction
      4. root penetration
      5. abrasion
    2. Chemical
      1. oxidation - reduction
      2. hydration
      3. hydrolysis
      4. chelation
    3. Dissolution
      1. congruent
      2. incongruent
    4. Factors Controlling Weathering
      1. temp. + moisture
      2. amount + type of organic matter
      3. source + type of primary minerals
    5. Weathering Products
      1. clay minerals (silicates)
      2. cations
      3. anions
      4. allophane (amorphous Al + Si hydrous oxides)
      5. Fe + Al oxides (hematite, goethite, gibbsite
      6. humus
  2. Soil Forming Processes
    1. Major Processes (general)
      1. additions
      2. transformations
      3. translocations
      4. losses
    2. Regional Soil Forming Processes
      1. zonality
      2. podzolization
      3. lessivage
      4. braunification
      5. laterization
      6. melanization
      7. calcification
      8. salinization
      9. alkalization
  3. Factors of Soil Formation
    1. Parent Material
    2. Organisms + Climate
    3. Time
    4. Topography
4. Soil Mapping
  1. Mapping Unit
  2. Landscape Relationships
  3. USDA - SCS County Soil Surveys
*Graduate Credit

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	SOIL 3433* Soil Genesis, Morphology, and Classification. Instructor: Dr. Bryan Carter Credit Hours: 3 Semesters Offered: F Prerequisite: Lab 3. SOIL 2124 Basic principles dealing with how and why soils differ, their descriptions, geographic distributions and modern classification of soils. Soil genesis and classification a prerequisite to sound land use planning and land management. Office Hours: Drop in or by appt. (See secretary in Ag. Hall, Room 162) Objectives To examine and learn the physical and chemical processes that determine soil formation. To study the factors of soil formation which regulate these physical and chemical processes. To learn and understand the variation of Oklahoma, U.S., and world soils with respect to the factors of soil formation. To teach terms and nomenclature used in the communication of soil morphology, soil genesis, and soil classification. To learn through actual field and laboratory exercises to use soil profile descriptions, to understand soil genesis, and make better land use decisions. Fees in Addition to Tuition $40.00 covers cost of field trips. Grading 8 Laboratory assignments = 16% 4 Quizzes = 32% of grade 1 midterm = 26% of grade 1 Final = 26% of grade Laboratory Exercises Study and review soil properties - 1 lab period - Room 161 Write soil profile descriptions - 4 lab periods - Field trips Study soil forming factors - 2 lab period - Field trips Study soil minerals and fabric, (soil micromorphology) - 1 lab period - Geology Dept. - Noble Center Study soil survey methods and develop soil map - 1 lab period - Room 161 Examine soils of Oklahoma - 6 periods – One - all day field trips (Sept. 29) Attendance Required at all lectures, laboratories, and field trips. Text Required reading: Schaetzel, R.J. and S. Anderson. 2005. Soils: Genesis and Geomorphology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Schoeneberger, P.J., D.A. Wysocki, E.C. Benham, and W.D. Broderson. 2002. Field book for describing and sampling soils. Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, NE. Required internet viewing: Please review information found at the following web site: http://soils.usda.gov This National Soil Survey Center, NRCS, USDA site contains information on recommended readings as well as access to soil profile descriptions for Oklahoma and USA soil series. Birkeland, P. W. 1999. Soils and Geomorphology. Oxford University Press, New York. Recommended readings : Buol, S. W., R J. Southard, R. C. Graham, and P. A. McDaniel. 2003. Soil Genesis and Classification. Iowa State University Press, Ames. 5th edition. Soil Survey Staff. 1993. Soil Survey Manual. U.S.D.A. Handbook 18. U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington. Soil Survey Staff. 1999. Soil Taxonomy. U.S.D.A. Handbook 436. U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington. 2nd edition. Course Outline Soil Morphology Describing the Profile (Distinguishing Horizons) Color Texture Structure concept of pedality - simple, compound, structureless shape size grade Consistence strength plasticity stickiness Horizon Boundaries Designations for Horizons General Concepts Masters Horizons Transitional Horizons Lithologic Discontinuities Use of the Prime Designation Suffix Designations Major Properties Used to Characterize Soils Infiltration (saturated hydraulic conductivity) Permeability (most limiting subsurface horizon) Runoff Available Water Capacity Soil Characterization Soil Classification History of Soil Classification in U.S. and Word Soil Taxonomy (current U.S. system) Order Suborder Great Group Subgroup Family Series Soil Genesis Weathering (Physical and Chemical) Physical unloading by erosion expansion by freezing thermal expansion and contraction root penetration abrasion Chemical oxidation - reduction hydration hydrolysis chelation Dissolution congruent incongruent Factors Controlling Weathering temp. + moisture amount + type of organic matter source + type of primary minerals Weathering Products clay minerals (silicates) cations anions allophane (amorphous Al + Si hydrous oxides) Fe + Al oxides (hematite, goethite, gibbsite humus Soil Forming Processes Major Processes (general) additions transformations translocations losses Regional Soil Forming Processes zonality podzolization lessivage braunification laterization melanization calcification salinization alkalization Factors of Soil Formation Parent Material Organisms + Climate Time Topography Soil Mapping Mapping Unit Landscape Relationships USDA - SCS County Soil Surveys *Graduate Credit

Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Degree Options

SOIL 3433* Soil Genesis, Morphology, and Classification.