MORRISVILLE STATE COLLEGE (SUNY College of Ag and Tech)

SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

AGRO 110 - Soil Science

Fall 2009

Three (3) Credits

Time:

9:00 - 9:50 A.M. M, F

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Adam Khan (Dr. Khan), OFFICE: CHHL 208

Lab: Charlton Hall 201

E-mail: Khana@morrisville.edu

Web page address: http://people.morrisville.edu/~khana

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER MATERIAL:

· Khan, Adam and M. Q. Khan. 2008. Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis, and Classification. Pearson Publishing Co., Inc. USA.

· Khan, Adam and M. Q. Khan. 2008. Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility. Pearson Publishing Co., Inc. USA.

· Periodic Table

· Calculator

SUPPLEMENTARY READING:

1. Brady, Nyle C. The Nature and Properties of Soil, 1994. 8th Edition, MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., New York.
2. Foth, Henry D. Fundamentals of Soil Science, 1990, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
3. Tisdale, S. L. & Werner, L. Nelson, Soil Fertility and Fertilizers, 1984, 4th Edition, MacMillan Co., Inc., New York.
4. Soil Science Society of American Journal
5. Agronomy Journal
6. Black, C.A. Soil Plant Relationship, 1968. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Section I: Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis, and Classification- part 1

1. Soil in General

a. Soil
b. Study of soil
c. Soil vs. regolith
d. Soil profile
e. Surface vs. subsoil
f. Mineral vs. organic soil
g. Four major components of soil

2. Some Physical Properties of Soil

a. Soil texture
b. Particle density
c. Bulk density
d. Pore space
e. Soil structure

3. Soil Water

a. Importance
b. Structure
c. Properties
d. Soil water energy concept
e. Potential
f. Measuring soil moisture
g. Retention in the field
h. Classification and uptake of soil water

4. Soil Water - Plant Continuum

a. Evapotranspiration
b. Magnitude of evapotranspiration
c. Evaporation control

5. Water Losses from Soil

a. Percolation
b. Run off and soil erosion
c. Universal soil loss equation
d. Types of soil water erosion

6. Soil Air

a. Well aerated soil
b. Aeration problems
c. ODR
d. Composition of soil air
e. Effect on biological activity
f. Soil temperature

Section II: Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility- part 1

1. Soil Colloids

a. Inorganic and organic colloids
b. Silicate clays
c. Oxides and hydroxides
d. Humus
e. CEC
f. Percentage of base saturation

2. Soil Reaction

a. Source of H ions
b. Source of OH ions
c. Active vs. reserve acidity
d. Buffering of soil
e. Buffering capacity of soil

3. Agri. Lime

a. Liming material
b. Composition guarantee
c. Fineness guarantee
d. Reaction in soil
e. Effect on soil
f. Over liming
g. Amount to apply

4. Chemical Pollutants

a. Pesticides
b. Persistence in soil
c. Inorganic pollutants
d. Organic waste

Section III: Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility - part 2

1. Plant Nutrients in Mineral Soils

a. Factors controlling growth
b. Essential plant nutrients
c. Nutrient availability
d. Soil solution
e. pH
f. Nutrient uptake

2. Nitrogen

a. Influence on plant
b. Forms of N in soil
c. N-cycle
d. Fixation of N by legumes

3. Sulfur

a. Deficiency symptoms
b. S requirement by crops
c. Natural sources
d. S cycle

4. Phosphorus

a. Influence on plant
b. P problem
c. P availability and surface area
d. Availability of organic P
e. Practical control of P availability

5. Potassium

a. Favorable effects
b. Deficiency symptoms
c. K problems
d. Forms and availability in soil
e. Factors affecting K fixation

6. Micronutrients

a. Deficiency vs. toxicity
b. Functions in higher plants
c. Source of micronutrients
d. Factors affecting availability
e. Chelates

7. Fertilizer and Fertilizer Management

a. N carriers
b. P carriers
c. K carriers
d. Mixed fertilizers
e. Liquid fertilizers
f. Fertilizer guarantee
g. Methods of application

8. Fertilizer Technology

a. Fertilizer distribution
b. Granulation plants

i. Conventional ammoniation-granulation
ii. Modified ammoniation-granulation with preneutralizer
iii. Ammoniation-granulation process with cross pipe reactor

c. Bulk blend

i. Problems with blends

1. Segregation due to the particle size
2. Segregation due to vibration
3. Segregation due to balistic action
4. Caking due to critical relative humidity and related causes
5. Caking due to the chemical reaction

