Pillar Environmental
ENVR 302 - Soil and Water Science
Announcements
Students:
Due Dates: Class, please keep in mind the following due dates as we approach the end of the semester.
Friday, April 17 - Exam #3 (covers soil conservation, organic matter, biology)
Monday, April 27 - Part II of the Land Use Report is due.
Monday, April 27 - Part III (presentation, oral or poster) of the Land Use Report is due
Make sure you are visiting this site frequently. I will post announcements, handouts, and other materials on an almost daily basis. Also keep in mind that I will use the Queens email system to provide updates and other information. Make sure you check your Queens email frequently. If you do not have a Queens email account, please visit the Queens post office.
ENVR 302 - Course Information
Required Textbooks:
Soil in the Environment: Crucible of Terrestrial life, by Daniel Hillel. (2007), Elsevier Science
Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations, by David R. Montgomery, 2007, University of California Press
ENVR 302 - Course Description
In this course you will learn about the components and processes of a dynamic, complex, multi-dimensional environmental system simply called soil. Soil is a global natural resource vita for water, nutrient, and energy cycling; food production, and sustaining a quality and aesthetic environment. Soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and functions will be covered in relation to water, nutrient and energy cycles; plant growth; land use and environmental quality; and impacts on society and culture. This introductory course will instill awareness of soil as a basic natural resource, the use and exploitation of which has considerable influence on human society and life in general.
ENVR 302 - Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course students should be able to:
• Identify the five major environmental functions of soil.
• List the factors controlling soil development and describe how each of these factors has contributed to the soil we see today.
• Summarize how a soil's properties affect its suitability for a variety of uses including agriculture, silviculture, urban development, landfills etc.
• Explain the chemical processes that control the storage and release of organic and inorganic compounds including vital nutrients and hazardous contaminants.
• Discuss controls on water availability, water movement, and water quality in a soil profile.
• Discuss the roles of macrofauna, microfauna, and microflora in processing soil organic matter and affecting soil quality
• Demonstrate skills required to collect samples, make field observations and interpretations of soils for a variety of uses.
• Retrieve and use information from a variety of sources (i.e. soil survey, topographic maps, etc. ) for soil management decisions
• Describe how soils have the potential to affect the future climate of the earth
• Describe the role of soils in the sustainability or collapse of ancient and modern societies
Course Resources
- Lecture Notes & Materials
- Supplemental Materials
- Lab Protocols and Data
- Course Links
- Course Blog (WordPress)
Contact Information
Greg Pillar, Ph.D.
Dept. of Env Science
Dept. of Chemistry
Queens University of Charlotte
1900 Selwyn Ave.
Charlotte NC, 28274
phone: 704.337.2260
fax: 704.337.2223
Faculty Webpage
email: pillarg@queens.edu