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Environmental Soil Chemistry
TPSS 435
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Detailed Course Outline

Goals and Objectives

Study of soil chemical processes such as weathering, adsorption, precipitation, complex formation, and ion exchange; causes of soil acidity, alkalinity, and salinity; reactions between soil and fertilizers, bio-wastes, pesticides, and heavy metals.
Skills and Knowledge to be Acquired

Skills: Know how to determine chemical analysis of soils, fertilizers, and biowastes.

Knowledge: Know what to expect from a soil using its chemical and mineralogical properties or when inputs, such as fertilizers or heavy metals, are needed.
Computer Skills to be Acquired
Know how to estimate ion concentrations in the soil solution, to predict the thickness of a diffuse double layer.
Prerequisites
TPSS 304
or consent
Texts
Soil Chemistry, by Bohn, McNeal, and O'Connor. 1985. John Wiley & Sons Publisher.

Additional reading:
  • Principles of soil chemistry. K. H. Tan. 1993. Marcel Dekker, Inc. NY.
  • The Chemistry of Soils. 1989. G. Sposito. Oxford University Press, NY.
Films/Videotapes

Videotapes on compost making and beneficial uses or compost.
Guest Speakers

None
Field Trips

None
Course Organization
  • Introduction to Soil Chemistry
  • Chemical Principles as applied to soils.
  • Soil Weathering
  • The Solid Phase
  • Soil Organic Matter
  • Cation Exchange
  • Anion Exchange and sorption
  • Soil Acidity and Liming
  • Salt-affected soils
  • Redox Reactions
Grading
The examination on the lecture portion are 50%, homework assignments 25%, and laboratory assignments 25%. There are three 1-hour exams and a final exam. The first 1-hour exam will cover Text Book Chapters 1, 2, 3, and the first half of chapter 4 and valued at 10% of the grade. The second 1-hour exam will cover the second half of Chapter 4 and Chapters 5, 6, and worth 10% of the grade. The third 1-hour exam will cover chapters 7, 8, and 9 and valued at 10%. The final two hour examination will be comprehensive (covers all 10 chapters) and will be held on the date listed in the Univ.'s Registration Booklet. (20% grade).

The grading scale: A = 90% or above: B = 80% - 89%: C = 70% - 79%: D = 60% - 69%, and F = < 60%.
Faculty

Nguyen V. Hue
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Last updated on 1/15/2004