Soils background

Upon completion, students will be able to:

• • Recognize applications for vadose zone hydrology
  • Describe and classify soils
  • Measure soil moisture in the field and lab
  • Measure hydraulic conductivity and pore pressure in the field
  • Use field measurements to calculate flow

Soil description

Upon completion, students will be able to:

• • Characterize soils using USDA and USCS methods
  • Describe soils in a field setting 

Pressure and moisture in soil

Upon completion, students will be able to:

• • Understand principles of pressure, moisture content, and flow in soil
  • Measure pressure in soil in the field
  • Measure moisture content in the field and lab

Hydraulic conductivity of soils

Upon completion, students will be able to:

• • Understand relative permeability and Darcy's Law in the vadose zone
  • Conduct tests with field permeameters
  • Analyze data from field permeameters and use the results to solve problems