NC State Soil Science: SSC 551, Soil Morphology, Genesis and Classification

Soil Morphology, Genesis and Classification

Dr. Stanley Buol, stanley_buol@ncsu.edu
Department of Soil Science, Campus Box 7619
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7619
Call 919.515.2655

Attention New Students: If you have registered for this course you need to contact the course instructor and request access to the student materials. You should also provide us with the email address that you prefer to use while taking the course. You can contact Dr. Buol at the email address listed above or click on the link to the left of this message.

Course Goals & Objectives

The first portion of the course presents the physical, chemical and biological reactions and processes that determine soil morphology and dynamics. The second portion of the course concentrates on individual kinds of soils as classified in the US system of Soil Taxonomy. Logic of systematics, global distribution and soil mapping are discussed for each soil order. There are three goals the student should seek.

1. Understand the processes that are active in soils and responsible for individual soil characteristics.
2. Become knowledgeable in how individual soil characteristics are recorded and systematically arranged in Soil Taxonomy.
3. Relate how individual and aggregated soil properties relate to human and environmental concerns for the use of soils.

Students should study the assigned chapters indicated with each unit. Notes and illustrations in each unit are presented to emphasize significant portions of the reading assignments.
 

Textbook

Soil Genesis and Classification, 5th edition, 2003. S.W. Buol, R.J. Southard, R.C. Graham and P.A. McDaniel. Iowa State Press, A Blackwell Pub. Co., Ames, Iowa. ISBN 0-8138-2873-2

Available from the NC State Bookstore

Grading

Final Exam: Comprehensive coverage of entire course. (3 hours)

Course Exams: Written discussion questions (approx. 3 hr. each exam)

Final Exam: 3 hr. (Comprehensive for entire course)

Course Requirements:

• 2 course exams
• Final exam
• 1 term paper

Grade:

Term Paper: Compare and contrast some aspects of soil genesis or soil use in two assigned areas: Guidelines for the paper are given in Unit 8a: Discuss with Instructor. Due before final Exam.

Instructor's Office:

3218 Williams Hall
Phone: (919) 513-3034
Home: (919) 828-8097
E-mail: stanley_buol@ncsu.edu
Mailing address: Box 7619 North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh NC, 27695-7619


The office door is always open when I'm in town, usually - 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 5:15 p.m. daily. Feel free to call me at home at other times. If I am not available leave voice message and I will return your call as soon as possible.

The class will be informed of out-of-town travel.

The secretary in room 3210 Williams Hall (Phone 919-515-2388) can usually find me during the day if I am not physically in my office.

Instructor's Policies:

Graduate education is individual instruction. The instructor will work with any reasonable conflicts of schedule and individual disabilities but likes to have assignments completed on time and enforces academic integrity standards as stated in the student handbook.

Incomplete grades, late assignments and scheduling make-up

Only with permission of instructor

Academic Integrity

University Policy on Academic Integrity

Students with Disabilities

University Policy on Students with Disabilities