ESPM 120ESPM 120

“Soil Characteristics” “Soil Characteristics”

Fall 2007Fall 2007

TodayToday

Syllabus and expectationsSyllabus and expectations

Soils and Berkeley and YouSoils and Berkeley and You

Mini field trip (to Hilgard Hall)Mini field trip (to Hilgard Hall)

Syllabus and expectations– main Syllabus and expectations– main pointspoints

Schedule subject to changeSchedule subject to change

Basic weekly structureBasic weekly structure

Ask questions, be excitedAsk questions, be excited

Respect each otherRespect each other

Have funHave fun

Soils and Berkeley and YouSoils and Berkeley and You

How are the following related to soil?How are the following related to soil?

PizzaPizza

Don Edwards Wildlife RefugeDon Edwards Wildlife Refuge http://www.fws.gov/desfbay/habitats.htmhttp://www.fws.gov/desfbay/habitats.htm

Your house/apartmentYour house/apartment

History of Pedology History of Pedology

mid 19th Century: no scientific study of soilsmid 19th Century: no scientific study of soils

Soil science followed closely behind development Soil science followed closely behind development of geology (early 19th century) and biology of geology (early 19th century) and biology (Origin of Species). (Origin of Species).

Two key contributors to development of PedologyTwo key contributors to development of Pedology Vasili Dokuchaev (Russian Vasili Dokuchaev (Russian

geographer/mineralogist)geographer/mineralogist) Eugene Hilgard (American geologist/chemist)Eugene Hilgard (American geologist/chemist)

Eugene Hilgard and Soil Science at Eugene Hilgard and Soil Science at BerkeleyBerkeley

Born in Germany Born in Germany

Raised in American frontier (Illinois) in intellectually Raised in American frontier (Illinois) in intellectually oriented familyoriented family

Received PhD at University of HeidelbergReceived PhD at University of HeidelbergAgricultural chemistry and geologyAgricultural chemistry and geology

Accepted position as Assistant State Geology of Accepted position as Assistant State Geology of Mississippi in 1855Mississippi in 1855

Hilgard in MississippiHilgard in Mississippi

Not a glamorous jobNot a glamorous job

Recognized his future with state Recognized his future with state lie not with geology but lie not with geology but agriculture and agriculture and soilssoils

Produced a landmark document Produced a landmark document (next slide) with half geology and (next slide) with half geology and half soilshalf soils

The Mississippi Report The Mississippi Report

Detailed discussion Detailed discussion of soil formation and of soil formation and soil chemistrysoil chemistry

““soil” map of soil” map of state….state….

Hilgard’s Agricultural MapHilgard’s Agricultural Map

Analogous to modern Analogous to modern generalized soil mapgeneralized soil map

Map units based on Map units based on geology and vegetationgeology and vegetation

Hilgard Moves to CaliforniaHilgard Moves to California

Recruited by UC president Recruited by UC president in 1874in 1874

Replaced first chair of Replaced first chair of agriculture (who was fired)agriculture (who was fired)

Berkeley when Hilgard arrived….Berkeley when Hilgard arrived….

Despite cultural Despite cultural isolation Hilgard seized isolation Hilgard seized opportunity to expand opportunity to expand College of Agriculture College of Agriculture (now CNR) and make (now CNR) and make soils a national issuesoils a national issue

Hilgard and John Wesley Powell Hilgard and John Wesley Powell (USGS)(USGS)

Prodded JW Powell to start a Prodded JW Powell to start a national soil survey program national soil survey program (later adopted by USDA)(later adopted by USDA)

Hilgard and his legacy….Hilgard and his legacy…. Mountains, lakes, streets, buildings, journals are all Mountains, lakes, streets, buildings, journals are all named after Hilgardnamed after Hilgard His influence was international, inspiring the next His influence was international, inspiring the next generation of scientists, particularly Hans Jenny……generation of scientists, particularly Hans Jenny……

Hans Jenny and Soil FormationHans Jenny and Soil Formation

Soils form predictably Soils form predictably in response to in response to environmental factors environmental factors (Dokuchaev ~ 1880)(Dokuchaev ~ 1880)

Hans Jenny (1920’s to Hans Jenny (1920’s to 1930’s) transformed 1930’s) transformed conceptual model to a conceptual model to a more quantitative more quantitative theory following tenets theory following tenets of physical chemistryof physical chemistry

State Factor EquationState Factor Equation

Soil = f (initial conditions, external conditions, Soil = f (initial conditions, external conditions, time)time)

or, based on field observationor, based on field observation

Soils = f (climate, biota, topography, parent material, time, …. )

Key Concepts of State Factor TheoryKey Concepts of State Factor Theory

Factors are independent of systemFactors are independent of systemSystem is small relative to surroundingsSystem is small relative to surroundings

A change in variables defines a new A change in variables defines a new system system

there are essentially an infinite number of soilsthere are essentially an infinite number of soils

Mini Field TripMini Field Trip

Soil ProfilesSoil Profiles

http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/osd/index.htmlhttp://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/osd/index.html

Extent mapExtent map

Typical pedonTypical pedon

Natural vegetationNatural vegetation

San Joaquin Series

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Chapter 1Chapter 1 HandoutHandout Study questionsStudy questions