Field guide to soils and the environment / Практическое руководство по почвам и окружающей среде

The pu rpose of th is exercise is to take the student into the field to dig in soils, to appreciate the characteristics of soil differences outlined in pages 1-40 of the textbook. This exercise can consist of several short field trips, or several half-days of describing different soils according to the format given on pages 8 and 10 of the textbook.
Dig several pits in the middle of several different, well-defined landscape segments, as illustrated in Figure 1. The pits should exhibit highly contrasting soil properties. Each student should describe the environment and horizon characteristics in each pit according to Tables 1 and 2. Preparation includes discussion of pages 1-40 of the textbook and instruction on soils of the local area. Classroom exhibits of sand, clay, mottles, blocky and platy structures, and so on, can provide useful preparation for fieldwork. Instructions in determination of textures, consistence, and pH can be conveniently done in the classroom before students go into the field to make a soil profile description. Pages 24-26 of the textbook describe a practical exercise for determining soil texture that has proved to be quite useful in preparing to teach about soil profile descriptions <...>