PLANT SCIENCE/SOIL SCIENCE 2100 INTRODUCTION TO SOIL SCIENCE LECTURE: M W F 8:00-8:50 2-16 Agriculture Building LECTURER: Randy Miles Secretary: Leslie Palmer 334 ABNR Building 302 ABNR OFFICE PHONE: 882-6607 (VMX) 882-6301 HOME PHONE: 445-8744 E-MAIL: MilesR@.missouri.edu ATTENDANCE POLICY: Seating will be assigned. There will be a one whole letter grade reduction for every 3 cuts (unexcused absences) from the course. Should a student need special accommodations relative to conditions set by the American Disability Act please call on the instructor the first week of class to make such arrangements. STUDY MATERIALS: Textbook: Weil. The Nature and Properties of Soils, 14th edition, by N.C. Brady and R.R. Additional References: (On reserve in the library): Fundamentals of Soil Science, 7th edition by Henry D. Foth; Soil Science: Principles and Practices, 3rd edition by R.R. Hausenbuiller; Soil and Their Environment, 1st edition by J.J. Hassett and W.L. Banevart; Soils: An Introduction, 3rd edition by M.J. Singer and D.N. Munns; Soils: An Introduction to Soils and Plant Growth, 8th edition by R.W. Miller and Duane T. Gardiner; Old Soils 2100 Exams GRADING SYSTEM: Points X pop quizzes y 4 hourly lecture exams @ 100 points 400 8 problem sets @ 25 points 200 1 final exam (semi-comprehensive) 100
There is an additional requirement besides the points from exams, etc. This requirement is: Completion of the individual essay the first week of class. The lack of completion of this item will result in an F in the course. HOMEWORK PROBLEM SETS: To assist in mastering specific objectives, eight problem sets will be used in the calculation of course grades. Each set will be worth 25 points and will simulate the format for part of the problems on the lecture exams. Because of the diversity in student backgrounds and career interests, different problem sets oriented toward three general interest areas will be offered per problem set assignment. These three options will be categorized as such: Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Ag Education Horticulture Environmental Science Ag Engineering Forestry Geology Ag Journalism Wildlife and Fisheries Ag Econ PRT Agronomy Ag Systems Mgt If you do not fit into one of the options, please see the lecturer or chose one option which interests you. The lecturer will guarantee the following percentages to receive the following grades for the final course grade. The philosophy is that students must earn grades. Grades in Soil 100 are not given. Grade Plus (+) Straight Minus (-) A 97.45+ 97.44-91.45 91.44-89.45 B 87.45-89.44 87.44-81.45 81.44-79.45 C 77.45-79.44 77.44-71.45 71.44-69.45 D 67.45-69.44 67.44-61.45 61.44-59.45 These standards will not be raised. The lecturer reserves the right to lower the standards should he feel that it is appropriate to do so. The lecturer will not know if these guarantee ranges will be changed until all work for the semester has been completed. EXTRA CREDIT WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS AN INPUT INTO THE GRADING SYSTEM.
INSTRUCTOR S PHILOSOPHY: The Soil Science 2100 instructor highly values honesty, integrity, responsibility, and personalization relative to all phases of professional and personal aspects of life. With that in mind the following are shared to provide you, the student, my reactions and philosophy with I believe are important in our interaction this semester. 1. E-mail is a great tool for many endeavors in life. However, it does not provide very effective personal communication. Emailing me after 5 pm to get an answer to a question before the 0800 hour lecture the next day, will likely not be answered before class. I appreciate appropriate phone calls (at the office or home) when answers are needed. Use of email for excused absences is not appropriate. Excused absences will only be granted through direct conversation with the instructor via phone calls or face-to-face conversations. 2. It is YOUR responsibility to come to class on time. A large percentage of the lower grades in the course are directly attributed to student absences or late arrival to class. 3. Do not be afraid to ask for assistance. Again personalization is important. 4. Finally to sum up much of my philosophy I share with you a Kenyan Proverb: Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up knowing that it has to run faster than the fastest lion or else it will be eaten. Each morning a lion wakes up knowing it has to run faster than the slowest gazelle or else it will starve to death. It doesn t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you had better be running. ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY: Academic dishonesty on the part of any individual involved Soils 2100 is entirely uncalled for and will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty may exist in the following forms: 1. Obtaining examination and quiz answers from other individuals during the examination or quiz, homework, or laboratory assignments. 2. Knowingly giving answers to another individual during an examination, quiz, homework, or laboratory assignment. 3. Utilizing crib notes, answers, formulas, etc., that are placed on paper, desk tops, or strategic locations such that an individual may use these notes to directly obtain or derive an answer during an examination or quiz.
