Outcomes
In order to successfully complete this course, the student will:
1. Outline and understand the significance of soils from both a global and ecosystem perspective.
2. Describe fundamental soil physical properties (texture, structure, and color) and relate these to parent materials and soil forming processes.
3. Identify and describe the basic differences in origin and characteristics between the major kinds of soil parent materials found in Wyoming.
4. Identify the basic types of horizons found in local and Wyoming soils. Describe horizons in terms of color, texture, and structure and relate these characteristics to soil forming processes and soil performance. Outline the concepts of solum, ped, pedon, and polypedon.
5. Describe some of the basic small-scale climate – vegetation – soil patterns in Wyoming.
6. Explain the concept of soil cation exchange capacity, the general concept of how it is determined, how it is expressed, and how and why it varies from horizon to horizon and from soil to soil.
7. Describe the relationship between pH and base saturation and describe the basic patterns of soil reaction with depth for major kinds of soils.
8. Explain and apply the basic concepts of water content expressed by either weight or volume (bulk density, particle density, porosity), and explain the forces holding water in soils.
9. Identify and manipulate the three aspects of soil water: the conventions used for expressing water content of soil, the manner in which water is retained in soil, and the movement of water in soil.
10. Explain the dynamics of soil water and soil air. Discuss the differences which exist between soil air and atmosphere, oxidized forms of organic and inorganic ions, and why anaerobic zones are present in well-aerated soils.
11. Group organisms based on their carbon and energy requirements, outline their general role in soil development, and relate some basic biological activity to soil characteristics, soil development, and environmental conditions.
12. Explain the relationship between total carbon content and organic matter content as determined from a soil sample, the forms of organic matter in soil, and the importance of microbial biomass and soil organic matter in soil performance.
13. Identify and explore the issues facing soil quality in Wyoming.
14. Suggest appropriate mitigation measures to combat soil erosion and salinity.
15. Describe and discuss the process of sorption of pesticides and groundwater and soil contamination.
16. Elaborate upon environmental testing practices for soils and discuss how these tests could be used to monitor soils impacted by human activities such as resource extraction.
17. Identify examples of contaminated soil sites in Wyoming and describe potential remediation efforts and/or remediation efforts currently in progress.