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Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Collect, prepare, and test a representative soil sample for a variety
of crop and forest environments and landscape situations.
2. Measure parcels using a variety of common units of distance measurement
and calculate land areas in acres and hectares.
3. Compare USDA Soil Survey maps and data with actual soil conditions
encountered in field observations.
4. Define and cite examples of the five soil-forming factors: parent
material, climate, topography, living organisms and time.
5. Identify examples of the three classes of soil-forming rocks: igneous,
sedimentary and metamorphic.
6. Evaluate soil productivity based on Land Capability Classification and revised
Storie Index ratings.
7. Compare the functions of the four physical components of soil: air,
water, mineral solids, organic matter.
8. Distinguish the attributes of the typical horizons within a soil
profile.
9. Relate water holding capacity, aeration, permeability to plant roots,
and drainage characteristics to sand, silt and clay content of soils.
10. Analyze soil texture using "feel" method and classify soils by percent
sand, silt and clay content using the soil textural triangle.
11. Explain the natural processes that result in the cementing of sand,
silt and clay particles into secondary aggregates and recommend practices
that enhance or maintain good soil structure.
12. Relate soil moisture tension terminology to field and nursery
container soil conditions.
13. Predict water movement in soils with non-uniform textural and
structural characteristics.
14. Summarize the cation exchange process in relation to plant nutrient
availability.
15. Describe how soils become acidic naturally and through soil management
practices.
16. Describe harmful effects of pH imbalances and recommend materials and
methods for adjusting soil pH.
17. Categorize the major groups of soil microflora and microfauna in the
soil ecosystem.
18. Explain the beneficial significance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and
mycorrhizal fungi.
19. Select organic amendments according to carbon:nitrogen ratio
characteristics.
20. Select materials and recommend management practices for composting.
21. Compare and contrast artificial soil media such as peat moss, perlite,
vermiculite,coconut coir and rice hulls.
22. List and describe plant uses and deficiency symptoms of the essential
mineral nutrients.
23. Interpret a fertilizer label and predict crop response to the use of a
nitrogen fertilizer.
24. Analyze the attributes of synthetic and organic fertilizer materials.
25. Recommend fertilizer application methods appropriate for various crop
and landscape scenarios.
26. Evaluate various cover crops for perennial and annual cropping
systems.
27. Define accelerated erosion by wind and water and describe control
methods.
28. Explain how the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and
Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) assist landowners in
implementing soil conservation practices.
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I. Soil formation
A. Classes of common soil-forming rocks
1. Igneous
2. Sedimentary
3. Metamorphic
B. The 5 soil-forming factors
1. Parent material
2. Living organisms
3. Climate
4. Topography
5. Time
C. Weathering processes
1. Physical
2. Chemical
3. Biological
D. Basic soil components: 50% solid particles, 50% pore space
1. Mineral particles 45%
2. Organic matter (O.M.) particles 5%
3. Air +/- 25%
4. Water +/- 25%
E. Soil profile development and typical horizons
1. O, A, B, C, R horizons
2. Temperate and arid region soil profiles
3. Profiles in various landforms and environments
II. Soil physical properties
A. Texture
1. Sand, silt and clay particles as primary soil
separates
2. Textural classification system and soil textural triangle
B. Structure
1. Types of aggregates and aggregate formation
2. Beneficial effects of good soil structure
(aggregation)
3. Maintaining and improving soil structure
4. Problems of compaction and subsurface impermeable layers
5. Role of organic matter in aggregate formation
6. Soil tilth and proper tillage practices
7. Mulches
C. Color
1. Abundance of certain minerals
2. Organic matter content
3. Seasonal waterlogging and gleying
D. Temperature
1. Moderation effects of soil on air temperature
extremes
2. Daily and seasonal variation
3. Moist vs. dry soil effects on temperature
4. Effects of aspect (north vs. south facing slope)
