Topics of discussion: ionic equilibria, ion exchange and ionic transport including soil-plant relationships.

First and second laws of thermodynamics, Darcy's law, saturated and unsaturated flow, simulation modeling of moisture movement, soil aeration, water availability to seeds, strength properties of unsaturated soils.

Chemical equilibria and soil solution chemistry; surface chemistry and solid-solution reactions; mineral structure, colloid chemistry and analytical techniques; fate of nutrients and pollutants; reactions of fertilizers.

Discussion of organic and inorganic nitrogen in soils, nitrogen fixation, mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, and plant availability of soil nitrogen. Students will be required to review literature on assigned topics.

Discussion of mass and energy transport in the boundary layer, evaporation and transpiration of water, light absorption and transmission of carbon dioxide in plant canopies and climate change impacts on micrometeorological processes.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: SOIL 3060 and/or consent of instructor.

Pesticide chemodynamics, biological and non-biological transformations of pesticides in water, soil and biota, bioaccumulation and food chain distribution of pesticides and related xenobiotics and environmental fate models will be discussed.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Advanced study of behaviour and crop requirements for selected nutrients (except for nitrogen, as covered in SOIL 7140. Students will be required to review literature and prepare seminars on assigned topics.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisites: SOIL 4520 or consent of instructor.

Principles of scientific research; management skills; writing skills; oral and poster presentation; preparation of research proposal and thesis (pass/fail). These topics will focus on aspects of soil science and will give students experience in writing and presenting scientific material to increase their professionalism as soil scientists.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

An examination of methods of landscape characterization and of landscape processes, their impacts, interactions and modelling.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

A continuation of SOIL 7230.

PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

Several courses in soil science are sectioned into modules. Modules of one credit hour on special topics are also available. Students may select three modules from the various courses or from special topics for SOIL 7250.

Examine the role of soil organisms and their communities in decomposition, elemental cycling, and pathogen/pest suppression in managed and natural soil systems. Understand methods of studying biochemical activity and communities in soil. Take a specific research topic of choice and develop an understanding of the organisms and communities, environmental controls of key biological processes involved and apply your knowledge to resolving a specific research issue.