Course title: Soil Genesis and Classification

Course code: SRWM304

Credit/contact hours: 3 (2+1)
Pre-requisite: Introductory Soils

Course objective: At the end of the course students will be able to:
 Explain the concepts of soil genesis and classification
 List the soil forming factors and processes
 Describe their influence on soil formation and properties
 Explain the sequential development of soil profile
 Distinguish the different soil horizons and their designations
 Explain the basic principles of soil classification systems
 Classify soils of a given area
 Describe the geographic distribution of soils

1. Introduction
1.1 Basic concepts of soil genesis and classification
1.2 Importance of classification in soil science

2. Soil formation factors and processes

2.1 Factors in soil formation
2.2 Process in soil formation
2.3. Morphology of soils

3. Soil profile descriptions

3.1 Procedures and techniques in soil profile description
3.2 Horizon identification, description and nomenclature
3.2.1 Master horizons
3.2.2 Diagnostic horizons and properties
3.3 Soil sampling procedures and techniques

4. Principles and procedures of soil classification

4.1 Principles of soil classification
 4.2 Procedures in soil classification

5. International Soil Classification Systems

5.1 Major considerations in soil classification
5.2 World Reference Base for Soil Classification
5.3 Soil Taxonomy
5.4 Ethiopian soils distribution under different agro ecological zones

Practical:
Seminar on “The Influence of the Soil Forming Factors on soil properties” and “The peodgenic
processes”
Practical Exercise on “Soil Profile Description”
Seminar on “The Characteristics, pedogenesis, use and Management of the soil orders”
Excursion and Field practice to “Characterize and classify soil types of an area”

Course evaluation
Continues assessment=70%
Final Examination =30%

Required texts
Birkeland, P.W. 1999. Soils and geomorphology. 3rd ed. Oxford Univ. Press.
Buol, S.W., R.J. Southard, R.C. Graham and P.A. McDaniel. 2003. Soil genesis and
Classification. 5th edition. Iowa State University Press. Ames, IA.
FAO 1990. Soil Profile Description Manual. Rome
Schaetzl, Randall and Sharon Anderson. 2005. Soils Genesis and Geomorphology.Cambridge
University Press.
Shoeneberger, P.J., D.A. Wysocki, E.C. Benham, and W.D. Broderson, (editors), 2002. Field
book for describing and sampling soils.Version 2.0. Natural Resources Conservation Service,
National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, NE.
Soil Survey Division Staff. 1993. Soil Survey Manual. USDA
Soil Survey Staff. 1998. Keys to Soil Taxonomy.9th ed. USDA-NRCS.