BIOL 2420 — - Introduction to Soil Science
This course is an introduction to the main topics in soil science. It begins with a basic introduction of important chemical concepts and proceeds to describe the composition, structure, and characteristics of soil. Whenever possible, examples involving the soil types of Rhode Island are used. Throughout the course, the relevance of soil properties to land uses such as agriculture, construction, and wastewater treatment will be emphasized with practical examples. Soil classification, properties, and their applications to land-use decisions will be emphasized through a student project using the public Web Soil Survey database. This course is geared toward students with an interest in environmental management, agriculture, geology, and biology in general. Lecture: 3 hours, Other: 1 hour Prerequisite(s): (ENGL 0890 or ENGL 1002 or Reading Course Placement) and (MATH 0099 or Math Placement)