CRSS 4520/6520; Field Soil and Site Assessment

How to assess a site to determine if the soil places any limitations on land use. Topics covered include soil sampling, soil landscapes, wetland and hydric soils, septic systems, and land application of waste.

Prerequsites: CRSS 4600/4600L and CRSS(GEOL) 4540/4540L or permission of department

Instructors:

Larry T. West
3119 Plant Science
542-0906
lwest@arches.uga.edu

David E. Radcliffe
3105 Plant Science
542-0897
dradclif@arches.uga.edu

Upon completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Evaluate the impact of soil and landscape properties on land use including application sites for solid and liquid wastes from agricultural, municipal, and household sources, ground water, riparian buffers, wetlands, and urban sediment and erosion control.
2. Understand interactions between soil and landscape properties, waste characteristics, and application technologies.

Topical Outline

1. Introduction
2. Hydrology and water quality
   1. Ground water
   2. Surface water
3. Soil and landscape characteristics
   1. Soil characteristics
      1. Hydraulic conductivity
      2. Seasonal high water tables
      3. Chemical and biological
      4. Estimates from morphology
   2. Landscape characteristics
      1. Geomorphic position
      2. Hydrologic effects of hillslope characteristics
      3. Riparian buffers
      4. Wetlands
4. Land application systems
   1. Municipal
      1. Types
      2. Regulations and design criteria
      3. Important soil and landscape characteristics
      4. Potential improvements to design
   2. Animal
      1. Poultry (dry waste)
      2. Dairy, swine, beef
      3. Regulatory aspects
   3. On-site wastewater management (septic) systems
      1. On-site system function
      2. Regulations
      3. Siting criteria
      4. Conventional systems
      5. Alternate designs
5. Sediment and erosion control
6. Site Assessment for other land uses

Per University Honor Code and academic Honesty Policy:

All academic work must meet the standards contained in "A culture of Honesty." Each student is responsible to inform themselves about those standards before performing any academic work.

This course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary.

Principle assignments:

Homework problems will be assigned periodically through the semester.

Grading:

• Homework = 20%
• Two exams = 50%
• Final = 30%

Attendance: Lecture attendance is encouraged but not required.

Text: No required text – lecture materials will be available on WebCT or as class handouts.

Missed exams: Missed exams can be made up if the student has a valid excuse for missing the scheduled exam.