ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 3000 SOIL SCIENCE (Lecture) Spring Semester 2013

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1 ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES 3000 SOIL SCIENCE (Lecture) Spring Semester 2013 Course Instructor: Dr. Brian K. Slater Associate Professor, Soil Science 414D Kottman Hall Telephone: Cell: Office Hours: T 10:00 AM 2:00 PM Times and Location: (3 Credit Hours) Semester Syllabus Tu Thu 2:20 3:40 PM, Kottman Hall Room 103 GE Credit: ENR 3000 Soil Science is available for GE credit when taken together with ENR 3001, Soil Science Laboratory. Both courses must be completed for GE credit. Student Learning Goals and Objectives: GE Category 2. Breadth: A. Natural Science Physical Science Goals: Students gain understanding of the principles, theories, and methods of modern soil science, the relationship between soil science and technology, the implications of scientific discoveries regarding the soil resource and the potential of science and technology to address problems of the contemporary world.

2 Expected Learning Outcomes: 1. Students understand the basic facts, principles, theories and methods of modern soil science. 2. Students learn key events in the history of soil science. 3. Students provide examples of the inter- dependence of scientific and technological developments. 4. Students discuss social and philosophical implications of scientific discoveries related to the soil resource and understand the potential of science and technology to address problems of the contemporary world, particularly environmental issues, food security, and human health. Specific Learning Outcomes: 1. Students understand how soils are formed and classified, 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. Learning goals and objectives will be satisfied through the sequence of lectures, online presentations, in-class discussions, quizzes, individual feedback, assigned readings and the written project. Course Description: This introductory course in soil science presents the basic concepts and vocabulary of soil science, the study of the interface between the abiotic and biotic spheres of Planet Earth, particularly in the context of environmental management. During the course we will examine the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils and their interactions with other components of the Earth Atmosphere, Biosphere, Geosphere, and Hydrosphere, including forest, wetland, agricultural and grassland ecosystems. Information about soil properties and behavior will help shape decisions regarding appropriate use and management of the valuable soil resource and ecosystem services that the resource provides. 2

3 Course Materials: The following textbook is strongly recommended: Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils (3 rd Edition) By Nyle C. Brady and Ray R. Weil Paperback: 624 pages Publisher: Prentice Hall; 3 edition (June 27, 2009) ISBN-13: Other readings and media required or recommended for the course will be posted on Carmen. Prerequisites: Understanding soil science requires a working knowledge of the principles and vocabulary of the sciences, including elementary chemistry. Students taking this course without having received credit for Chemistry 101 or 121 (or an equivalent course) should be aware that understanding of relevant material from these courses is assumed, and time to review basic concepts of chemistry will be limited. Course Content: The lectures and reading assignments are intended to complement each other. Most lectures will be directly related to assigned readings. The objective of the lectures will be to clarify important concepts and provide some supplemental material. Students are responsible for subject matter covered in lecture, the textbook, and any handouts. Handout pages of all lectures are on the course web page on Carmen. Assessment Format: The course will be assessed using performance on 10 quizzes, a comprehensive final exam, a written paper on contemporary soil issues in the media, and attendance. Quizzes will be multiple choice, 15 questions each. Quizzes will be conducted online through Carmen and will be active from noon Sunday to midnight Tuesday on the dates indicated in the table below. Quizzes will be timed (25 minutes) and are not repeatable. Thus, it is recommended that you have studied the material prior to attempting a quiz, that you have a calculator and scratch paper available, and that you are using a reliable connection to the Internet. The two quizzes with the lowest grade will be dropped when calculating the final grade. The final exam will be comprehensive, covering all material presented during the quarter, and questions may be any combination of multiple choice, matching, true/false, short answer, and problem solving questions (bring a calculator!). The final will have 75 questions, and be administered in one exam period (~2 hours available) during final exam week. The written assignment will be 3-4 pages single space, 12 point typeface; the paper will be due week 12 of the semester. 3

4 Quiz and Exam Schedule: Item Carmen Quiz 1 Carmen Quiz 2 Carmen Quiz 3 Carmen Quiz 4 Carmen Quiz 5 Carmen Quiz 6 Carmen Quiz 7 Carmen Quiz 8 Carmen Quiz 9 Carmen Quiz 10 Final Exam Date and Time Sunday 1/13 12:00 noon to Tuesday 1/ PM Sunday 1/27 12:00 noon to Tuesday 1/ PM Sunday 2/3 12:00 noon to Tuesday 2/ PM Sunday 2/10 12:00 noon to Tuesday 2/ PM Sunday 2/24 12:00 noon to Tuesday 2/ PM Sunday 3/3 12:00 noon to Tuesday 3/ PM Sunday 3/17 12:00 noon to Tuesday 3/ PM Sunday 3/24 12:00 noon to Tuesday 3/ PM Sunday 4/7 12:00 noon to Tuesday 4/ PM Sunday 4/14 12:00 noon to Tuesday 4/ PM Friday 4/26 2:00 PM -3:45 PM Grading: Requirement Percentage of Grade Quizzes 50 Paper 10 Attendance 10 Final 30 Letter grades will be assigned using a statistical curve. Over the past several years, letter grades were allocated approximately as follows: % = A, 75 85% = B, 60 75% = C, 50 60% = D. Grades will be calculated on a scale of 0-100% of possible points. If a quiz or 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 quizzes, 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 will be taken on about 7 randomly selected dates throughout the semester. Students may miss one attendance event without penalty. 4

5 Course Outline and Schedule: Week Lecture Topic(s) Reading 1 Course overview; defining soil - form and function, Ch 1 changing views of soil and its value 2 Soil horizons and units; soil formation, chemical, Ch 2 physical and biological weathering processes, soil forming factors and processes, soil morphology 3 Soil geography, mapping and classification; Soil Ch 3 Taxonomy introduction, Diagnostic Horizons, Soil Climate Regimes, Soil Orders 4 Soil physical properties: particles, pores and texture, Ch 4 particle size analysis 5 Soil physical properties: structure and aggregation, Ch 4 color, soil drainage, role of organic matter, tillage, soil particle and bulk density 6 Soil water, forces acting on soil water, energy Ch 5, Ch 6 concepts, soil water content measurement, hydraulic conductivity and water movement in soils 7 Soil air and temperature, gases in the soil Ch 7 environment, diffusion and convection, aerobic and anaerobic conditions in soils 8 Soil chemical properties, colloids, solutions, charge Ch. 8 and interactions, cation exchange properties 9 Soil acidity, liming, acid rain Ch 9 10 Soil biology, soil organisms, soil microbial Ch 10 metabolic activity, biomass 11 Soil organic matter, humus, carbon cycle on Earth, Ch 11, Ch 12 organic and wetland soils, carbon sequestration in soils. Mineral nutrients and cycles, Nitrogen cycle, Nitrogen transformations, nutrient pollution and water quality, Sulfur cycle, Sulfur in soils 12 Phosphorus cycle, soil phosphorus, phosphorus Ch 13, Ch 14 fertilizer and phosphorus fixation, phosphorus and water quality, Potassium in soils, micronutrients in soils, organic and inorganic fertilizers 13 Soil erosion by wind and water, sediment control, Ch 15 land degradation, soil conservation, soils and civilizations 14 The atmosphere and climate, climate change and the pedosphere, soils and the biosphere and biodiversity, soils and human development, soils and food security, water resources, quantity, water scarcity and water quality Readings will be provided 5

6 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 ; state.edu/. 6