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Northwest A&F University

Soil Science

Northwest A&F University via XuetangX

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Overview

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Soil science is a professional basic course for students in agriculture and forestry-related majors. In this course, you will learn the importance of soil to the earth ecosystem, the history and development of soil science, the formation and evolution of soils, the components of soil, the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils, soil nutrient cycling, soil classification and distribution, soil utilization and improvement and protection. Soil basic theories will be taught together with their application in common agricultural and forestry practices. This course can lay a solid foundation for you to solve the problems about population-resources-environment-food production.


Syllabus

  • Chapter 1 Introduction to Soil Science
    • 1.1 The Concept of Soil
    • 1.2 The Importance of Soil
    • 1.3 The Status and Characteristics of Chinese Soil Resources
    • 1.4 Problems in the Process of Soil Resource Utilization in China
    • 1.5 Development of Soil Science
  • Chapter 2 Rock Weathering and Soil Formation
    • 2.1 Weathering
    • 2.2.1 Soil Parent Materials I
    • 2.2.2 Soil Parent Materials II
    • 2.3 The Essence of Soil Formation
    • 2.4.1 Soil Formation Factor: Parent Material
    • 2.4.2 Soil Forming Factor: Organisms
    • 2.4.3 Soil Forming Factor: Climate
    • 2.4.4 Soil Formation Factor: Terrain
    • 2.4.5 Soil Forming Factors: Time and Human Activity
    • 2.5.1 Soil Forming Processes I
    • 2.5.2 Soil Forming Processes II
    • 2.5.3 Soil Forming Processes III
    • 2.6 Soil Profile
  • Chapter 3 Soil Organic Matter and Soil Organisms
    • 3.1 The Sources and Components of Soil Organic Matter
    • 3.2 The Decomposition and Transformation of Soil Organic Matter
    • 3.3 The Impacting Factors of Soil Organic Matter Transformation
    • 3.4 Soil Humus
    • 3.5 Functions and Regulations of Soil Organic Matter
    • 3.6 Soil Organism and Microbial Population Diversity
    • 3.7 Environmental Factors Affecting Soil Microbial Activity
    • 3.8 Distribution of Soil Microbes
    • 3.9 Soil Microbial Activity and Characterization
  • Chapter 4 The Texture, Structure and Porosity of Soils
    • 4.1 Soil Particle
    • 4.2 Soil Texture
    • 4.3 Soil Texture and Soil Fertility
    • 4.4 The Types of Soil Structure
    • 4.5 The Formation of Granular Structure
    • 4.6 The Significance of Granular Structure to Soil Fertility
    • 4.7.1 The Quantity of Soil Pores
    • 4.7.2 The Quality of Soil Pores
    • 4.7.3 The Factors that Affect Soil Porosity
    • 4.8 Soil Tilth
  • Chapter 5 Soil Water
    • 5.1 Soil Water Types
    • 5.2 Soil Water Content and Representation
    • 5.3 Soil Water Constants and Availability
    • 5.4 Soil Water Potential
    • 5.5 Soil Water Movement
    • 5.6 Soil Water Suction and Water Characteristic Curve
    • 5.7 Field Cycle of Soil Moisture
    • 5.8 Soil Moisture Status and Adjustment
  • Chapter 6 Soil Air and Heat
    • 6.1 Soil Air Composition and Characteristics
    • 6.2 Soil Aeration and Adjustment
    • 6.3 Soil Heat Sources and Balance
    • 6.4 Soil Thermal Properties
    • 6.5 Soil Temperature and Adjustment
  • Chapter 7 Soil Nutrient Cycling
    • 7.1 The Sources, Content and Forms of Soil Nitrogen
    • 7.2 Transformation and Regulation of Soil Nitrogen Cycle
    • 7.3 Soil Phosphorus
    • 7.4 Soil Potassium
  • Chapter 8 Soil Colloid
    • 8.1 The Definition and Structure of Soil Colloids
    • 8.2 Types of Soil Colloids
    • 8.3 Crystal Structure of Phyllosilicate Clay Minerals
    • 8.4 Types and Properties of Phyllosilicate Clay Minerals
    • 8.5 The Fundamental Properties of Soil Colloids
    • 8.6 The Adsorption and Exchange of Cations
    • 8.7 Cation Exchange Capacity and Base Saturation Percentage
  • Chapter 9 Soil Solution and Reactions
    • 9.1 Soil Solution and Compositions
    • 9.2 Sources, Forms and Influencing Factors of Soil Acid and Alkali
    • 9.3 Soil Acid-Alkaline Regulation and Its Relationship with Soil Quality
    • 9.4 Redox Reaction in Soil Solution
  • Chapter 10 Soil Classification and Distribution
    • 10.1 Brief Introduction to Soil Classification
    • 10.2 Chinese Genetic Soil Classification System
    • 10.3 Chinese Soil Taxonomy
    • 10.4 Soil Distribution Patterns
    • 10.5.1 Main Soil Types in Northwestern China I
    • 10.5.2 Main Soil Types in Northwestern China II
  • Final exam
    • Final Exam

Taught by

Zeng-Chao Geng, Chen-Yang Xu, Jian-Guo Zhang, A-Feng Zhang, Wei Du, and Xiao-Min Wei

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