Spring 2008 11:375:360 Soils and Water
Check this Board for Announcements A nice article in the Washington Post about soils An article on soils perception Here is an article relating soil temperature and the release of greenhouse gases An article on soil bacteria subsisting on antibiotics Data on pH and EC is here and on CEC here An interesting article on water stress and agriculture An interesting article describing the importance of cyanobacteria in desert environments Another article on the use of charcoal to increase organic matter content in soils (see also this one) Practice questions are here
Course Information Class meets: Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:55-12:15 PM at: ENR 223 Text: Brady, N. C. and R. R. Weil. 2004. Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils. Prentice Hall. Instructor: Dr. Daniel Giménez, 240 ENR, gimenez@envsci.rutgers.edu
Course Objectives To gain an understanding of the basic properties of soil ecosystems, To elucidate the interaction of biological, chemical, and physical processes that defines the soil ecosystem and its impact on environmental processes. To develop an appreciation of the effect of human interventions on soil ecosystem properties.
Methods Course objectives will be achieved through a lecture and laboratory format. The material included in the lectures has been selected and arranged to provide an understanding of the processes occurring in soil. The readings from the text and the laboratory exercises have been selected to provide a deeper understanding of the soil ecosystem than can be provided by two eighty-minute lectures per week. You will find that the material covered in lectures and laboratories does not necessarily duplicate the one presented in the text. You are responsible for developing a working knowledge from lecture, laboratory, and text materials. The primary teaching method for this course is the lecture since that procedure appears to be the best means of presenting a mass of material in the time that we have allotted to study this subject together. This does not mean that we expect you to sit passively and record all of which has been said. Interaction during lecture is part of the learning process. Therefore, you are encouraged to ask questions during lectures. Questions will help you and your classmates to clear up any misconceptions gained from our presentations. Students are also encouraged to discuss the lecture material with the laboratory instructors. Your questions will also be our indicator of how clearly the subject matter has been presented. Should you have questions about the topic that require more analysis than we can provide in class, do not hesitate to arrange a meeting with us to discuss the material.
Information and Resources Syllabus (including a laboratory schedule) Lecture Notes Laboratory Instructions and Notes Homeworks
Grades For this course the final grade will reflect mastery of lecture, reading and laboratory material. Your laboratory instructor will provide specifics for determination of the laboratory grade. Grades will be based on the following distribution of points:
	Homeworks Assignments Final exam Final Project Laboratory grade	10% 20% 25% 20% 25%
All examinations are cumulative. The examinations will cover lecture and laboratory material plus assigned readings.