UWP Home

GEOG 382 Soils Ecosystems and Resource

INSTRUCTOR:                   Dr. Joy Wolf
CLASS TIME:                     Wed: 2:00 p – 5:50 p
TELEPHONE:                   595-3221
EMAIL:                                wolf@uwp.edu
OFFICE:                              MOLN 247
OFFICE HOURS:                T, W: 1-2pm, or by appt

Course Description:
Soil as a natural resource is important as the ultimate source of support for vegetation and the foundation of ecosystem development, and to humans for agricultural purposes. This course will examine soils as natural bodies and as managed resources and integrate the basic properties of soil characteristics with ecological and management applications. In this class, we will learn how soil science fits into the broader topic of physical geography by exploring physical and chemical properties of soils, plant nutrition from soils, environmental impacts of climate, geomorphology, and organisms on soils, and how soils are managed. We will collect soil in the field and analyze samples in the lab to understand the implications of spatial delineation of soils in a natural landscape.

Photos from previous classes!

Prerequisite: GEOG 100 (Physical Geography) or consent of instructor.

Texts and Readings
Required: Brady, N. and R. Weil, Elements of Nature & Property of Soils, 2000, Prentice Hall Press
Assigned Readings (as handouts on D2L) from Out of the Earth: Civilization and the Life of the Soil.

GRADING: based on the total score from the following:
            Participation/Attendance          5%
            Exam 1:                                   20%
            Exam 2:                                   20%
            Final Exam:                             25%
            Lab Exercises                          20%
            Lead Discussion                      10% (Each student will provide a summary and thoughtful questions for an assigned reading and lead the class in a discussion on assigned readings)

The final exam will place emphasis on material covered after Exams 1 and 2. Exams will consist of true/false and multiple choice questions, matching, definitions, slide identification, fill-in-the-blank and essay questions. Exams will refer to lecture material, lab material, readings, and in-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. Note the dates of midterms; no make-ups will be offered.

The following is a tentative schedule that may be adjusted as the term progresses.

Lecture Schedule & Assigned Readings
Week	Date	Topics	Readings
		Physical Properties of Soils
1	9/3	Introduction to Course Soil Components, Horizons, Formation, Weathering Field: (if time): Soil Profile, Collect Soil	Ch 1 - 2 (BW)
2	9/10	Soil Classification Field II: (if needed): Soil Profile, Collect Soil	Ch 3 (BW)
3	9/17	Physical Properties: Texture and Structure Reading: Fertile Substrate (instructor led) Lab: Texture Particle Size Analysis Groups: Bulk Density	Ch. 4 (BW) Ch 3 (H)
4	9/24	Soil Moisture Reading: Vital Fluid, Dynamic Cycle (instructor led) Lab: Soil Moisture, Infiltration, WHC	Ch. 5 (BW) Ch. 4 & 5 (H)
5	10/1	Soil Water Movement and Management Possibly: Soil Aeration & Soil Temperature Reading: Endangered Wetlands, Water Mgmt in Isreal Field: Spatial Pattern Analysis	Ch 6 (BW) Ch. 7 (BW) Ch 25 & 27 (H)
6	10/8	Finish: Soil Aeration & Soil Temperature Test 1: Chapters 1-7 and Lab material	Ch. 7 (BW)

		Nutrients and Biogeography of Soils
7	10/15	Soil Colloids Reading: Agricultural Transformation, Early Farming in the Near East	Ch 8, (BW) Ch 9 & 10 (H)
8	10/22	Acidity, CEC, Base Saturation Reading: Gifts of the Nile, Saline Seeps in Australia and N. America Lab: pH	Ch. 9 (BW) Ch 12 &18 (H)
9	10/29	Soil Biology Soil Organic Matter Lab: Soil Biology and Organic Matter	Ch.10 (BW) Ch 11 (BW)
10	11/5	Plant Nutrition: Nitrogen, Sulfur, Phosphorus, Potassium Readings: Primary Producers, Tenuous Balance Lab: Nutrient Testing - may take extra time	Ch 12-13 (BW) Ch 6 & 7(H)
11	11/12	Finish Plant Nutrition Test 2: Chapters 8-13 and Lab material

		Problems and Management of Soils
12	11/19	Nutrient Management Readings: Farming Mesoamerican Wetlands, Advent of Chemical Fertilizers	Ch. 14 (BW) Ch 16 & 17 (H)
13	11/26	Meet from 2-4 only. Management Issues: Drainage and Irrigation, Soil Erosion	Ch. 15 (BW)
14	12/3	Field Trip: Drainage/Irrigation / other mgmt practices
15	12/10	Environment Issues: Clearcutting, Acid Precip Readings: Silt/ Salt in Mesopotamia, Promise/Peril of Irrigation Readings: Accelerated Erosion, Abusing the Living Filter Geographic Soils Information Lab: Soil Surveys	Ch 11 & 19 (H) Ch. 20 & 28 (H) Readings
1:00p	12/17	Final Exam

Prerequisite: GEOG 100 (Physical Geography) or consent of instructor. Texts and Readings Required: Brady, N. and R. Weil, Elements of Nature & Property of Soils, 2000, Prentice Hall Press Assigned Readings (as handouts on D2L) from Out of the Earth: Civilization and the Life of the Soil.

Physical Properties of Soils

Problems and Management of Soils

Prerequisite: GEOG 100 (Physical Geography) or consent of instructor.

Texts and Readings
Required: Brady, N. and R. Weil, Elements of Nature & Property of Soils, 2000, Prentice Hall Press
Assigned Readings (as handouts on D2L) from Out of the Earth: Civilization and the Life of the Soil.