In thiscoursestudents will learn about the chemical, physical, and biological nature of soils. Students will learn about the factors controlling soil development, what a soil name can tell a person about the environment, and how land management decisions affect soil quality and its sustainability. Topics willinclude:the importance of soils, what soil is, how soil forms, how soils are described, physical properties of soils, soil water, soil chemistry, soil biology, and soil sustainability.