Stockbridge Sch of Agriculture 590M - MicrobeMineralOrgMatter/Soils

This course discusses fundamental interactions between microbes, minerals, and organic matter responsible for carbon cycling, mineral weathering, and nutrient dynamics in soils. Through a combination of lectures and in-class discussions, we will examine the importance of these interactions for soil development, carbon storage, and fertility. Further, we will discuss the underlying mechanisms and suitable analytical methods for their investigation. Finally, we will examine how these mechanisms respond to global environmental change, and how this response in turn impacts soil functioning.

STOCKSCH 105/CHEM 110 or 111 Environmental Soil Chemistry (STOCKSCH575), Organic Chemistry (CHEM 261) and General Microbiology (MICROBIO 310) are recommended prerequisites.