Section IV: Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis, and Classification- part 2

1. Origin, Nature, and Classification of P.M.

a. Properties of rock
b. Weathering
c. Geological classification of P.M.
d. Residual
e. Colluvial and alluvial deposits
f. Marine sediments
g. Pleistocene
h. Glacial till
i. Glacial outwash
j. Glacial aeolian deposits

2. Soil Formation, Classification and Survey

a. Factors affecting soil formation
b. Soil profile and its development
c. Soil profile

3. Soil Classification

a. Diagnostic horizon
b. Classification and categories
c. Nomenclature
d. Soil orders

4. Soil Survey

a. Field maps
b. Use of soil survey
c. Land capability classification

Section V

1. Organisms of the Soils

a. Primary consumers
b. Secondary and tertiary consumers
c. Organisms No.
d. Biomass
e. Metabolic activity
f. Soil microanimals
g. Roots
h. Algae
i. Fungi
j. Bacteria

2. Organic Matter

a. Composition of plant residue
b. Decomposition
c. Carbon cycle
d. Simple products carrying N
e. S
f. Humus
g. C-N ratio

3. Organic Soils

a. Genesis
b. Uses of peat
c. Classification
d. Physical properties
e. Chemical composition
f. Preparation and management for cropping

4. Animal Manures and Green Manure

a. Chemical composition
b. Storage and treatment utilization
c. Green manure
d. Benefits and practical utilization of green manure

EXAM SCHEDULE

Book used	Part	Exam Date	Hour Exam #*
Intro to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification	1	9/11/09	1
Introduction to Soil Chemsitry & fertility	1	10/2//09	2
Introduction to Soil Chemistry & fertility	2	10/26/09	3
Intro to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification	2	11/16/09	4
Soil microbiology and biochemistry (webct)	Web ct	12/07/09	(Make up 1)
All	Both Books and webct	12/011/09	(Make up 2)
Final	Comprehensive

NOTE: Make up exams are for those who missed one or 2 of the hour exams due to sickness or other reasons. No individual make ups are given in this course. These make up exams can also be used by those who want to improve their grades by replacing one or 2 hour exams where the grades are low. However, if the make up exam grades are lower than the hour exam grades, then they will not count. In other words only Four best grades will be selected.

Deadlines: Please bring your home work, the 2 text books, term paper or poster or Agronomy Club project to the lab for grading and recording your grades on computer on the following date:

Monday Lab sections: 11/30/09

Material (Other than the project) submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Please bring the material for grading to the lab during the lab session only.

Note: The final deadline for the projects is 12/7/09 for Monday labs.

Agronomy Club's annual meeting will be from 12/07/09 – 12/11/09:

LECTURE SCHEDULE

Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis, and Classification	Section #	Chapter
Part I Soil Physics
	I	1
	-------	2
	-------	3
	-------	4
	-------	5
Study Section II, Chapters 1 - 5 on your own.
Study review material on web ct for the exam.
Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility
Part I: Soil Chemistry
	I	1
	-------	2
	II	1
	-------	2

Study review material on web ct for the exam
Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility
Part II: Soil Fertility
	I	1
	-------	3
Read chapter 2 on your own	-------
	II	1
	-------	2
	-------------	3
Study review material on web ct for the exam.
Study Sections III, VI, V, and VI on your own.
Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis, and Classification
Part II: Soil Genesis and Classification
	I	1
	-------	2
	II	1
	III	1
Study review material for the exam.	IV	1 and 2
Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry		1
(Material given on web ct)	-------	2
	-------	3
	-------	4

Study review material on web ct for the exam.

GRADE DISTRIBUTION

1. Hour exams¹ =400 (each hour exam = 100
2. Comprehensive final (lecture) = 300
3. Home work: Questions = 50 (12 for each part of the books)
Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis, and Classification: (Part I: section 5: Questions 1 - 77, pages 77 - 86; Part II: Section V: Questions 1 -107, pages 140- 150). Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility (Part I: Section 5: Questions 1 - 78, pages 61 - 66; Part II, section IX: Questions 1 - 294, pages 202 - 220)
4. Lab reports = 25
(Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification part I, section 4) and (Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility part I, Section IV, Part II, section VIII)
5. Skills = 25
(Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification part I, section 3) and (Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility part I, Section III, Part II, section VII)
6. Term paper or Lab Exam or some educational activity (such as Research Project) with Agronomy Club = 100
7. Subjective = 100

¹ Four best will be selected.

