I. SOIL AS A COMPONENT OF ECOSYSTEM MODELS
A. BLACK BOX MODELS
B. ECOSYSTEM MODELS
C. SOIL MODELS
II. WHAT IS A SOIL?
A. DESCRIPTIVE IDENTIFICATION
1. INORGANIC COMPONENTS
a. SAND, SILT, CLAY
b. MINERALS
c. PLANT NUTRIENTS AND OTHER IONS
2. ORGANIC COMPONENTS
3. AIR/WATER
B. MINERALOGICAL IDENTIFICATION
1. INDIVIDUAL MINERALS
2. PARENT MATERIALS
3. WEATHERING PRODUCTS
C. PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION
1. SOIL-PLANT-ATMOSPHERE CONTINUUM
2. INTERFACIAL RELATIONSHIPS
a. SOLID-SOLID
b. SOLID-SOLUTION
3. COLLOIDAL PHENOMENA
a. SOIL STABILITY
b. ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
D. BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION
1. FERTILITY
2. MICROBIOLOGY
3. MACROBIOLOGY
III. WHY STUDY SOIL?
A. ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
1. INTERACTIONS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT
a. SOURCE OF POLLUTANTS
b. SINK FOR POLLUTANTS
B. SUPPORT FOR PLANT GROWTH
1. DO FERTILE SOILS ALWAYS PRODUCE HEALTHY PLANTS?
C. WATER QUALITY
1. NON POINT SOURCE
a. PAST HISTORY
i. As AND Pb AS INSECTICIDES
ii. LONG LIVED ORGANIC PESTICIDES
b. CURRENT
i. WASTE DISPOSAL
ii. MANURE MANAGEMENT
iii. FERTILIZATION
iv. ORGANICS
2. SOIL AS A SINK/SOURCE
a. "CHROMATOGRAPHIC COLUMN"
b. ATTENUATIVE CAPACITY
i. SEPTIC LEACH FIELDS
ii. LAND DISPOSAL OF WASTES
iii. RECOVERY ABILITY
D. ACID PRECIPITATION
1. HIGH BUFFERING OF SOILS
2. SOIL ITSELF PRODUCES ACID
IV. WHY STUDY SOIL CHEMISTRY?
A. IMPORTANCE TO ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
B. INTERRELATIONSHIP TO ALL NATURAL RESOURCES