263 Soils Building, 1525 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1299; 608/262-2633; www.soils.wisc.edu
Professors Ventura (chair), Bland, Bleam, Bockheim, Bundy, Hickey, Kung, Madison, McSweeney, Norman; Associate Professors Barak, Long, Pedersen, Powell, Zhu; Assistant Professors Balser, Balster, Laboski, Soldat, Stiles; Instructors Cates, Urrutia, Wolkowski
The Department of Soil Science provides undergraduate and graduate education in agricultural, environmental, and natural resource aspects of soils. Areas of emphasis include soil ecology; soil erosion and tillage management; soil fertility and plant nutrition; soil physicochemical phenomena; fate of soil contaminants; waste management; water and contaminant transport; pedology; and land-use analysis. Soils are a critical natural resource in environmental protection, food and fiber production, turf and grounds management, rural and urban planning, and waste disposal. All of these facets of soils and soil science are integrated into the department's course offerings and research programs. Soil science majors prepare for professional, technical, consulting and administrative positions in such areas as ecology and restoration, crop and timber production, soil survey, conservation, environmental pollution control, turf and grounds management, and land-use planning. Contact the department for further information on career opportunities.
Students completing an undergraduate major in soil science earn a Bachelor of Science-Agricultural Sciences degree, a Bachelor of Science-Natural Sciences degree, a Bachelor of Science-International Agriculture and Natural Resources degree, or a Bachelor of Science-Natural Resources degree, depending on their career goals. A problem-solving "capstone course" that integrates knowledge gleaned from a diversity of courses is required for each degree. All senior undergraduate students participate in a seminar course to prepare them for job-seeking and professional performance in their careers or continued studies.
Financial support—in the form of approximately 15 scholarships, part-time employment, paid internships, and work-study programs—is available to qualified undergraduate students. The department also provides opportunities and limited financial support in the form of research assistantships to qualified students seeking M.S. and/or Ph.D. degrees (see the Graduate School Catalog).
101 Forum on the Environment. (Crosslisted with Envir St) II; 1-2 cr (W-E). Lectures and discussions about environmental issues. Historical and contemporary environmental impacts of humans on the biosphere. Global futures: population, technology, societal values, resources and prospects for sustainable management. P: Open to Fr.
132 Earth's Water: Natural Science and Human Use. (Crosslisted with Atm Ocn) II; 3 cr (P-E). Water is central to the functioning of planet Earth. As humans increase their impact on Earth's systems and cohabitants, our understanding of the multiple roles of water becomes critical to finding sustainable strategies for human and exosystem health. This course explores the science of Earth's hydrosphere, with constant attention to human uses and impacts. P: HS math & science. Open to Fr.
230 Soil: Ecosystem and Resource. (Crosslisted with Envir St, Geog) II; 3 cr (P-I). The role of soils in ecosystems (habitat, moisture and nutrient reserve, biologically active part of the groundwater system) and the impact of human activity on the soil environment. P: Not open to students with credits in Soil Sci 301.
289 Honors Independent Study. II, SS; 1-2 cr (I). P: Enrolled in the Cals Honors Prgm & So or Jr st. Inter-Ag 288.
299 Independent Study. I, II; 1-3 cr (I). P: Open to Fr, So or Jr st & written cons inst.
301 General Soil Science. I; 4 cr (P-I). Physical chemical and biological properties of soils as they affect soil-plant-water relations, soil classification and suitability for agricultural and other uses. P: Math 112 & Chem 103 or equiv.
321 Soils and Environmental Chemistry. I; 2 cr (P-I). Sources, reactions, transport, effects, and fates of chemical species in soils and associated water and air environments. Emphasis on the chemical behavior of elements and compounds and the phenomena affecting natural and anthropogenic materials in soils. P: Chem 103-104 or 109-110 or equiv.
322 Physical Principles of Soil and Water Management. II; 3 cr (P-I). Soil physical properties and interactions as related to soil and water resource management and conservation. Water runoff (leading to soil erosion and surface water contamination); tillage and nutrient management; soil thermal and moisture regimes; solute movement; soil compaction, air and aeration. P: Physics 103; Soil Sci 301 or cons inst.
323 Soil Biology. (Crosslisted with Pl Path) I; 2 cr (B-I). Nature, activities and role of organisms inhabiting soil. Effects of soil biota on ecosystem function, response to cultural practices, and impacts on environmental quality, including bioremediation of contaminated soils. P: Chem 104 and Botany 130 or equiv.
