Texas Soil Scientists attend the Soil Geomorphology Institute

Eight soil scientists from Texas (Riley Dayberry—Abilene, Roel Guerra, Jr.—Robstown, Gary Harris—Graham, Jessica Jobe—Graham, Don Sabo—Nacogdoches, John Sackett—Lubbock, Levi Steptoe—Temple, and John Weidenfeld—Rosenberg) have just returned from the Soil Geomorphology Institute held on the campus of Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, AL. These scientists, along with seventeen other scientists from around the country and Puerto Rico, attended this three-week course that incorporated classroom study and team projects with field days interspersed throughout. The purpose of this course was to create and reinforce field proficiency and knowledge needed by soil scientists. This course incorporated the concepts of geomorphology, soil hydrology, stratigraphy, and pedology as they pertain to the everyday tasks performed by soil scientists.

In the classroom, students learned how shape and composition of landforms affect the flow of water over and through them. Another key point of the training was learning how water flow impacts soil development. Students also learned to interpret how water flows through a system based on the composition and arrangement of rock strata. The types of processes that had to occur to create landforms and larger landscapes and to predict further evolution of those landforms and landscapes was also presented. Hydrology, the study of the properties, uses, distribution, and circulation of water, was a key component of this course. It was presented to express which soil properties depended on different water processes for formation. The instructors also explained the effect different soil properties had on the movement of water through the soil and how that movement of water affected the hydrologic system as a whole.

Field trips gave students an opportunity to further clarify the concepts learned in the classroom and how to apply them (practically) to field tasks. Students drew cross sections of landforms and used observed geomorphologic, stratigraphic, and soil characteristics to infer the seasonal flow of water in the system. This exercise gave them the means to produce practical and tangible data that can be used in the current survey. The concepts can then be passed on to future soil scientists to impart field observations and help ensure continuity throughout the survey.

The students would like to thank the instructors, Alabama NRCS, the faculty and staff of Alabama A&M University and all the great people who helped make this training a success.

Soil Scientists (Clockwise from left) Anthony Khiel—Tennessee, Sylvia Long—Alabama, Fred Young (Instructor)—Missouri and Aron Sattler—West Virginia, describe a soil during a team project focusing on soil development, stratigraphy, and water movement.	Participants (clockwise from left) David Hargis—Tennessee, Jackie Reed—South Carolina, Sylvia Long—Alabama, Fred Young—Missouri, and Aron Sattler—West Virginia, observe and record soil and hydrology characteristics at the Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station in Hazel Green, Alabama.
A south facing view from the Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station in Hazel Green, Alabama.	Upslope shot showing progression of soil color change at the Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Center, Hazel Green, Alabama.
Participants and instructor Doug Wysocki, observe soil and water table characteristics in a soil pit near a man-made wetlands study site and weather station.