CRSS 4600/6600 and 4600L/6600L
SOIL PHYSICS
D.E. Radcliffe
Fall 2002

Description:  The objective of this 4 semester hour course is to describe the physical and hydrologic properties and processes of soils.  The emphasis is on soil water and chemical movement in the unsaturated (vadose) zone and it differs from other hydrology courses offered at the University in this respect.  There is also an emphasis on learning how to measure water content and associated properties of soil and the laboratory exercises are chosen for this purpose.  CRSS 3050, CRSS(FORS) 3060, ENGR 2150, ENGR 3050, or FRS 3110 can act as prerequisites along with MATH 2200 and PHYS 1111 or 1211.

Textbook:  The lecture notes will serve as the textbook and are available from Bel-Jean Copy/Print Center, 163 E. Broad St. (across from the arches).

Instructional Procedure:  There will be 3 lectures each week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and a  lab most Tuesdays.  On the weeks that we do not have lab, we will lecture on Tuesday. Attendance is mandatory for labs, but not for lectures.  Class participation in discussions is encouraged.  Problem sets will be assigned and graded every other week.  Several problems in each set will require the use of a math software package called Mathcad.  Some problems will be for all students and others will be for graduate students, only.  Mathcad is installed on computers in room 1203.  The combination for the lock on the computer room is available from a secretary in room 3111.  All problems are due at the beginning of the lecture on the Monday following the week in which they are assigned.  Late submission without a valid excuse will result in a zero grade.  Working together on the problem sets is encouraged.  There will be a mid-term and final exam. The mid-term will be  7:00-9:00 PM on Thursday, October 17 and the final will be 12:00-3:00 PM Wednesday, December 11.  There will be no make-up for exams unless you have a medical emergency or get prior approval from me. All academic work must meet the standards contained in èA Culture of Honestyî.  Each student is responsible for informing themselves about those standards before performing any academic work.  The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class may be necessary.

Final Grade: 

Topics to be covered:

• Chapter 1.  Primary soil particles 
• Chapter 2. Secondary soil particles
• Chapter 3. Soil water content and potential
• Chapter 4. Steady water flow
• Chapter 5. Heat transport
• Chapter 6. Solute transport
• Chapter 7. Non-steady water flow

Laboratory Schedule:  Rm 3209

• Section 1, Tuesday,  8:00-10:45
• Section 2, Tuesday,  2:00-4:45