The advent of the Hydric Soil Indicators into three-parameter wetland delineations has raised the bar on understanding the role of soils in wetland determinations. However, like any advance in scientific application, the divide between intent and application can be wide as field practitioners struggle to comprehend the intention of the many-nuanced and often-updated hydric soil indicator definitions. In this training series, students will learn advanced soil science concepts from professional soil scientists to bridge the knowledge gap between reading what an indicator says and applying it in the field.

Learning about soil science can feel a bit intimidating with all the information out there. Like anything new, the easiest way to proceed is one step at a time. In this four week self-directed course we’ll walk you through the foundations of soil knowledge. Each week new material will become available and you can view it when you want and where you want. We’ll provide some exercises and short quizzes to help you gauge if you’re ready to move on to the next topic. In this course series we discuss:

• Soil parent materials
• Soil formation
• Soil texture and using the textural triangle
• The types of soil structure and how structure impacts other soil properties
• The basics of soil color and how to use a color book
• Understanding some of the basics of soil classification and taxonomy and how they relate to the soil survey
• And so much more…

The color of soil horizons can tell us a lot about the properties of the soil and give insights into its formation and origins. Having this knowledge can help you make better interpretations and recommendations with landuse decisions. Although knowing how to document soil color with a color chart is important, too many people stop there and don’t appreciate the art behind soil color interpretations. In this course we discuss:

• What drives soil color
• Tools and proper techniques to measure the color of a soil
• Relating soil properties and land use decisions to soil color
• Why soil color changes over landscapes and regions
• Updates on current research topics related to soil color
• And so much more…

In recent years, the realization that we need to have a better understanding of how our urban soils function and that we need to make changes to our approach to managing urban soils has become a frequent conversation within many communities. Urban soils have an opportunity to provide important ecosystem functions within our urbanized areas, such as stormwater renovation and volume control. However, urban soils can also be sinks for pollutants such as heavy metals and salts. With the renaissance of urban gardening and a strong push for more open spaces in urban areas, the need to understand the soils that comprise these areas has never been greater. In this course we discuss:

• Similarities and differences between urban and non-urban soils
• How heavy metals get into the soil and what to do when they are present.
• What high salt concentration does to a soil
• How the soil can be used to improve stormwater management in urban areas
• Techniques to improve urban soil quality
• And so much more…

We manipulate soils every day to provide us shelter, food, and countless amenities. Often in land development projects significant grading occurs that drastically changes the shape of the landscape and the condition of the soil. Additionally, in resource extraction industries, such as forestry, mining, and oil and gas, the landscape may undergo changes that are only temporary. At the completion of those activities, regulations require the site to be restored, which inevitably involves soil manipulation. In this course we discuss:

• The importance of understanding existing soil conditions prior to earth disturbance
• Planning earth disturbance activities with restoration in mind
• Best practices for site and soil restoration
• The importance of organic matter in site stabilization
• And so much more…