 INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Joy Wolf
CLASS TIME: Tues
and Thursday:
2:00 p – 4:00 p
TELEPHONE: 595-3221
EMAIL: wolf@uwp.edu
OFFICE: MOLN 247
OFFICE HOURS:
T, Th: 12:40-1:20 pm, 4:20-4:50 or by appt
Course
Description:
Soil is
the foundation of ecosystem development and an important natural resource
for humans in agricultural activities. This course will examine the basic
properties of soil characteristics with ecological and management
applications. We will learn how soil science fits into the broader topic of
physical geography by exploring physical and chemical properties of soils,
plant nutrition, climate, topography, and human impacts on soil. Field
trips will include soil collection and lab analysis.
Photos from previous classes!
Prerequisite:
GEOG 100,
related class or consent of instructor.
Text:
Brady, N. & R. Weil,
2009.
Elements
of Nature & Property of Soils,
3rd Ed,
Prentice Hall Press
Each student will
report on
a specific soil
topic using the text and a peer-reviewed
article. Exams will be in class and online and will consist of a variety of
question formats including definitions, slide identification,
fill-in-the-blank and short essay. Exam material refer to lecture material,
lab material, readings, and class discussions. Students who feel they have
a learning disability that may affect their performance are encouraged to
meet with me as soon as possible so that accommodations can be made. NO
MAKEUP EXAMS ARE OFFERED.
PLEASE NOTE: More
and more students are captivated by internet use or texting on their cell
phones. Not only does it take your focus away from YOUR learning, it is
disruptive to your fellow students and to me. Oh! And it’s rude. Please
refrain or risk having your cell phone brought to the front of the room
until the end of class.
 Along
the same lines, I will not tolerate chit chat in class. If I see it as a
potential problem, you’ll kindly be assigned a seat or you will have to
leave the class that day. How embarrassing – don’t let this happen to you.
The course
includes several field and lab experiences, some of which are more elaborate
to set up or clean up. Experience tells me that it is more
efficient if 2-3 students help setup/cleanup rather than have all students
help each time (it becomes a bumper car situation). Thus, I expect
everyone to sign up for a prep/cleanup on these days. Thank you!
GRADING:
based on the total score from the following:
Participation/Attendance 5%
Exam 1:
20%
Exam 2:
20%
Final Exam: 20%
Lab/ Field Exercises – Setup Cleanup 20%
Presentation/Discussion and Report 15%
Presentation Topic
Suggestions from specific weeks - check the textbook for more:
Wk
1 Parent Material, Soil Formation
Wk 2/3 Texture, Structure, Bulk
Density/Implications
Wk 4
Endangered Wetlands, Water Managed in Isreal
Wk 7 Ag
Transformation,
Early Farming, Saline
Seeps
Wk 8/9 Trophic
web in soil, carbon sequestration, decomposition
Wk 10 Soil mapping, land use planning and zoning,
Field work
Wk 12 Primary Producers, Tenuous Balance
between plants and nutrients, nutrient spatial distribution
Wk 14/15 Farming Mesoamerican Wetlands, Advent of Chemical Fertilizers,
Accelerated Erosion,
Promise and Peril of Irrigation, Abusing Soil in other ways
The following is a tentative schedule
that will likely be adjusted as the term progresses.
|
Date |
Topics
|
Readings |
|
9/2 |
Introduction to Course
Formation of Soils from Parent Materials |
Ch 1 - 2 |
|
9/7
9/9 |
Con't
Parent Material, Field if time: PM samples, soil probes
Soil Classification (surprise group presentations) |
Ch 2
Ch 3 |
|
9/14
9/16 |
Field: Soil Profiles
at UWP
Soil Architecture and Physical Properties, Bulk Density |
Ch. 4
|
|
9/21
9/23 |
Soil Water: Characteristics and Behavior.
Field: Collect/prepare soil-BD, moisture,
texture
Lab: Texture Particle Size Analysis |
Ch. 5
|
|
9/28
9/30 |
Soil Water Movement, Presentations: 1 or 2
Lab: Soil Water, Infiltration, WHC |
Ch 6
|
|
10/5
10/7 |
Test
1: Ch 1-6, Field / Lab material, presentations
Soil Aeration and Temperature. Field – soil
temperature |
Ch 7 |
|
10/12
10/14 |
The Colloidal Fraction: Soil
Chemical and Physical ActivitySoil Acidity, Alkalinity, Aridity and
Salinity |
Ch 8
Ch. 9 |
|
10/19
10/21 |
Field: Spatial Pattern Analysis|
Organisms and Ecology of the Soil
|
Ch.10 |
|
10/26
10/28 |
Soil Organic Matter. Presentations:
1 or 2
Lab: Soil Biology and Decomposition |
Ch 11 |
|
11/2
11/4 |
Soil Delineation, Presentations 1 or 2
Lab: Soil Surveys |
Handouts |
|
11/9
11/11 |
Field Trip: Management practices and research
Test 2: Ch 7-11, Field and Lab material,
presentations |
|
|
11/16
11/18 |
Nutrition Cycles and Fertility
Continue Nutrients in Soils.
Presentations: 2 or 3 |
Ch 12 |
|
11/23
11/25 |
Lab: Nutrient and pH Testing - may take extra time
Thanksgiving – No Class |
|
|
11/30
12/2 |
Practical Nutrient Management, Presentations: 3
Soil
Erosion and Its Control
|
Ch 13
|
|
12/7
12/9 |
Environment Issues: Chem Pollution, Clearcutting, Acid Precip
Presentations - 6 or 7 |
Ch. 14 |
|
12/14
12/16 |
Presentations – 6 or 7
Final Exam: Ch 12-15, Field Trips, Presentations |
Ch. 15 |
|
12/21 |
Report Due |
|
|