GRADE CLASSIFICATION

A = 950-1000
A- = 900- 949
B+ = 860- 899
B = 830- 859
= 800- 829
C+ = 760- 799
C = 730- 759
= 700- 729
D+ = 650- 699
D = 600- 649

If you need two points or less to move from one letter grade to the other, you will automatically get those points. However, if you need greater than two, but less than five, please talk to me.

NOTE: The final exam weighs heavily in determining your final grade. For example, if you make an A in your hour exams but a lower score in the final, your score may drop to a C.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance of all lecture sessions is encouraged. To discourage class absentia, the following penalties will be strictly followed:

"All the handouts distributed in a particular lecture session will not be given to those who miss that session except those who inform me before, either verbally or written, or on the telephone." However, if it becomes necessary for some one to miss class, then they can get the information from web ct. Please note that individual make ups exams are not given. If you miss an exam, you will have to wait and take the make up exams scheduled for the whole class.

LEARNING PROBLEMS

Any student who has a disability that prevents the fullest expression of abilities should contact me as soon as possible so that we can discuss class requirements.

CLASS REGULATIONS

1. Participation in class discussion is very important. Asking questions in class will improve your grade.
2. Complete silence must be maintained during lectures. Talking to each other without instructor's approval will affect your grades. Those who talk to each other during class time without instructor's approval will be assigned front seats. Those who still talk will be asked to leave the class.
3. Lab reports will not be accepted after due date.
4. Your grades will be posted on webct. Record your grades in the grade record page.
5. If you are not satisfied with the grade, contact me within a week after you receive the grades. However, after one week, no change in grades will be accepted.
6. If you believe at the end of the semester that there is an error in the final grading, contact me within 48 hours. However, once the grades are submitted to the registrar's office, no change will be accepted. Remember you must have substantial data to back your claim.
7. Make-up Exam Policy: Since there are 2 make-up exams already scheduled for the whole class, no make-up exam will be given to individual students.
8. If you are an associate member of Agronomy Club, and present a poster or power point in the annual/semester meeting of Agronomy Club, this will qualify as an educational activity in Agronomy Club.
9. If you are an active member, hold an office in the club, attend all the meetings, this will also qualify as an educational activity in the club.
10. Policy on curving grades: The grades, in general, are not curved. However, at the end of semester, during the final grade calculation, curving is considered. The curving points may be added to the overall score of the persons who have not been missing the classes, are paying attention to the lecture, show interest in the subject material, quietly listen to the lecture, and display professional behavior in the class.

11. Exam Regulations: Any one found cheating in an exam will receive zero in that exam and his/her name will be submitted for disciplinary action. Please sit on alternate seats during exams. You must use #2 pencil to bubble the answer sheet. Any body who uses a pen or ink to bubble answer sheet will get zero in the exam. You are responsible to bring your own pencil to the exam. You can use periodic table and a calculator but can not share these items with each other during exam. You must write your name and M. number and bubble it with a #2 pencil. You can not use lap top during exam.

Questions dealing with clarification of syllabus will be discussed in the lab sessions only.

SYLLABUS (LAB)

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Khan, Adam and M. Q. Khan. 2008. Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis, and Classification. Pearson Publishing Co., Inc. USA.
Khan, Adam and M. Q. Khan. 2008. Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility. Pearson Publishing Co., Inc. USA.

COURSE OUTLINE: The labs are combination of labs and self study material.

Study material (Skills: Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification part I, section 3) and (Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility part I, Section III, Part II, section VII): Cation Exchange in soil, weight of an acre furrow slice, volume of an acre one foot deep, formula for the volume, % nutrient in a fertilizer, nutrient, fertilizer, 4 steps calculation, NPK fertilizer label, size of sand, silt, clay, a mole, molar mass, atomic mass, molecular mass, molar mass of a molecule, how the soil aggregates are formed, surface area of clay vs sand, conversion math, changing statement into math, writing denominators, writing numbers from conversion tables, converting moles into grams and grams into moles, understanding PPM, microgram per gram, PP2M, and pounds per acre, percent water in soil, field capacity, volume of a water body, converting soil volume in CC into grams, pH, acid, neutral, and alkaline pH, Bulk density, exchangable bases, dichromate reaction with C in presence of acid, preparing molar solution of a compound, oxidation, reduction, calculating available N from % organic matter, how to convert N per 1000 square feet into N per acre, knowing the difference between a nutrient and a fertilizer, how to calculate the amount of fertilizer from the amount of nutrient, form of NPK absorbed by plants, Amminization, ammonification, nitrification, N fixation by bacteria, N cycle, why Nitrate does not stick to clay particles, reserve acidity, active acidity, how glass electrode work, how to calculate the amount of lime, CCE of liming material, % Ca in CaO, calculating pounds of K per acre, calculating CEC, equivalent weight, gram equivalent weight, and normal solution.

