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Organization, Regulations, and Courses 2024-25


ENVS 79 The Soil Resource

Soils are a critical natural resource; feeding our growing population depends fundamentally on soils; in fact, soils provide nutrients to all ecosystems. Agriculture and land management has increased soil erosion around the world, potentially influencing the history and fate of civilizations. In the modern era, this use is not sustainable; the physical and chemical degradation of soils far outpaces soil production. This course will explore the nature and properties of soils and examine how these processes occur in natural and human-influenced soils, and identify reasonable limits on what can influence the sustainable utilization of soils as a resource. We will begin by developing an understanding of the geologic, biologic, and chemical processes that lead to soil formation and the development of specific soil properties. The second portion of the course will examine the relationship between soils and underlying bedrock and overlying vegetation and the role of soils in ecosystems. The final section of the course will examine the situations in which soils are used to reduce the impact of human activities and the way in which humans can reduce their impact on soils: the importance of soils in septic tanks and leach fields; the use of soils as solid waste landfill caps and liners; the use of soils in the storage of hazardous wastes; and the conservation and management of soils.

Instructor

Jackson

Cross Listed Courses

Identical to EARS 35

Prerequisite

ENVS 2 or one course from EARS 1, EARS 2, EARS 3, EARS 4, EARS 5, EARS 6, EARS 8, EARS 9, or CHEM 5 and an advanced course from the environmental sciences or Earth Sciences; or permission of the instructor.

Degree Requirement Attributes

SLA

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Offered

  • Fall