324 Soils and Environmental Quality. (Crosslisted with Envir St) I; 3 cr (P-I). Interaction of soils with environmental contaminants and the role of soils in pollution control. P: Chem 103 & 104 or equiv; Jr st.
325 Pedology. I; 3 cr (P-I). Study and description of soils as integral elements of the landscape. Mechanisms of soil development. Morphological features and spatial relationships governing soil classification and the functionality of soil for multiple land use purposes. Field trips. P: Soil Sci 230, 301 or equiv; or cons inst.
326 Plant Nutrition Management. (Crosslisted with Agronomy, Hort) II; 3 cr (P-I). Functions, requirements and uptake of essential plant nutrients; chemical and microbial processes affecting nutrient availability; diagnosis of plant and soil nutrient status; fertilizers and efficient fertilizer use in different tillage systems. P: Soil Sci 230 or 301 and one of the following: Bot 100 or 130; Hort 120 or 122; Agron 100.
332 Nutrient Management: Turfgrass. (Crosslisted with Hort) I; 1 cr (I). Nutrient requirements of turfgrasses; nature of turfgrass response to fertilization; turfgrass fertilizers and their use in an environmentally sound manner. P: Soil Sci/Hort/Agron 326.
333 Nutrient Management: Horticultural Crops. (Crosslisted with Hort) II; 1 cr. Discussion of plant nutritional topics unique to horticultural crops: nitrogen form requirements; calcium utilization in fruit crops; nutrient recycling within plants, especially perennials; nutritional aspects of greenhouse growing systems; foliar nutrient applications. P: Hort/Soil Sci/Agron 326.
334 Nutrient Management: Agronomic Crops. (Crosslisted with Agronomy) I; 1 cr (I). Nutrient requirements of major agronomic crops; nutrient sources; nutrition management for agronomic crops from yield, quality, economic and environmental perspectives. P: Soil Sci/Hort/Agron 326.
372 On-Site Waste Water Treatment and Dispersal. (Crosslisted with BSE, Civ Engr) I; 2 cr. On-site treatment and dispersal of waste water from homes, commercial sources and small communities. Sources, pretreatment units, nutrient removal units, constructed wetlands, surface and soil dispersal systems, recycle and reu se systems, regulations, alternative collection systems. P: Chem 103.
375 Special Topics. I, II, SS; 1-6 cr. P: Cons inst.
399 Coordinative Internship/Cooperative Education. I, II, SS; 1-8 cr (A). P: So, Jr or Sr st and cons of supervising inst, advisor, and internship program coordinator.
425 Environmental Microbiology. (Crosslisted with Microbio) II; 3 cr (I). Microbial interactions in soils, water, extreme environments and biofilms. Modern methods for studying microbial ecology. Role of microbes in nutrient cycles and biogeochemistry. Use of microbes for mitigating manmade environmental problems of industrial, agricultural, and domestic origin. P: Bact 303, Chem 341 or 343.
428 Senior Seminar. II; 1 cr. Resume preparation, oral and written presentations on current topics or capstone experience. P: Sr st.
451 Environmental Biogeochemistry. (Crosslisted with Forest) Odd yrs.; II; 3 cr (P-D). Emphasis is given to a consideration of the processes influencing the distribution and cycling of chemical elements in native and anthropogenic ecosystem-level cycles of elements, and biogeochemical cycling in major soil-biome systems. P: Chem 103-104 or equiv.
468 Managing the Environmental Impacts of Livestock Operations. (Crosslisted with Dy Sci, An Sci, Envir St) II; 2 cr. Introduces nonpoint pollution policies and regulations and environmental losses impacting air and water quality. Discuss management practices that influence the cycling and balance of nitrogen and phosphorus across a farm and its components (livestock, crop and soil). P: Jr st.
499 Soil Management. I; 3 cr (A). A capstone applying independent and team problem solving, critical thinking and oral and written communication skills to issues in soil science. P: Sr or 2nd sem Jr majoring in soil sci or cons inst.
