Importance of Soils

Soils are critical to civilization.

Learning Goals

• Learn about what soils are and how soils form
• Understand soil erosion and its general causes
• Have a fundamental sense of soil formation
• Absorb how one of the world’s top experts on sustainable agricultural management approaches these broad questions

Video

This is the Nobel lecture at Gustavus Adolphus by Dave Montgomery (Wikipedia page), geomorphologist at the Univeristy of Washingon.

Assignment

Deliverable

Submit short-answer thoughts on the following:

1. Describe a landscape where you have seen erosion that removes soil. Explain in a few sentences your thoughts and observations. If you have not seen this before, do a little research and submit your thoughts on this.

2. Explain how humans can interact with soils in order to reduce soil erosion, restore soils, and/or adjust the pace of soil erosion in order to maintain agricultural production and sustainability.

Reference one or more portions Dr. Montgomery’s lecture in your answers.

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