This lab manual provides a hands-on introduction to basic principles of soil science -- with a focus on the natural properties and processes that govern soil. Contemporary and practical in perspective, it emphasizes factor analysis throughout and makes extensive use of the World Wide Web for gathering the most up-to-date data. Laboratories cover: Minerals, Rocks and Weathering; Soil Texture, Structure and Water Relations; Routine Soil Particle size Analysis; Bulk Density, Particle Density and Porosity of Soil; Field Study of Local Soils; Soil Organic Matter, Humus and Microbial Activity; Soil Testing and Fertilizers; Soil Survey Reports; Soils and the Environment; and Salt Affected Soils. Keys laboratories to discussions of associated topics in Soils in Our Environment, 8/E by Miller and Gardiner (Prentice Hall, 1997). For anyone wanting a hands-on introduction to the basic principles of soil science.

A step-by-step text on the basic tests performed in soil mechanics, Introduction to Soil Mechanics Laboratory Testing provides procedural aids and elucidates industry standards. It also covers how to properly present data and document results. Containing numerical examples and figures, the information presented is based on American Society f

A thorough presentation of analytical methods for characterizing soil chemical properties and processes, Methods, Part 3 includes chapters on Fourier transform infrared, Raman, electron spin resonance, x-ray photoelectron, and x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopies, and more.

Accompanying diskette includes software that allows easy analysis of collected data and information files.