Soil Organic Matter credit:

4 Hours

Explores soil organic matter as one of the most important and integrative characteristics of terrestrial ecosystems. Topics include the nature and origin of humic and non-humic substances in soils and sediments, their critical environmental functions (chemical reactivity and role in nutrient cycling), and the primary methods (elemental analysis, spectroscopy, isotopic methods, and C and N models) used to characterize organic matter and its dynamics. Offered in alternate years. Prerequisite: CHEM 232 .