Soil 3416

Plant Nutrients in the Environment

 

Course Syllabus

Week
      1. Lecture: Introduction and Overview

        2. Discussion: Soil Sampling and Soil Testing

        Project: Select Teams

        Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 1, pp. 1-11; chapter 9, pp. 322-331

        Web Resources: week 1

         

      2. Lecture: Basic Soil - Plant Relationships

        3. Discussion: Soil Test Interpretations and Fertilizer Recommendations

        Project: Determine Topic and Title

        Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 2, pp. 13-37; chapter 9, pp. 320-321, 342-356

        Web Resources: week 2

        Soil Test Correlation, Calibration, and Interpretation (in manual)

         

      3. Lecture: Basic Soil - Plant Relationships and Nutrient Cycles

        4. Discussion: Chemistry Review/Cation Exchange Capacity - Project Reports

        Project: Preliminary Outline - Written & Oral

        Reading Assignments - Text: start chapter 3

        Web Resources: week 3

        Chemistry Review (manual)

         

      4. Lecture: Soil Acidity and Alkalinity

        5. Discussion: Soil Acidity and Lime Requirement

        Lab: Prepare Samples, Acids and Bases, start CEC

        Project: Develop Proposal

        Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 3, pp. 38-84

        Web Resources: week 4

         

      5. Lecture: Nutrient Cycles, Nutrient Flows, and Nutrient Budgets

        6. Discussion: Lab #1 Report and pH Calculation

        Lab: Cation Exchange Capacity

        Project: Develop Proposal

        Reading Assignments - Web Resources: week 5

        Nutrient Management: More Than an On-Farm Priority (bulletin)

        Nutrient Cycling & Maintaining Soil Fertility (bulletin)

         

      6. Lecture: Soil Organic Matter and Nitrogen

        7. Discussion: Nitrogen Soil Tests and N Fertilizers

        Lab: Soil Acidity

        Project: Completed Proposal Due

        Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 4, pp. 86-153; chapter 9, pp. 332-334

        Web Resources: week 6

          

      7. Lecture: Nitrogen and Midterm Exam

        8. Discussion: Phosphorus Soil Tests and P Fertilizers

        Lab: Soil Organic Matter

        Project: Research and Analysis

        Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 9, pp. 334-337

        Web Resources: week 7

         

      8. Lecture: Nitrogen Fixation and Phosphorus

        9. Discussion: Potassium, Magnesium, and Sulfur Soil Tests and Fertilizers

        Project: Research and Analysis

        Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 4, pp. 93-106; chapter 9, pp. 337-339; begin chapter 5

        Web Resources: week 8

         

      9. Lecture: Phosphorus

        10. Discussion: Soluble Salts and Micronutrients

        Project: Research and Analysis

        Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 5, pp. 154-195; chapter 9, pp. 339-342

        Web Resources: week 9

         

      10. Lecture: Hydrology, Erosion, and Nutrient Transport

        11. Discussion: Manure Management

        Project: Work on Final Report

        Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 13, pp. 438-485

        Web Resources: week 10

         

      11. Lecture: Nutrient Transport and Potassium

        12. Discussion: Land Application of Municipal and Industrial By-Products (Dr. Carl Rosen)

        Project: Work on Final Report

        Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 6, pp. 196-216

        Web Resources: week 11

        Horticultural Uses of Municipal Solid Waste Compost (manual)

         

      12. Lecture: Potassium and Calcium

        13. Discussion: Thanksgiving

        Project: Work on Final Report

        Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 7, pp. 235-240

        Web Resources: week 12

         

      13. Lecture: Magnesium/Sulfur and Midterm Exam

        14. Discussion: Site-Specific Nutrient Management (Dr. Nyle Wollenhaupt)

        Project: Work on Final Report

        Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 7, pp. 241-244 and 217-221

        Web Resources: week 13

        Grid Soil Sampling for Precision and Profit (manual)

         

      14. Lecture: Sulfur and Micronutrients

        15. Discussion: Project Presentations

        Project: Written and Oral Reports

        Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 7, pp. 222-238; chapter 8, pp. 245-299

        Web Resources: week 14

         

      15. Lecture: Plant Analysis and Fundamentals of Nutrient Management

Discussion: Project Presentations

Project: Written and Oral Reports

Reading Assignments - Text: chapter 9, pp. 300-321; chapter 10, pp. 358-405

 

Final Exam – Tuesday, December 18 – 10:30-12:30

 

Return to Class Home Page: http://soils.umn.edu/academics/classes/soil3416/