5. Effects on seed germination and root growth
6. Mulched or vegetated cover vs. bare soil
E. Bulk density and porosity
1. Effects on aeration and drainage, permeability to
roots
2. Inverse relationship of BD [bulk density] and porosity
3. Desirable BD values and factors affecting BD
III. Soil-Water relations and water holding capacity (WHC)
A. Soil moisture tension conditions
1. Saturation
2. Field capacity
3. Permanent wilting point (or wilting point)
4. Available vs. unavailable water
B. Forces affecting water movement in soil
1. Properties of the water molecule
2. Saturated flow and gravitational force
3. Unsaturated flow and capillary forces
4. Osmotic (dissolved salts) potential differences
C. Soil physical conditions affecting water movement and WHC
1. Relationship of particle size and total surface area
to water holding capacity
2. Movement across layers of non-uniform
texture/structure
3. Depth and consistency of profile and horizons
4. Perched water tables in soil profile and in growing
containers; shallow vs. deep containers
5. Texture and structure influences on infiltration,
percolation
D. Moisture-sensing devices
1. Gypsum block
2. Tensiometer
3. Neutron probe
4. Other conductivity meters and commercial products
IV. Soil chemical and colloidal properties
A. Structure and properties of clay colloids
B. Humus and organic colloids
C. Negative charges of clay and humus micelles
D. Principle soil cations and anions
E. Cations and significance of cation exchange
1. Adsorption of nutrient cations on micelles
2. Leaching potential of mineral anions
3. Cation exchange capacity related to soil texture and
organic matter content
4. Role of cation exchange in soil fertility
V. Soil acidity
A. Acidity, alkalinity, pH and related terms pH scale
1. Exponential relationship of pH values
2. Desirable pH values for plant growth
3. Effects of undesirable pH on plant growth and soil
organisms
B. Buffering and buffering capacity of various soils
C. Adjusting pH
1. Benefits of liming acid soils, various liming materials
2. Acidifying alkaline soils
VI. Soil biology and ecology
A. Principles of diversity and stability of soil organism
populations
B. General groupings of macro- and micro-organisms
1. Macro- and micro-fauna
2. Macro- and micro-flora
C. Classification of organisms by feeding habits and
beneficial or harmful effects on plants
D. Symbiotic organisms
1. Rhizobium bacteria and nitrogen fixation on legume roots
2. Mycorrhizal fungi on roots of most plants
E. Rhizosphere characteristics
VII. Organic matter addition and decomposition
A. Types of organic soil amendments
B. Value of cover crops in O.M. management
C. Common groups of aerobic decomposing organisms beneficial
to plants
D. Carbon:Nitrogen ratio of organisms and organic matter
1. Effects of C:N ratio on decompositon rate of O.M.
2. Immobilization of N by decomposing microbes
E. Composting methods overview
1. Rapid composting or hot composting
2. Pit composting or other cold composting methods
3. Worm composting
F. Composting fundamentals
1. Green, moist nitrogen materials
2. Brown, dry carbon materials
3. Temperature indications related to decomposition rate
1. Ambient
2. Mesophilic zone
3. Thermophilic zone
4. Moisture levels within 40%-60% for aerobic organisms
5. Aeration through regular turning and mixing of materials
VIII. Essential mineral nutrients
A. Primary nutrients and their functions and deficiency symptoms
1. Nitrogen cycle
2. Available forms of nitrogen for plant uptake
B. Secondary nutrients
C. Micronutrients
IX. Fertilizers
A. The need for and benefits of proper fertilizer use
B. Common synthetic and organic fertilizer materials
C. Speed of availabilty of nutrients in various materials
D. Effects on pH
E. Fertilzer label
F. Complete fertilizers
G. Balanced fertilizers
H. Starter fertilizers
I. Calculating nutrient content, application rates and cost
per pound of selected nutrients in fertilizers
J. Methods of application
K. Environmental concerns related to fertilizer use
X. Soil conservation, management and erosion control
A. Comparison of conventional tillage systems and conservation
tillage effects on soil erosion
B. Land Capability Classes
C. Storie Index
D. Erosion by wind
E. Erosion by water
1. Slope angle and length
2. Soil texture and structure
3. Surface cover
4. Volume and velocity of flow
F. Erosion control methods
G. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Resource
Conservation Districts (RCDs)
H. Global significance of soil erosion
XI. Laboratory tests, calculations and field activities