4. Fabricating or fudging data for a laboratory experiment or problem set. 5. Obtaining or using another person s data or calculation from the laboratory or problem set to satisfy the data collection requirement of a lab experiment or problem set. 6. Knowingly giving data to another individual for a laboratory experiment or problem set. 7. Fabricating or fudging data on a homework problem or obtaining answers to homework from another individual. 8. Knowingly giving answers to another individual for a homework assignment. In Soils 2100, the academic honesty policy is such that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. However, should an individual be guilty of academic dishonesty, that individual will be written up and reported to the Provost, the appropriate Dean and Department Head. DATE TOPIC READING IN BRADY Introduction - Class Organization Ch 1 (pp. 1-31) What is soil? It isn t dirt! Ch 1 (pp. 1-31) Concepts of Soils - Soil Forming Factors Ch 2 (pp. 32-75) Mineral Components and Parent Materials Ch 2 (pp. 32-75) Physical Properties-Soil Color Ch.4 (133-175) Soil Texture Ch 4 (pp. 121-133). Labor Day Holiday Soil Structure Ch 4 (pp. 133-136) Quantifying Physical Properties Ch 4 (pp. 136-172) Summary of Physical Properties Ch 4 (pp. 136-172) Properties of Water Ch 5 (pp. 173-193) Water Retention in Soils Ch 5 (pp. 193-217) Water Movement in Soils Ch 5 (pp. 210-218) Ch 6 (pp. 219-271) EXAM I Soil Genesis and Soil Morphology Ch 2 (pp. 53-78) Soil Genesis and Soil Morphology Ch 2 (pp. 53-78 Genesis of Soils: Stages of Soil Development Ch 2 (pp. 53-78 Soil Genesis and Landscapes Ch 3 (pp. 53-120)
DATE TOPIC READING IN BRADY Soil Survey Ch 19 (pp. 840-872) Soil Biology and Ecology Ch 11 (pp.443-494) Soil Organic Matter and Biology Management of Soil Organic Matter EXAM II Ch 11 (pp.443-494) Ch 12 (pp.495-522) Ch 12 (pp.522-541) Influence of Organic Matter on Soil Properties Ch 12 (pp.522-541) Fundamentals of Soil Chemistry Ch 8 (pp. 310-357) Soil Chemical Properties Ch 8 (pp. 310-357) Silicate Clay Minerals Ch 8 (pp 310-357) Soil Reaction: Cause and Effect Ch 9 (pp 358-387) Adjustment of Soil ph Ch 9 (pp. 387-400) Liming: Its Influence on Soil Properties Ch 9 (pp. 387-400) Ch 10 (pp. 401-442) Soil Fertility: Plant Essential Elements Ch 13 (pp. 542-592) Soil Nitrogen and Sulfur Ch 13 (pp. 542-592) Soil Phosphorus and Potassium Ch 14 (pp. 594-638) EXAM III Soil Micronutrients Ch 15 (pp. 639-677) Soil Testing and Recommendations Ch 16 (pp. 678-738) Fertilizers: Materials Ch 16 (pp. 678-738) Fertilizer: Economics Ch 16 (pp. 678-738) Thanksgiving Holiday Thanksgiving Holiday Thanksgiving Holiday Soil Erosion Ch 17 (pp. 739-793) EXAM IV Soil Conservation Ch 17 (pp. 739-793) Soils and Environmental Quality Ch 18 (pp. 794-839) Soils and Environmental Quality Ch 18 (pp. 794-839) Finals Begin FINAL EXAM: Monday December 14, 0800-1000 Hours 2-16 Agriculture Building
Reminder of University Deadlines Aug 31 Sept. 4 Sept. 28 Nov 2 Nov. 16 Dec. 9 Dec. 10 Last day to register, add, or change section Last day to change grading option Last day to drop course without grade Last day to withdraw from a course Last day to change divisions Last day to withdraw from the university READING DAY