Labs:

1. Chemistry Background

A. Molar Concentration
B. Normal Concentration
C. Some Formulas and Their Deviations

2. Determination of Soil Texture by Hydrometer Method

A. Principle
B. Calculation Procedure

i. Correction factor
ii. % sand
iii. % clay
iv. % silt
v. Texture

3. Determination of Moisture Content in Wet Soils and Soils at Field Capacity

A. Principle
B. Calculation Procedure
C. Field Capacity
D. Description and Principle of Procedures

i Gravimetric procedure
ii. Neutron probe
iii. Gypsum blocks
iv. Tensimeters

4. Determination of Bulk Density and Particle Density

A. Bulk Density

i. Principle
ii. Calculation procedures

B. Particle Density

i. Principle
ii. Calculation procedures

5. Determination of Organic Matter Content in Soil (Colorimetric Procedure)

A. Introduction
B. Principle

i. Oxidation reaction
ii. Spectronic 20 and Beer's Law

C. Linear Equation to Convert % T Into % O.M.

6. Determination of Microbial Activity by CO₂ Evolution Procedure

A. Introduction
B. Principle

i. Reactions
ii. Titration

C. Calculation Procedure

i. Description of formula used
ii. Application of the formula

7. Soil Reaction (pH)

A. Principle

i. Definition of pH
ii. Use of CaCl₂
iii. Principle of glass electrode

B. Calibration and standards
C. Applications of pH

8. Available K in Soil

A. Principle
B. Calibration and Standards
C. Calculation Procedure
D. Applications

9. Determination of Available P in Soil

A. Principle
B. Classification of P Levels in Soil
C. Application
D. Calculation Procedure

10. Determination of NH₄, NO₃, and NO₂ in Soil

A. Principle
B. Oxidation Reduction Reaction
C. Calculation Procedure
D. Application

11. Agri. Lime

A. Principle

i. Illinois method
ii. Mo. buffer method

B. Mo. Buffer Method

i. Calibration and standards
ii. Calculation procedure
iii. Determination of lime
iv. Determination of NA

12. Rocks as Parent Material of Soil

A. Classes of Rocks
B. Description of Rocks and Minerals
C. Texture of Rocks
D. Identification

13. Soil Profile

A. Description
B. Epipedons
C. Soil Orders
D. Soil Formation

14. Fertilizer Calculation and Recommendations

A. % N Calculation
B. Calculation of Total N Fertilizer Carrier from Unit N
C. % P₂O₅ and % K₂O Calculation
D. Calculation of Lime
E. PPM vs. lbs/A
F. Determination of Factors to Change an Element Into a Compound and Vice Versa
G. Structural Formula of Pyro and Orthophosphate and Gibbsite
H. Calculation of % CCE

GRADE DISTRIBUTION

The grades will be built in the regular lecture part of the course.

Schedule:

Date	Activity	Tick mark (√) if done
---------	1. lab organization and cleaning 2. soil and plant samples collection 3. Skills: Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 3: pages 26 - 60
--------	Skills: Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 3: pages 26 - 60 continued
----------	Skills: Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 3: pages 26 - 60 continued
---------	Skills: Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 3: pages 26 - 60 continued
-------	1. Grind samples and pass through 2 mm sieve 2. lab exercise #1 (Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 4: pages 62 - 67) 3. Skills: Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 3: pages 26 - 60 continued
----------	1. lab exercise #2A (procedure steps 1-4)( Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 4: page 68) 2. lab exercise #2B (procedure steps 1-6) (Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 4: pages 69 and 70) 3. Skills: Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 3: pages 26 - 60 continued
-----	1. lab exercise #2A (procedure step 5) (Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 4: pages 68) 2. lab exercise #2B (procedure step 7) (Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 4: pages 69 and 70) 3. lab exercise #3 (procedure step a-d)(Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 4: pages 72 - 75) 4. Skills: Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section 3: pages 26 - 60 continued
	1. lab exercise #3 (procedure steps d-e)(Introduction to Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification, Part I, Section : pages 72 - 75 2. lecture: chemistry background
	Soil Chemistry and Fertility (Part I)
	1. lab exercise # 2 ( Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Part I, Section 4: pages 48 - 54) 2. Skills: ( Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Part I, Section 3: pages 17 - 41)
------	1. complete lab exercise #3 ( Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Part I, Section 4: pages 55 - 59) 2. Skills: ( Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Part I, Section 3: pages 17 - 41) continued
	Soil Chemistry and Fertility (Part II)
------	1. lab exercise #1 ( Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Part II, Section 8: pages 184 - 187) 2. Skills: ( Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Part II, Section 7: pages 150 - 182)
--------	1. lab exercise #2 ( Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Part II, Section 8: pages 188 - 192) 2. Skills: ( Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Part II, Section 7: pages 150 - 182) continued
--------	1. lab exercise on fertilizer calculations 2. Skills: ( Introduction to Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Part II, Section 7: pages 150 - 182) continued

