Soil solid phase
Soil Minerals: Phyllosilicates. Allophanes. Oxides. Hydroxides.
Organic components: Soil organic matter. Soil humic substances. Formation of humic substances. Properties of humic substances. Extraction of soil organic matter. Determination of humic substances.
Soil solution phase
Characteristics of soil solution. Precipitation/dissolution. Soil physico-chemical properties. Soil texture. Soil structure. The soil/solution interface. Surface charge. Double layer theory. Adsorption/desorption. Surface exchange reactions . Cation exchange. Anion Exchange. Cation exchange capacity (CEC). Zero points of charge. Soil acidity. The nature of soil acidity. Soil pH. Acid/base properties and buffering. Complex equilibria. Carbonate system. Liming to adjust soil pH.
Soil fertility
A quantity approach to ion availability. Potassium chemistry. Phosphorus chemistry. Cycle of soil nitrogen. Cycle of soil sulfur. Evaluation of fertility status. Pollution problems.