Soil–Site Classification
- Agricultural Sciences
- 400 level
- 3 credit units
- 50 pages
- 1 units
This course, Soil-Site Classification, provides students with practical knowledge and skills in soil characterization and classification. It covers site selection, soil sampling techniques, and the identification of soil horizons and their properties. The course emphasizes hands-on experience in describing soil profiles, determining soil color, texture, structure, and consistence, and understanding redoximorphic features. Students will learn to apply these skills in various field settings.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 45 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Practical, theoretical
- Practical work
- Yes
- Practical exercises
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of SLM407, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
SLM407 · SLM407
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.
What you should be able to do
- Select appropriate sites for soil characterization and classification.
- Apply various soil sampling techniques effectively.
- Identify and describe soil master horizons and their subordinate distinctions.
- Recognize and classify diagnostic subsurface horizons.
- Determine soil color, texture, structure, and consistence in the field.
- Interpret redoximorphic features and their significance.
- Classify soil structure and understand its impact on soil properties.
- Evaluate soil consistence at different moisture levels.
What it prepares you for
- Soil Scientist
- Environmental Consultant
- Agricultural Extension Officer
- Land Surveyor
- Geoscientist
- Agriculture
- Environmental Management
- Land Use Planning
- Civil Engineering
- Natural Resource Management
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Soil Horizon Identification
Unit 5: Diagnostic Subsurface Horizons
The argillic horizon identification requires precise clay content measurement and stress cutan observation, demanding careful field and lab analysis.
- Module 3: Soil Properties and Characteristics
Unit 7: Soil Colour
Accurate determination of soil color using the Munsell chart requires practice and can be subjective due to varying light conditions and individual perception.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 28 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Site Selection and Soil Sampling
Unit 1: Site Selection and Description · 2 hours
Review the introduction to soil classification and site selection.. Understand the importance of site selection for different purposes.. Practice recording basic site information such as describer's name, date, and location..
- Week 2Module 1: Site Selection and Soil Sampling
Unit 2: Soil Sampling · 2 hours
Study different soil sampling techniques including horizon, incremental, and fixed-depth sampling.. Prepare profile pits and carry out different sampling methods.. Record observations and compare the effectiveness of each sampling technique..
- Week 3Module 2: Soil Horizon Identification
Unit 3: Soil Master Horizon Designations · 2 hours
Learn about master horizons and layers (H, O, A, E, B, C, R).. Prepare a profile pit and identify the different master horizons.. Understand the characteristics and significance of each master horizon..
- Week 4Module 2: Soil Horizon Identification
Unit 4: Subordinate Distinctions within Master Horizons · 2 hours
Identify subordinate distinctions within master horizons using lowercase letters (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, ss, t, v, w, x, y, z).. Prepare a profile pit and observe the subordinate distinctions.. Demonstrate how subordinate distinctions can be combined with master horizons during soil characterization..
- Week 5Module 2: Soil Horizon Identification
Unit 5: Diagnostic Subsurface Horizons · 2 hours
Study diagnostic subsurface horizons (Agric, Albic, Argillic, Calcic, Cambic, Duripan, Fragipan, Glossic, Kandic, Natric, Oxic, Petrocalcic, Petrogypsic, Placic, Salic, Sombric, Spodic, Sulfuric).. Identify diagnostic subsurface horizons in the field.. Understand the formation and characteristics of each subsurface horizon..
- Week 6Module 3: Soil Properties and Characteristics
Unit 6: Identifying Horizon Boundaries · 2 hours
Classify horizon boundaries based on distinctness (abrupt, clear, gradual, diffuse).. Classify horizon boundaries based on topography (smooth, wavy, irregular, broken).. Using a profile pit, classify horizon boundaries based on distinctness and topography..
- Week 7Module 3: Soil Properties and Characteristics
Unit 7: Soil Colour · 2 hours
Learn how soil colors are developed and classified using the Munsell color chart.. Use the Munsell color chart to classify soil colors in a profile pit.. Understand the relationship between soil color and soil attributes..
- Week 8Module 3: Soil Properties and Characteristics
Unit 8: Mottling or Redoximorphic Features · 2 hours
Explain mottling and how it develops in the soil.. Classify soil mottles based on abundance, size, and contrast.. Understand the redoximorphic properties of soil..
- Week 9Module 4: Soil Physical Properties
Unit 9: Soil Texture · 2 hours
Explain soil texture and how it is determined in the field.. Determine the sand, silt, and clay fractions in a soil sample.. Understand how soil texture affects pore spaces in the soil..
- Week 10Module 4: Soil Physical Properties
Unit 10: Soil Structure · 2 hours
Discuss the grades, forms, and sizes of soil structure.. Classify soil structure using a profile pit in the field.. Make a diagram of the different soil structures observed in the profile pit..
- Week 11Module 4: Soil Physical Properties
Unit 11: Consistence · 2 hours
Discuss the concept of soil consistence.. Determine the consistence of different soil horizons at different moisture levels.. Differentiate soil behavior at different moisture levels..
- Week 12Module 5: Soil Root and Revision
Unit 12: Roots · 2 hours
Estimate and classify the presence of roots in the soil.. Determine the quantity of roots in a square area within a horizon of a profile pit.. Determine the classes of roots in a horizon of a profile pit..
- Week 13Module 5: Soil Root and Revision
Final Revision · 4 hours
Review all units and practical exercises.. Focus on key concepts and techniques for soil classification.. Prepare for assignments and final examination..
Preparing for the exam
- Create detailed profile diagrams for typical soil types, labeling all horizons and features.
- Practice soil texture analysis using the hand-feel method with various soil samples.
- Review Munsell color chart and practice matching soil colors under different lighting.
- Study the diagnostic criteria for subsurface horizons and their environmental implications.
- Prepare a table summarizing the key characteristics of different soil structures and their impact on water movement.
- Review all practical exercises and assignments, focusing on areas where you encountered difficulties.
Questions students ask about this course
What is SLM407 about?
This course, Soil-Site Classification, provides students with practical knowledge and skills in soil characterization and classification. It covers site selection, soil sampling techniques, and the identification of soil horizons and their properties. The course emphasizes hands-on experience in describing soil profiles, determining soil color, texture, structure, and consistence, and understanding redoximorphic features. Students will learn to apply these skills in various field settings.
How many units does SLM407 have?
SLM407, Soil–Site Classification, has 1 unit across 1 module, over 50 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is SLM407?
SLM407 carries 3 credit units, at 400 level in Agricultural Sciences.
Is SLM407 hard?
SLM407 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly practical and theoretical work, and it has a practical component.
How long does SLM407 take to study?
About 45 hours of study, spread across its 1 units.
How is SLM407 assessed?
SLM407 is assessed by practical exercises, assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with SLM407?
Soil Scientist, Environmental Consultant, Agricultural Extension Officer, Land Surveyor and Geoscientist.