Lab Regulations

1. No lab report after the deadline will be accepted.

2. Each lab session has been organized for 2 hours. However, if you spend overtime in one session, you will be able to get that time in some other sessions.

3. The lab or lectures will start in time and finish in time, therefore, no request for leaving earlier should be made. However, a request for overtime by the students will be considered.

4. You are encouraged to discuss your lab reports with each other or with your professor, however, copying lab reports from each other is prohibited. Anybody who will copy lab reports or homework along with the one who will hand over his lab report or take home exam to copy will earn zero grade for such report or take home exam.

Note: If you miss a lab session, you are not entitled to submit lab report on that exercise.

Safety Regulations:

Do not wear short skirts, shorts, and bare-midriff shirts in the lab.
Open – toed shoes and sandals,, as well as, thin canvas sneakers, are not permitted in the lab.
Never remove any chemical substance from the lab. Removal of chemical from the lab is ground for expulsion.
Keep your work area clean, and help keep the common areas of the lab clean.
Never add water to a concentrated reagent when diluting the reagent.
Never perform any experiment that is not specifically authorized by your instructor.
Never work in the lab unless the instructor is present.
Dispose of all reaction products as directed by the instructor.
Dispose of all glass products in the special container provided.
All of the chemicals are stored in the storage area and no student is permitted in the storage area.
The lab space is safe
Majority of the experiment use small amount of chemicals or very diluted reagents.

GRADES RECORD

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
Hour Exams
Home Work
Lab Reports:
Skills
Activity in Agronomy Club/Lab Exam/Research Project
Term Papers
FINAL

Frequently Asked questions:

Q: Dr. Khan! When is our exam? Answer: The exam date is given in the syllabus and is strictly followed.
Q: What includes home work? The home work is given on the following pages:
Q: When is the home work due? The home work must be turned in during the lab session on due date given in the syllabus.
Q: What should be the topic of my term paper? You are supposed to choose your own topic dealing with Soil Science
Q. How many pages term paper should be? Five pages double space typed
Q: How many sources I should have? Five sources which should include journal articles, books, magazine, and internet etc.
Q: What is the deadline for the term paper? The term paper should be turned in on the deadline given in this syllabus.
Q: What is the procedure to become an associate member of Agronomy Club member? You fill in membership form then you become an associate member. To stay an associate member, you must attend the annual meeting if you are registered in Spring semester or end of Fall semester meeting if you are registered in Fall semester.
Q: What is the procedure to become an active member of Agronomy Club? You fill in the application form, sign in the code of ethics, and win an office in the club. If you are appointed as a chair of the committee, you will be considered as an officer. As an officer you will be required to attend all of the meetings. As an active member you become a member of the Student Activity Subdivision of ASA and also become eligible to attend the national and regional meetings.
Q: If we are associate members of Agronomy Club and want to work on poster or power point presentation, can we work in groups? Yes. The purpose of the project is for you to have fun while you learn. If you work on a project as a group, you will enjoy working together and the project will promote creativity and new ideas. The way we explain cation exchange using magnetic model, you can also come up with even a better technique of explaining some concepts in soil science.
Q: What types of exams are given? The exams are multiple choice selection type. You will use bubble sheets to answer your questions. Bring a number 2 pencil to the exam.
Q: Can we use a periodic table and a calculator in the exam? Yes. You can use a laminated periodic table and a calculator in the exam. However, you can not share the calculator or periodic table with each other.
Is final exam required for every one? Yes. Final exam carries 300 points and every body is required to take final exam. Final exam is not optional.
Is final exam comprehensive? Yes.
I was sick and missed the exam, can I have a make-up. Answer: You can use one of the 2 make up exams scheduled for the whole class as a make up for the exam you missed. No individual make ups are given in this course.
I was on a field trip and missed the exam, can I have a make-up. Answer: You can use one of the 2 make up exams scheduled for the whole class as a make up for the exam you missed. No individual make ups are given in this course.

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