LAB Feb. 1, 2011

For lab this week, we reviewed soils sampling techniques, discussed the soil test report and soil texture. We also collected and prepared soil samples for submission. We carried out a field soil texture analysis and began the rest of the soil physical properties exercises which will be continued next week.

The only assigned homework is to visit the site ( http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/publications/Ag-614.pdf ) and briefly review the "Understanding the Soil Test Report" document paying most attention for now to what the different codes for each analysis refer to. (ex. CEC stands for Cation Exchange Capacity)

There is no written home work to hand in however, like all weeks, there will be a lab report due on Tuesday focused on the soil sampling and field texture analysis exercises.

This coming week, we will continue the soil physical properties exercise. See you all then!

Soil Properties 1

GOOGLE PRESENTATIONS: Try holding shift key down and then refreshing your browser. Should clear cookies.

How soil horizons form:

1. Additions: materials that are transported into the location where a soil is forming. The addition of calcium carbonate through the deposition of dust.
   
2. Transformation: chemical or biological alteration of materials. Breakdown of organic matter into humus is an example.
   
3. Translocation: the movement of soil-forming materials through the developing soil profile. The transport of organic material by burrowing animals is an example.
   
4. Removal: soil forming materials that are completely removed from the soil profile. Easily dissolved elements like calcium carbonate can be removed from the soil profile under rainy climates.

Intro to Soil Properties

Introduction soil function (and some properties).

Some additional notes.

1. Soil Texture Triangle (Practice with this animation)
2. Keep in mind huge surface area of many soils (see example in Chapter 2 for 1 gram of soil).
3. Read Chapter 3 for next time.
4. If you still cannot see the slides log into the e-mail you used to accept the blog invitation at least once, log out and then try again. Some folks created g-mail accounts, but did not actually ever log back into the new accounts.
5. EXAM 1 has been rescheduled for Wednesday February 16th. Notebooks will be due at the beginning of class.
6. Location of Link to Farmland Preservation GIS model mentioned in class.