SSC 105 - Field Studies of Soils in California Ecosystems

DRAFT, SUBJECT TO REVISION

FIELD STUDIES OF SOILS IN CALIFORNIA ECOSYSTEMS
Soil Science 105

June 19 – July 7, 2006
Department of Land, Air and Water Resources
University of California, Davis

Instructors:
Mike Singer, mjsinger@ucdavis.edu, 530-752-7499
Randy Southard, rjsouthard@ucdavis.edu, 530-752-7041 or 530-752-0233

Five quarter units. The course is offered through UC Summer Sessions.

Grading:
Exam, course summary written report, field mapping exercise, quizzes (each 25%)

Text:
Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 9th ed., 2003. Available for download on line at http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/tax_keys/ or purchase from Randy Southard

Schedule:

Date			Topic/Field Location. Overnight stop underlined.
June	19	Monday	8 – 5 p.m. Course introduction, logistics. Introduction to soil morphology, classification, genesis, and mineralogy, Davis.
	20	Tuesday	8 – 5 p.m. Soil morphology, classification, genesis, and mineralogy continued, Davis.
	21	Wednesday	Soils on valley fill, Sacramento Valley, part I. Davis, Plainfield, Davis.
	22	Thursday	Rocks and soils in northern Sierra Nevada foothills. Sacramento, Auburn, Georgetown, Vine Hill.
	23	Friday	Sierran life zones transect on soils formed from andesitic materials. Placerville, Carson Pass Area.
	24	Saturday	Glacial geomorphology and soils. Carson Pass. South Lake Tahoe, Truckee. Tahoma.
	25	Sunday	Desert loess and soil development on remnant lake shore features of Lake Lahontan (Olinghouse transect). Truckee, Reno, Wadsworth, Pyramid Lake.
	26	Monday	Travel to Eagle Lake Biological Field Station via Susanville. Begin mapping exercise. ELBFS.
	27	Tuesday	Eagle Lake Field Station mapping. ELBFS.
	28	Wednesday	Eagle Lake Field Station mapping. ELBFS.
	29	Thursday	Eagle Lake soil-vegetation relations. ELBFS.
	30	Friday	Soils in the Great Basin. Susanville, Westwood, Chester.
July	1	Saturday	Soils, geology and vegetation in Lassen National Park. Chester, Lassen National Park.
	2	Sunday	Soil formation on recent volcanic materials in Lassen/Mt. Shasta area. Old Station, McCloud, Dunsmuir, Redding.
	3	Monday	Soils on valley fill, Sacramento Valley, part II. Red Bluff, Corning. Black Butte Lake.
	4	Tuesday	Coast Range hodge-podge: Coast Range valley fill, Clear Lake volcanics, coastal redwoods. Chrome, Leesville, Lower Lake, Kelseyville, Hopland, Boonville, Albion. Van Damme State Park.
	5	Wednesday	Ecological staircase, Mendocino Coast. Mendocino, Caspar, Ft. Bragg. Van Damme State Park.
	6	Thursday	Travel to Hopland Field Station, Albion, Philo, Yorkville. Hillslope studies, soils on serpentinite. Return to Davis.
	8	Saturday	Exam 8:30-10:30 a.m.
	11	Tuesday	Course summary written report due 5 pm.

SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT AND COSTS

For classroom and field

1	8-1/2 x 11 3-ring binder
1	8-1/2 x 11 clip board for field sheets
100	Sheets of 8-1/2 x 11 paper, ruled
10	Sheets of 8-1/2 x 11 graph paper
1	Pocket notebook for miscellaneous field notes
1	Plastic ruler
1	Felt-tip pen (e.g., Flair) with black ink for soil map work
1	2-m locking steel measuring tape (metric preferred)
1	Road map/atlas of California (UCD bookstore, Border’s, gas station)
1	10x hand lens - leather lace for neck lanyard
	Pencils with erasers, pencil sharpener
1	Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 2003, 9th edition, (see above)
1	Sturdy knife with sheath for soil excavation (UCD Bookstore, WalMart, Davis Lumber, Woodland Mercantile)
1	Calculator

Personal:
Warm sleeping bag (bring a sheet for those warm nights), ground cloth, small tent (optional), air mattress or foam pad, towels, toilet articles, small first aid kit, sun screen, insect repellent, clothes for field (including hat, field boots, warm jacket and rain gear) and classroom (laundromats occasionally available during the trip), and water bottle for drinking water. SANDALS AND OPEN-TOED SHOES ARE NOT PERMITTED FOR FIELD WORK. Luggage limited to: 1 suitcase or duffel bag, 1 day pack, sleeping bag, pad, tent, camera case.

Course Costs:

See Summer Session Web Site

This fee covers transportation, campground/lodging, and community meals while in the field.

Books, personal supplies, and other meals while in field are not included.

HEALTH INSURANCE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE COURSE FEE.

While in Davis, out-of-towners can usually make arrangements to stay with others in the class. Otherwise, make reservations at a local motel (See www.usa-lodging.com/motels/califn/Davis.htm for more information).