CE 474 Soil Physics

Credit Structure: (2-2)3

Catalog Description:
Drainage and description of soil physics. Mechanical composition of soil. Soil behavior. Physical and chemical properties of soil. Soil clays and colloids. Organic matter. Soil air and aeration. Soil temperature and color. Soil water and movement of water, diffusion and dispersion of water. Soil-water-plant relationship. Soil physics relation with irrigation, drainage and erosion.

Course Objectives:
The aim of this course is to teach physical and chemical properties of soil, its interaction with air and water, and its relation with irrigation, drainage and erosion/

Prerequisites:
None

Textbook(s):
L.D. Baver, “Soil Physics”, Wiley, 1972.

Reference(s):
L.D. Baver and W.H. Gardner, “Soil Physics”, Wiley, 1972.
D. Hiller, “Soil and Water”, Academic Press, 1971.
D.D. Kirkham and W.L. Powers, “Advanced Soil Physics”, Wiley-Interscience, 1972.

Syllabus:
1. Introduction: Definitions and purpose of study of soil physics
2. Soil texture: Mechanical composition of the soil
3. Soil structure: Classification, genesis, and evaluation of soil structure
4. Soil air and aeration
5. Soil water and soil water movement
6. Soil, water, plant relations; irrigation, drainage, leaching
7. Soil clays: Nature of clays classification, swelling and shrinkage
8. Soil color and organic matter

Homeworks, Quizzes, Projects:
None

Computer Usage:
None

Laboratory Work:
1. Sieving and soil moisture content determination
2. Bulk density, particle density and porosity determination
3. Organic matter content determination
4. Mechanical analysis - textural class determination ( pipette and hydrometer methods)
5. Measurement of PH and EC (electrical conductivity)
6. Soil water suction measurement by tensiometer
7. Permeability measurement
8. Field capacity and wilting point determination
9. Infiltration measurement
10. Pore size distribution determination

Category Content:
Mathematics and Basic Sciences: 1.5 credits
Engineering Design: None
Engineering Sciences: 1.5 credits
Humanities & Social Sciences: None
Departmental: None

Instructors::
A. Ünal Sorman