| INSTRUCTOR: | Randy Southard |
| OFFICE: |
2148 PES, 752-7041 rjsouthard@ucdavis.edu |
|
OFFICE HOURS: |
TR, 2:30-3:30 pm, or by appointment |
|
CLASS MEETINGS: |
TR 1:00-2:20 pm, 3 Wellman |
|
GRADING: |
Class presentation, exam, paper; each 1/3 |
|
TEXT: |
None; papers provided for reading throughout the quarter |
|
FORMAT: |
Lectures and discussion of assigned readings; presentations by class participants. |
| Date | Topic | |
| Sept. | 25 | Soil genesis models |
| 30 | No class | |
| Oct. | 2 | Soil genesis models |
| 7 | ||
| 9 | Pleistocene climatic change | |
| 14 | ||
| 16 | ||
| 21 | Mineral weathering | |
| 23 | Clay formation, destruction, and translocation | |
| 28 | Carbon dynamics | |
| 30 | Carbonates | |
| Nov. | 4 | No class, SSSA meetings |
| 6 | No class, SSSA meetings | |
| 11 | No class, Veteran's Day | |
| 13 | Redox reactions and redoximorphic features | |
| 18 | Salinity and alkalinity | |
| 20 | New stuff in Soil Taxonomy | |
| 25 | In class presentations | |
| 27 | Thanksgiving | |
| Dec. | 2 | |
| 4 | Last day of class. Take-home exam. | |
| 9 | Take-home exam due 5 PM. | |
| 12 | Paper due 5 PM. |
|
In class presentations will focus on soil forming processes in the framework of Soil Taxonomy, major processes occurring in the soil orders and how the collection of processes differentiates soil properties suitable for classification. These presentations should be 25 minutes in length, richly illustrated with data and examples. Class participants will assist in the grading of the presentations. Each presenter will also submit two questions for possible inclusion on the take-home exam. Paper should focus on how climatic variation (short-term and long-term) affects two or three allied soil forming processes (your choice) discussed in class. Maximum length is 12 pages, exclusive of illustrations and references, double-spaced. |
| Graduate Soil Science Course Offerings | Soils and Biogeochemistry Program Page | LAWR Department | UCDavis |