Chapter 4 Soil Physical Properties

Click here to view Chapter 4 lecture notes.

Is Climate Change Causing Wild Weather?

Is Climate Change Causing Wild Weather?

Plant and Soil Science Conference Emphasizes Food, Energy and Environmental Security

More than 3,000 scientists will present research and emerging trends in energy, agriculture, education, and more, Oct.31-Nov. 3 in Long Beach.

A Soil Erosion Control Success Story

http://www.agriculture.com/ag/slideshow/slideShow.jhtml?slideid=/templatedata/ag/slideshow/data/1278452926993.xml
Lake Darling was once among the state's most polluted. Silt had shrunk the 1952 reservoir from 305 to 267 acres and high bacteria levels often closed it to swimming. Today, thanks to 80% participation of landowners and farmers, terraces and farm ponds have cut sediment reaching the lake from about 16,000 tons a year to less than 7,000.

Now It’s Biodiversity Hysteria: Or How To Create a Global Greece » Secondhand Smoke | A First Things Blog

Now It’s Biodiversity Hysteria: Or How To Create a Global Greece » Secondhand Smoke A First Things Blog
The United Nations effort to protect and promote biodiversity will impact the world's economy? What do you think?
Posted using ShareThis

Speaking Out in Defense of a Conservation Tool

So why has the Obama administration decided to question atrazine?

Cotton and Soil Resources

Cotton Production, Conservation Tillage and Soil Quality
Read on how conservation tillage practices under cotton production can save soil and improve soil quality.

Atrazine beneficial?

Atrazine saves the soil? What do you think? This article states that Atrazine improves the environment through use in conservation tillage.

Dust Bowl spread misery, advanced conservation | Featured Story | Wichita Eagle

Dust Bowl spread misery, advanced conservation Featured Story Wichita Eagle: "'When the kindergarten teacher saw the dust clouds she turned us loose to go home,' White said. 'My buddy and I were walking home when the dust hit. It was so bad, we couldn't see and kept walking into trees.'"

Farm pesticides linked to deadly skin cancer — Environmental Health News

Farm pesticides linked to deadly skin cancer — Environmental Health News

Posted using ShareThis

Up to the challenge? Solve and click "Comments" to give the answers!

A hog farm produces 5,000,000 gallons of liquid waste annually. It is stored in an earthen lagoon until it can be surface incorporated into a 400 acre field. The composition of the liquid waste, on a weight basis is 95% water and 5% solids. An elemental analysis of a dried sample of the solid fraction showed it to be 45% carbon, 40% oxygen, 10% hydrogen, 1% nitrogen, 3% phosphorus, and 1% potassium. The dried solid fraction also contains 12 ppm of lead. There was no lead in the soil prior to this waste being applied to it.

1. Determine the dry weight (tons) of solids that the farmer annually applies to each acre.
2. In how many years would the state’s tolerable limit of 5 pounds of lead per acre-furrow-slice be reached if the farmer’s liquid waste application rate is 100 tons per acre per year.

Crisp: Be good to your dirt

"Are we abusing our dirt? Let's just say that, historically, it's clear that we've always abused our dirt, and one result has been that great civilizations have been brought down. This thin and fragile film that makes life possible deserves better stewardship."

Read more: By John M. Crisp, Scripps Howard News Service

Soil Biodiversity: The Invisible Hero

"The loss of soil biodiversity reduces the ability of soils to regulate the composition of the atmosphere, diminishing their role in counteracting global warming."

Soil Biodiversity: The Invisible Hero

Posted using ShareThis

Sewage Sludge Builds Organic Matter in Depleted Soils

Researchers lead by Ladislau Martin-Neto, from the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation- Embrapa, have analyzed the impacts of sewage sludge applications on soil organic matter in a long-term experiment.

Sewage Sludge Builds Organic Matter in Depleted Soils

Conservation Conversation

USDA-NRCS 75 Years of Helping People Help the Land
Conservation Conversation

Third seed shipment sent to Norway seed vault by USDA

Third seed shipment sent to Norway seed vault by USDA

Summer internship opportunities at CEFS!!!

Are you a college undergraduate student majoring in an area related to the Environmental Sciences? Are you looking for a great summer internship opportunity? Did I mention paid opportunity?

CEFS: Internships

Can Biofuels Be Sustainable?

Can Biofuels Be Sustainable?

See "Dirt!! The Movie" - Preview of the movie below.