Ensci/Agro 360 Environmental Soil Science

Spring Semester 2003

Objective: Develop holistic problem solving skills useful to soil and environmental science.

Description: Application of soil science to contemporary environmental problems; comparison of different soil uses on short- and long-term environmental quality. Emphasis on participatory learning activities.

Classroom: Lecture: MW 9:00 - 9:50 in Room 2026, Agronomy Hall

Laboratory: sec. 1 T 3:10 - 6:00 in Room G0541, Agronomy Hall sec. 2 W 2:10-5:00 in Room G541, Agronomy Hall

Instructors:	Randy Killorn	Lee Burras
	3208 Agronomy Hall	1126G Agronomy Hall
	294-3433 rkillorn@iastate.edu	294-0559 Lburras@iastate.edu

Office Hours: We encourage student questions in and out of the classroom. We have open door policies. However, please note that we’re just like you – we’re over-committed and have lots of colleagues who want our time. So if you absolutely need to see us, telephone or email us so that we can set up an appointment.

Instruction

Methods: Highly student-student and student-faculty interactive even during lectures. The focus is on problem solving via (1) succinctly defining the problem; (2) obtaining and interpreting data applicable to solving that problem; and (3) effectively communicating the solution.

Grading:

Activity	Worth (%)
Examination I (February 17)	15
Examination II (April 02)	15
Final Examination (as university schedule shows)	15
Presentation of Maps	5
Nutrient Management Project (March 04 or 05)	10
Regional Project (April 08 or 09)	10
Wetland Project (April 28 or 30)	10
Problem Sets (5 PS @ 2% each)	10
Participation	10

Examinations will stress lecture notes, problem sets and projects. Participation points will be awarded for attentiveness and positive contributions to discussions and projects. Conversely, points will be lost for absences, disruptions, and/or an inability to successfully work with one’s peers. A portion of these points will be based upon your colleague’s assessment for the three projects. Expectations for the problem sets and projects will be given separately.

The final examination is required for everyone. Final grades will be assigned using a curve although anyone who earns more than 92% of the total points is assured of an A.

Agronomy 360 Environmental Soil Science

Spring Semester 2003

Tentative Syllabus (010703)

Meeting Time	Topic
Monday, January 13	Introduction
Wednesday, January 15	Risk assessment & management
Monday, January 20	Holiday – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Wednesday, January 22	Overview of soil properties Problem set 1 – Conversions
Laboratory	Overview of excel & wise use of websites.
Monday, January 27	Introduction to soil chemistry & mineralogy
Wednesday, January 29	Soil solution
Laboratory	Presentations & teamwork in science – a few tips.
Monday, February 03	CEC & AEC
Wednesday, February 05	Ion exchange Problem set 2 – Interpretation of soil chemistry data
Laboratory	Creating and interpreting maps.
Monday, February 10	Chemistry of high pH soils
Wednesday, February 12	Chemistry of high pH soils
Laboratory	Presentation of maps
Monday, February 17	Examination I
Wednesday, February 19	Review of plant growth & nutrition Problem set 3 – Using statistics with soil data
Laboratory	Nutrient Management Project
Monday, February 24	Nitrogen cycle
Wednesday, February 26	Managing soil nitrogen
Laboratory	Nutrient Management Project
Monday, March 03	Phosphorus cycle
Wednesday, March 05	Managing phosphorus Problem set 4 – Interpretation of soil fertility data
Laboratory	Nutrient Management Presentations
Monday, March 10	Introduction to soil remediation
Wednesday, March 12	Soil remediation of severely eroded landscapes
Laboratory	Review of Nutrient Management projects (15 min/group)

Meeting Time	Topic
Monday, March 17	Spring Break
Wednesday, March 19	Spring Break
Monday, March 24	Regional projects – assign groups & discuss expectations
Wednesday, March 26	Soil remediation of heavy metal polluted soils Problem set 5 – Plume evolution with metal contamination
Laboratory	Regional projects
Monday, March 31	Soil remediation of heavy metal polluted soils
Wednesday, April 02	Examination II
Laboratory	Regional projects
Monday, April 07	Soil remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils
Wednesday, April 09	Soil remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils
Laboratory	Regional project presentations
Monday, April 14	Wetlands introduced; assign wetland project
Wednesday, April 16	Hydric soils
Laboratory	Review of regional projects (15 min/group)
Monday, April 21	Hydric soils
Wednesday, April 23	Hydric soils
Laboratory	Wetland Project – field trip
Monday, April 28	Wetland project presentations
Wednesday, April 30	Wetland project presentations
Laboratory	Course summary & evaluations
Monday, May 05	Final Examination (tentative – 7:30 a.m.)
Saturday, May 10	Convocation & Commencement