SYLLABUS  FOR

ADVANCED SOIL PHYSICS

AGRON 677

TEACHING STAFF

MAJOR TOPICS

I        Introduction to MathCad

II      Heat transfer in soil

III     Soil water flow

IV     Chemical movement in soil

Textbook: none required, but Soil Physics 6^th ed. (Jury and Horton, Wiley, 2004) recommended

Soil Physics:     That branch of science dealing with the physical properties of the soil, as well as with the measurement, prediction, and control of the physical processes taking place in and through the soil.  As physics deals with the forms and interrelations of matter and energy, soil physics deals with the state and movement of matter and with the fluxes and transformations of energy in the soil.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1.   To expand on the student's knowledge of the mechanisms and processes of heat and mass transport in soil.

2.   To introduce the computer language MathCad and to use MathCad to solve soil flow problems.

3.   To demonstrate some application of mathematical techniques by solving soil flow problems.

4.   To familiarize the student with the literature of soil physics.

APPROACH

1.   Lectures are given, and some formal mathematical solutions of soil flow problems will be presented. Outside reading and further calculations will be used to supplement lectures.

2.   Homework is assigned on a regular basis to give the student practice with analytical and numerical techniques.

STUDENT EVALUATION

1.   Two exams (mid-term and final) will be graded.  The mid-term is generally a take-home exam, while the final is usually oral.

2.   Homework assignments will be checked, and re-submitted as needed until correct.

3.   Term project will be graded. A term project includes both written and oral presentations of analysis of a soil physics topic.

OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION

(2-0) Cr. 2. Alt F. Offered 2004.  Recommended: Agron 577, differential equations, computer programming.

The flow and distribution of heat, water, and chemicals in soil. Physical principles and applications.

OUTLINE

Introduction

Objectives, format, requirements

MathCad computer language

Heat Transfer

develop differential equation

consider soil thermal properties

analytical solution of differential equation with periodic surface temperature

numerical solutions of differential equations

calculation of frost penetration in soil

determining soil heat flux density

Water Flow

develop differential equation

consider soil hydraulic properties

analytical solutions to differential equation

numerical solutions to differential equation

Chemical Movement

develop differential equation

consider transport parameters

analytical solutions to differential equation

numerical solutions to differential equation

mobile-immobile zones in soil