523 Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. (Crosslisted with Microbio) II; 3 cr (P-I). Transformations of nutrients and contaminants in soils and groundwater by microorganisms: emphasis on enzymatic mechanisms and metabolic pathways. Approaches for analyzing microbial populations and activities including molecular techniques. Applications of microbial activities for bioremediation of contaminated soils and groundwater. P: Chem 104; Bact 303 or Bot 375 or Biochem 501, or cons inst.
524 Urban Soil and Environment. (Crosslisted with Forest, Hort) II; 3 cr. Many environmental issues related to urbanization are derived from the manipulation of soil. By coupling contemporary literature in urban soils with soil science, students will be able to evaluate environmental issues within the urban environment and provide new ways of remediating their impact. P: Soil Sci 301 or 230.
525 Soil Geomorphology. (Crosslisted with Geog) II; 3 cr (P-A). Soil development as related to landscape throughout the Quaternary; focusing on the relationship of soils to climate and vegetation, landscape evolution, and time; principles of soil stratigraphy; case histories of soil geomorphic studies; field trips. P: Soil Sci 325 or Geog/Soil Sci 431; & an intermed level crse in geomorphology; or cons inst.
532 Environmental Biophysics. (Crosslisted with Atm Ocn) Even yrs.; I; 3 cr (P-I). Plant-environment interactions with particular reference to energy exchanges and water relations. Models are used to provide a quantitative synthesis of information from plant physiology, soil physics, and micrometeorology with some consideration of plant-pest interactions. P: Intro calc, Physics 103, Botany 130 & comp programng; or cons inst.
575 Assessment of Environmental Impact. (Crosslisted with Envir St) Even yrs.; II; 3 cr (P-I). Overview of methods for collecting and analyzing information about environmental impacts on agricultural and natural resources, including monitoring the physical environment and relating impacts to people and society. P: Jr st. Authorization may be required.
601 Special Topics in Soil Science. I, II, SS; 1-3 cr. Topics in various areas of soil science. P: Jr st.
606 Colloquium in Environmental Toxicology. (Crosslisted with Entom, Pl Path, Ahabs, Wl Ecol, M&Envtox) I, II; 1 cr (B-I). Lectures by resident and visiting professors on toxicology and problems related to biologically active substances in the environment.
621 Soil Chemistry. II; 3 cr (P-A). Solubility relationships, complex ions, ion exchange and oxidation-reduction reactions in soils. P: Chem 221; Soil Sci 326; or cons inst.
622 Soil Physics. I; Odd yrs.; 3 cr (P-I). Physical properties of soils. Water retention and transmission in soils. Transport of heat, gas, and solutes. Physical environment of soil organisms and soil-plant-water relations. P: Calculus & a course in physics, Soil Sci 301 or cons inst.
625 Soil Mineralogy and Surface Chemistry. Irr.; 3 cr. Structure, bonding and reactivity of minerals in soil environments. Surface chemistry of minerals and the processes of weathering. Clay colloid chemistry and the crystal chemistry of phyllosilicates. P: Intro geol or soils, & physical chem; or cons inst.
626 Mineral Nutrition of Plants. (Crosslisted with Botany, Hort) Even yrs.; I; 3 cr (A). Essential and beneficial elements, solutions and soil as nutrient sources, rhizosphere chemistry, nutritional physiology, ion uptake and translocation, functions of elements, nutrient interactions, genetics of plant nutrition. P: Botany 350 or cons inst.
631 Toxicants in the Environment: Sources, Distribution, Fate, & Effects. (Crosslisted with M&Envtox, Civ Engr) II; 3 cr (B-A). Nature, sources, distribution, and fate of contaminants in air, water, soil, and food and potential for harmful exposure. P: Chem 343 & 345 or equiv; Chem 561 or equiv; Physics 103 & 104 or equiv; Math 211; or cons inst.
681 Senior Honors Thesis. 2-4 cr. P: Honors program candidacy.
682 Senior Honors Thesis. I, II, SS; 2-4 cr. Continuation of 681. P: Honors program candidacy & Soil Sci 681.
695 Applications of Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resources. (Crosslisted with Envir St, Land Arc) II; 3 cr (A). Course has four components: 1) Detailed review of GIS concepts; 2) Case studies; 3) GIS implementation methods; 4) Laboratory to provide "hands-on" GIS experience. P: Land Arc/Envir St/Civ Engr 655 or Geog 377 or cons inst.
699 Special Problems. I, II; 1-3 cr (A). P: Sr st and cons inst.