11:375:102 SOILS AND SOCIETY

TTh (3:55-5:15), COL-110

Fall, 2007

NOTICE REGARDING REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR MATERIAL COVERED BY Dr. Gimenez: Dr. Gimenez will be out of town until the morning of the final exam. For clarification of questions regarding his lectures, you should send him an email at Gimenez@envsci.rutgers.edu. Due to his travel schedule and access to email, you must send your questions to him on Wednesday or Thursday (11 & 12 December).

Course Objectives:

· To gain an understanding of the nature of soil and its variability

· To elucidate the importance of soils to societal function

· To evaluate the impact of human society on the function and sustainability of soil systems

Instructors: Daniel Gimenez Robert L. Tate III

Office: 248 ENR Office: 230 ENR

Phone: 932-9800 x 6205 Phone: 932-9800 x 6217

Email: gimenez@envsci.rutgers.edu Email: tate@envsci.rutgers.edu

Office Hours: 9:00-11:00 Fridays Office Hours: 10:00-12:00 Fridays

Methods: The course objectives will be achieved through a series of lectures-discussions and readings from the textbook. The information presented and discussed during the lecture periods has been selected to provide an understanding of the processes occurring in soil. These basic soil processes will be illustrated with "real world" examples. The readings from the text have been selected to provide a deeper understanding of the soil system than can be provided in the lectures. You will find that the text material will not necessarily duplicate what is covered in the lecture. You are responsible for developing a working knowledge of both lecture and text materials. Optimal understanding of the course material will be achieved when the assigned chapters of the text are read prior to the lecture.

The primary teaching method for this course is the lecture/discussion. This does not mean that you are expected to sit passively and record all that has been said. Interaction during the lecture is an obligatory part of the learning process. Therefore, questions are welcome, if not mandatory. They will help you to clear up any misconceptions you have gained from our presentations. Your questions will also be our indicator of how clearly the subject matter has been presented and whether we are proceeding at the proper pace for optimal learning.

Grades: Grades will be determined:

3 Exams @ 100 points each 300 points

Textbook: Mark S. Coyne & James A. Thompson. Fundamentals of Soil Science. Thompson, Delmar Learnong. (Recommended, Not Required) The text is available at the Douglas-Cook Bookstore.

Tentative Lecture Schedule:

Date Topic Lecturer

What are soils?

Sept. 4 Introduction to Soils Tate

Sept. 6 Soil Composition & General Structure Tate

Sept. 11 Organic Components of Soil Tate

Sept. 13 Soil pH (An example of Soil Chemical Properties) Tate

Sept. 18 Life in Soil Tate

Sept. 20 Soil Climate Gimenez

Sept. 25 Soil Air/Water Gimenez

Sept. 27 Soil Air/Water Gimenez

Oct. 2 Review