ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 4260 SOIL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Spring Semester 2014

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1 ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 4260 SOIL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Spring Semester 2014 Course Instructor: Dr. Brian K. Slater Associate Professor, Soil Science 414D Kottman Hall Telephone: Cell: Office Hours: T 10:00 AM 12:00 PM (3 Credit Hours) Semester Syllabus While I encourage you to visit during office hours, I will be pleased to make appointments at other times is always the best way to contact me. Times and Location: MWF 11:30 12:25 PM, Kottman Hall Room 370 Student Learning Goals and Objectives: Goals: Students gain understanding of the principles, theories, and methods of sustainable management of the soil resource. The course will focus on processes and implications of soil, land, and water quality degradation, and appropriate human interventions to minimize impacts of human use and management of the soil resource. Students will gain an appreciation of the natural capital of soils, ecosystem services provided by the soil resource, and the components and assessment of soil environmental quality.

2 Expected Learning Outcomes: 1. Students understand the basic facts, principles, theories and methods of sustainable soil and land management. 2. Students learn key events in the history of soil use and management, and the implications of land management impacts throughout the history of civilization. 3. Students discuss social and philosophical implications of scientific discoveries related to the soil resource and understand the potential of science and technology to address environmental problems of the contemporary world, related to soil and land resource scarcity, food security, and human health. Specific Learning Outcomes: 1. Students understand how human use of soil, land and water has resulted in degradation of ecosystem services provided by the soil. 2. Students learn about important soil processes and their influence on soil behavior, 3. Students examine the role of soils in a variety of terrestrial ecosystems, 4. Students develop an appreciation for the world soil resource base and the importance of its conservation, 5. Students understand the role of soil in interactions with the Biosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Geosphere, and human societies, 6. Students understand the processes involved in soil erosion, desertification, soil physical degradation, soil pollution, induced salinity acidity and alkalinity, and soil carbon loss, 7. Students understand the concepts of Peak Soil and Soil Security. Learning goals and objectives will be satisfied through the sequence of lectures, online presentations, in-class discussions, quizzes, individual feedback, assigned readings and a written project report. Course Description: This course in sustainable soil management presents the basic concepts of human impacts on the soil, and appropriate management responses to minimize soil degradation. During the course we will examine the causes and results of soil degradation specifically soil erosion, desertification and chemical, biological, and physical impacts of land and soil management. While having a focus on agricultural land use, the course will also consider other ecosystems where soil management is critical to the provision of ecosystem services and protection and enhancement of natural capital related to the soil resource. 2

3 Course Topics: 1. Soil Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital the Value of the Soil Resource. 2. Peak Soil, Soil Security and the Threat of Soil Degradation from Global to Local Scales. 3. Soil Erosion by Wind and Water a. Soil Erosion processes and mechanisms b. Measuring and modeling Erosion c. Tillage Erosion d. Soil Conservation e. Vegetation management for erosion control f. Conservation tillage, no-till, cover crops, rotations and cropping systems g. Buffer strips, wetlands, and riparian protection h. Structural, mechanical, and engineering approaches to erosion control 4. Soil conservation for forestry and agroforestry 5. Soil erosion of grazing lands and rangeland 6. Water quality degradation, nutrient movement, hypoxia, and water pollution 7. Desertification 8. Physical degradation, compaction, crusting 9. Salinity, sodicity, and alkalinity 10. Soil acidity, acidification, and acid sulfate soils 11. Soil contamination and pollution, metals, arsenic, organic pollutants 12. Soil change, soil quality, resilience and resistance 13. Land alienation, impervious surfaces 14. Impacts of climate change 15. Soil restoration Course Materials: There is no a recommended textbook for the course. Appropriate readings and media required or recommended for the course will be mentioned in class and posted on Carmen. Each week a specific scientific publication related to soil management will be posted students are expected to be familiar with these materials. Prerequisites: Students are expected to have a background in basic soil science (such as ENR 3000/3001 or equivalent). An understanding of basic chemistry and physics is also assumed. 3

4 Assessment Format: The course will be assessed using performance on three examinations (two midterms and a comprehensive final exam), a written paper on a relevant contemporary soil management issue, and attendance. Exam Dates: February 5, March 19 (Midterms), April 25 12:00 1:45 PM (Final). The written assignment will be at least 4 pages double spaced, 12 point typeface; the paper will be due week 12 of the semester. The paper will cover a topic in soil management that interests you. The paper will include a statement of your topic, a discussion of why it is important, at least five primary references from the scientific literature (cited appropriately within your paper), a critical discussion of your own ideas and conclusions regarding your topic, and properly formatted bibliography (not included in the 4+ pages). Your paper must be submitted to the Carmen Dropbox, in MS Word, Pages or PDF format. Grading: Requirement Percentage of Grade Midterm 1 15 Midterm 2 15 Attendance Paper Final 30 Letter grades will be assigned using a statistical curve. If an exam is missed due to medical problems, family tragedies, or university sponsored activities, a written excuse from your physician or academic advisor must be provided. Otherwise, a zero will be assigned. Written excuses will be required for all missed attendances, and the final exam. Makeup opportunities will be given only for excused absences. There will be no other make-up exams or extra-credit assignments. Incompletes will not be given unless prearranged with the instructor. Attendance: Attendance is expected and randomly selected dates throughout the semester. Students may miss one attendance event without penalty. 4

5 Academic Misconduct: It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term academic misconduct includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed; illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with examinations. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the committee (Faculty Rule ). For additional information, see the Code of Student Conduct ( Disability Services Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office for Disability Services will be appropriately accommodated, and should inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The Office for Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue; telephone , TDD ; 5