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Geo352:
Introduction to Soil Science - (Graduate students are able to enroll for this course under Geo534 - for more info: rensch@buffalo.edu) "For in the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. And we will understand only what we are taught." - Baba Dioum, Senegalese Conservationist, Scholar and Statesman, in a Speech at the General Assembly of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature held in New Delhi, India (1968)
Class Time (Fall '09): Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30 - 1:50 pm (352 Fillmore) Office Hours (Fall '09): Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 am - 12:00 pm (116 Wilkeson) Audience: Undergraduate Students in Geography, Geology, Civil Engineering, Planning or Environmental Studies, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or permission by instructor. Goals & Objectives: This interdisciplinary course introduces students to soil science. The emphasize in the course is to learn the most important soil properties and processes, such as soil-forming processes, composition and classification of soils, and the spatial distribution of major soil categories. The most relevant analysis methods for soil properties, soil/plant relationships, nutrients, land management practices, and ecological problems are discussed. The interdisciplinary nature of this course allows students to understand key properties and processes not only in soils, but in the environment in general - a must for everybody interested in understanding environmental issues. Required Textbook: Nyle C. Brady and Ray R. Weil, 2004: Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils. Second Edition. Pearson/Prentice Hall. (ISBN 0-13-048038-X). Companion webpage (Jump to each chapter for Quizzes, Web Links, and Color Photos) Other helpful sources for information are at Ten Key Messages, Careers in Soils, and other Soil Facts provided by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The course includes the
following topics
Schedule: The official course webpage is only accessible
through UBlearns - enrolled students must check on UBlearns for the latest
updates in schedule and syllabus. Index:
Lecture, Lab Activity, Review Session & Exam. Please note that the detailed schedule
for the fall 2009 is currently under revision!!!
Activities: Students are evaluated [% of
total grade] based on their performance in
There will be three exams with 50 multiple-choice and 16 true-false questions (total points per exam: 22; 80 minutes time). There will be no final exam. Make-up exams will be only given where a student contacts me before or at the day of the scheduled test and offers an acceptable excuse. Make-up exams must be taken no more than 7 days after the scheduled exam date, except where prolonged illness prevents this. In case of an illness or accident a medical certificate from either a doctor or health service will be required. The instructor reserves the right to alter the course schedule and format of the exams as is deemed necessary. Assigned activity reports (three assigned tasks; total points per report: 3) have to be submitted through UBlearns drop box and email notice to instructor before the first class in the week following the activity. Failure to submit in time will result in a point reduction of 10% per day. The final letter grades are A (90-100%), A- (85-89%), B+ (80-84%), B (75-79 %), B- (70-74%), C+ (65-69%), C (60-64%), C- (56.6-60%), D+ (53.3-56.6%), D (50-53.3%), and F (0-50%). For
incomplete work, academic integrity, and disability services refer to the
University undergraduate Incomplete Policy, Integrity Policy, and the University's
Disability Service Office (you must register with the office to
receive accommodation for physical and learning disabilities), respectively. |
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