Handouts for EVSC 4270

I try to put copies of any and all handouts, slides, etc. in this location. Note that this is an ever-ongoing effort - I will add materials as I have time and resources.Most of the handouts (which of course are no longer handed out) are here, and I am adding photographic images as I have the opportunity.  The materials are in generally chronological order, although I may not have gotten it 100%correct.

• A useful guide for doing field descriptions of soils (PDF)
• The common minerals found in soils (PDF)
• From the Surface Down  - a guide to soil surveys (PDF)
• Albemarle County Soil Survey   (a series of PDF files covering the print version of the soil survey, includes detailed maps)

Texture

• Sizes of soil particles and the resultant surface area (PDF)
• Size classes of primary soil particles (PDF)
• A photographic comparison of the size and shape of primary soil particles. (Images for viewing, printing may be unsatisfactory)
• The textural triangle (PDF) (a pretty good version!)

Structure

• Examples of soil structure (will not print well except in color)
• Clay skins and bridges  (will not print well except in color)
• A series of slides to show the importance of soil organic matter to the formation of stable aggregates (several images, may not print well)

Density, porosity

• A table of densities of representative soil minerals. (PDF)

Soil Horizonization & Soil Formation

• Horizon designations   (PDF) This is chapter 18 from the Keys to Soil Taxonomy (following entry). It is a few pages with all the subscripts, etc. for naming horizons using the O,A,E,B,C, etc. system.
• Keys to Soil Taxonomy This is a large PDF file (about 400 pages), but it has ALL the information you need on soil taxonomy. Chapter 18 defines the horizons and their modifiers.
• Simonson's paper on soil formation    PDF   This is a very old paper, (1958), but it still captures the fundamental processes in a very eloquent presentation.
• Major processes in soil profile development
• Changes in solubility of iron, aluminum, and quartz with pH PDF
• Definition of ionic potential and table of some important values PDF
• Photo of an oxidation rind in a piece of granite rock
• Distribution of clays in soil profiles as affected by topographic location

Weathering and Soil Formation

• Reactions important in chemical weathering PDF

Jenny's state factors, etc

• Topographic control on distribution of clays in an Israeli field PDF
• Climatic controls on soil formation: transect from pole to equator PDF
• Topographic effects on microclimate and resultant soil profiles PDF

Soil Water

• Concepts of soil moisture tension (SMT) and plant growth PDF
• Capillaries and soil water PDF
• Textural triangle showing relation of texture to moisture holding capacity PDF
• Water Availability in Different Soil Moisture Regimes PDF

Soil Colloids - Mineral Weathering - Clay Mineralogy

• Relationship among clay origins as climate-controlled weathering products
• Crystal structure of common clay minerals PDF
• Relationship among clay origins in a soil profile
• Possible mechanisms of clay mineral formation from solution (highly speculative) PDF
• Mechanisms to explain the alteration of one clay mineral to another PDF
• Vertical distribution of clay minerals as a function of weathering
• Clay mineral structure slides (Probably non-printable except in color.) Note: these images are large and may load slowly.
• Cation Exchange in Soil Materials (Probably non-printable except in color.)
• Solution to ion exchange problem  (PDF)

Soil Taxonomy

• A tour of the soil orders A web page with pictures and text - not for printing!
• A key for determining soil order (PDF) redrawn from Brady and Weil
• A soil map of the US (PDF) issued by USDA/NCRS
• A soil map of the world that uses the US taxonomy issued by USDA/NCRS

Soil Organic Matter & Carbon Cycle

• The carbon cycle PDF
• Cellulose, chitin, and starch structures PDF
• Hemicellulose structures PDF
• A model lignin molecule PDF
• Models and properties of humic molecules PDF
• Properties and distribution of humics in soils PDF
• Changes in soil organic matter upon decomposition PDF

Nitrogen Cycle

• Oxidation states of N and the N cycle PDF
• Handouts on nitrification,denitrification,and N-fixation PDF This has lots of pages; it contains ALL the visuals for N-cycle!

Phosphorus and Potassium

• Phosphorus "cycle" and P availability PDF
• Potassium availability in soil PDF

Fertilizers and Lime

• Handouts on fertilizers PDF
• pH and nutrient availability
• Lime and Cation Exchange problem set with solutions

Soil Erosion

• The Universal Soil Loss Equation (water) PDF (several pages)

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