Information Package / Course Catalogue
Soil Genesis and Classification
Course Code: TBB312
Course Type: Required
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 1
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 4
Objectives of the Course

The aim of this course is to impart knowledge and skills regarding soil formation and the factors contributing to it, identification of soil characteristics, physical, chemical, and morphological attributes of soils in the field, completion of profile description cards in the field, basic principles of soil classification, and classification systems.

Course Content

The purpose of this course is to teach the utilization of various soil formation events such as different parent materials, horizons, accumulation, leaching events, etc., in the classification of soils.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.Interpret the effects of soil formation factors on soil characteristics and distributions
2.Applies techniques for identifying suitable locations for soil profiles in the field and defining their horizons
3.Determines temperature and humidity regimes and identifies surface and subsurface horizons
4.Establishes a relationship between morphological observations and analysis results and soil productivity.
5.Understands soil classification techniques based on the Soil Taxonomy and WRB (FAO/UNESCO) soil classification systems, using field and laboratory data
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Dinç, U., Kapur, S., Özbek, H., Şenol, S.,1995. Toprak Genesisi ve Sınıflandırması, Çukurova Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Ders Kitabı No:130, ÇÜZF, Adana. 376s.
2.WRB. 2006. World Reference Base for Soil Resources. World Soil Resources Reports. No: 103, FAO, Rome, IUSS Working Group
3.Fanning, D.S., Fanning. M.C.B 1989.Soil Morphology, Genesis and Classification. John Wiley and Sons New York.
4.Soil Survey Staff. 2022. Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 13th edition. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
5.Tarım Reformu Genel Müdürlüğü, 2013. Toprak Tanımlama Kılavuzu Uluslararası Sınıflandırma, İlişkilendirme ve İletişim için Bir Çerçeve, Guidelines for Soil Description (Çeviri)..
6.Soil Survey Staff. 2015. Illustrated guide to soil taxonomy, version 2. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Basic principles of soil concept and soil morphology.
Week 1 - Practice
Providing information about field studies to be conducted during the term. Introduction of application equipment and explanation of operating principles.
Week 2 - Theoretical
Characteristics to be distinguished and identified on the horizons.
Week 2 - Practice
Determination of soil properties such as color, texture, structure, and consistency in soils.
Week 3 - Theoretical
Naming and sub-division of horizons.
Week 3 - Practice
Visual presentation.
Week 4 - Theoretical
Soil formation factors: Effects of parent material, topography, and time on soil formation.
Week 4 - Practice
Fieldwork-1: Identification of soil horizons in a sample profile, completion of profile cards, and collection of horizon-based disturbed and undisturbed soil samples
Week 5 - Theoretical
Soil formation factors: Effects of biological processes and climate on soil formation.
Week 5 - Practice
Fieldwork-2: In-situ examination of alluvial soils.
Week 6 - Theoretical
Basic principles and structures of soil taxonomy.
Week 6 - Practice
Reporting of profile description cards filled out in the field
Week 7 - Theoretical
Diagnostic surface horizons. - Quiz
Week 7 - Practice
Description of soil horizons on slayts and photos.
Week 8 - Theoretical
Diagnostic subsurface horizons.
Week 8 - Practice
Description of soil horizons on slayts and photos.
Week 9 - Theoretical
Diagnostic subsurface horizons.
Week 9 - Practice
Description of soil horizons on slayts and photos.
Week 10 - Theoretical
Orders and suborders; Entisols, Vertisols, Inceptisols.
Week 10 - Practice
Visual presentation.
Week 11 - Theoretical
Orders and suborders; Aridisols, Mollisols, Andisols.
Week 11 - Practice
Visual presentation.
Week 12 - Theoretical
Orders and suborders; Alfisols, Spodosols, Ultisols.
Week 12 - Practice
Visual presentation.
Week 13 - Theoretical
Orders and suborders; Oxisols, Histosols, Gelisols.
Week 13 - Practice
Visual presentation.
Week 14 - Theoretical
The WRB (FAO/Unesco) soil classification system.- Attending Lectures
Week 14 - Practice
Use of WRB (FAO/Unesco) soil classification system guide.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Attending Lectures1%5
Quiz1%5
Midterm Examination1%30
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory142256
Lecture - Practice141128
Quiz1314
Midterm Examination1516
Final Examination1516
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)100
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
OÇ-1
3
4
1
4
2
3
2
2
1
3
OÇ-2
4
3
2
3
4
3
3
2
4
1
2
OÇ-3
3
2
2
3
3
3
2
1
3
OÇ-4
5
4
2
4
3
3
3
1
4
OÇ-5
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026