Soil Science

Agricultural Soil and Food Systems

    Nutrient Management and Soil and Plant Analysis

    Manufacturing technology, additives, coating techniques, evaluation, and soil test analysis. Faculty: John Grove, Dave McNear, Hanna Poffenbarger

    Soil and Water Management and Conservation

    Irrigation, drainage, tillage, erosion, evaporation, transpiration, cropping systems, and cultivation methods. Faculty:  John Grove, Hanna Poffenbarger

    Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition

    Plant nutrients and plant nutrition, interaction of plant growth factors, and soil and plant tissue tests. Faculty:  John Grove, Dave McNear, Hanna Poffenbarger

    Fundamental Soil Science

      Pedology

      Soil formation and geology, physical and chemical properties, soil survey and mapping, interpretation of soil behavior, and wetland preservation. Faculty: Chris Shepard

      Soil Biology and Biochemistry

      Soil microorganisms, organic matter, nitrogen transformations, microbial decomposition, rhizosphere dynamics, mycorrhizae, enzymes, and fate of organic material.  Faculty: Rebecca McCulley, Dave McNear, Hanna Poffenbarger

      Soil Chemistry

      Analysis, acidity, liming, ion exchange, physical chemistry of soils, and behavior of soil additives. Faculty:  John Grove, Chris Matocha, Dave McNear, Jason Unrine

      Soil Mineralogy

      Frequency, distribution, formation, translocation, and properties of soil minerals. Faculty: Chris Matocha

      Soil Physics and Hydrology

      Water movement, structure and aggregation, and modeling of water movement and contaminant movement. Faculty: Ole Wendroth

      Soil and Ecosystem Processes

        Forest, Range, and Wildland Soils

        Soil organic matter dynamics; biogeochemistry of deficient nutrients; long-term soil sustainability management practices; belowground processes and rhizosphere dynamics; water relations/hydrology; soil biodiversity. Faculty: Rebecca McCulley, Chris Barton

        Soils and Environmental Quality

        Influence upon and interaction of soils with the environment; efforts of soil scientists to maintain and improve the quality of the environment. Faculty: Dave McNear, Hanna Poffenbarger, Jason Unrine, Brad Lee

        Urban & Anthropogenic Soils

        Soils altered by human activities in the suburban or urban environment. Faculty: Brad Lee

        Wetland Soils

        Wetland soil processes, classification, nutrient relationships, and water quality. Faculty: Elisa D'Angelo