Online Soil Science Lesson 3: Soil Forming Factors

Authors: Ippolito, James; MAMO, M - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA; KETTLER, T - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA; REUTER, R - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY; MCCALLISTER, D - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA; ZANNER, W - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA; GEISS, C - TRINITY COLLEGE; MORNER, P - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA; SOESTER, J - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA

Submitted to: Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/2009
Publication Date: 10/15/2009
Citation: Ippolito, J.A., Mamo, M., Kettler, T., Reuter, R., Mccallister, D., Zanner, W., Geiss, C., Morner, P., Soester, J. 2009. Online Soil Science Lesson 3: Soil Forming Factors. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education. 38:239.

Interpretive Summary: This on-line, interactive lesson developed by Ippolito et al. (http://plantandsoil.unl.edu/croptechnology2005/soil_sci/?what=topicsD&topicOrder=1&informationModuleId=1130447021) explores the five major factors of soil formation: 1) climate; 2) organisms; 3) time; 4) topography; and 5) parent material and their influence in forming soil. The lesson is written to target lower-level undergraduate student educational needs and is available for use by the general public.

Technical Abstract: This lesson explores the five major factors of soil formation, namely: 1) climate; 2) organisms; 3) time; 4) topography; and 5) parent material and their influence in forming soil. The distinction between active and passive factors, moisture and temperature regimes, organism and topographic influences, and parent material sources are discussed. The lesson is written to target educational needs of lower-level undergraduate students and is available for use by the public and educational institutions. Website available at: http://plantandsoil.unl.edu/croptechnology2005/soil_sci/?what=topicsD&topicOrder=1&informationModuleId=1130447021