Students examine soil forming processes, physical and chemical properties of soils, plant nutrient needs, soil fertility and fertilizer use, and the Canadian System of Soil Classification. The course also introduces students to the Canadian Land Inventory system, the relevance of the Agricultural Land Commission and the Agricultural Land Reserve, and the interpretation and use of soil maps and reports.
Credits: 3
Hours: 45 (Lecture Hours: 39; Laboratory Hours: 3; Field Experience Hours: 3)
Total Weeks: 15
Prerequisites:
None
Non-Course Prerequisites:
None
Co-requisites:
None
Course Content:
Soil Forming Processes
- Origin of surficial geological deposits
- Soil forming factors
- Fundamental components of soil
- Soil profiles and the relation to soil orders
Description and Evaluation of Physical Properties of Soil
- Soil textures and the impact on soil productivity
- Soil structure and the impact on soil productivity
- Soil colour and the relation to soil productivity
- Soil porosity and bulk density
- Soil biology
Description and Evaluation of Soil Chemical Properties
- Soil colloids and cation exchange capacity
- Soil pH and buffering capacity
- Soil salinity and the HCl effervescence test
- Factors influencing the nutrient supply in soils
Overview of Soil Classification
- Purpose and structure of Canadian System of Soil Classification
- General properties of the ten soil orders
- Typical soil profiles and the relation to soil orders
- Main processes of soil profile development
Interpretation of Soil Maps and Reports
- Canadian Land Inventory (CLI) nomenclature and use
- CLI maps
- Soil survey maps
- Components of a soil report
Overview of Land Use and Governances
- Agricultural Land Commission and the delegation agreement with OGC
- Purpose of Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR)
- Private versus Crown land and ALR versus non-ALR land
Plant Nutrient Needs and Fertilizer Use
- Impact of macro and micro nutrients on crop growth
- Comparison of natural and synthetic fertilizers
- Fertilizer grade
- Common fertilizer application methods
- Calculate a fertilizer balance
- Soil sampling for lab analysis
- Interpretation of soil fertility lab results
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain soil forming processes,
- Describe and evaluate soil physical properties,
- Describe and evaluate soil chemical properties
- Overview of Soil Classification
- Interpret Soil Maps and Reports
- Overview of Land Use and Governances
- Describe Plant Nutrient Needs and Fertilizer Use
Grading System: Letters
Passing Grade: D (50%)
Percentage of Individual Work: 90
Percentage of Group Work: 10
Textboooks:
Textbooks are subject to change. Please contact the bookstore at your local campus for current book lists.