SOIL SCIENCE 315

Soil Science for Land Use Planning

Spring 2006

 

INSTRUCTOR:           E. Jerry Tyler, Room 343 King Hall, (608) 262 0853, ejtyler@wisc.edu

                                    Mark Krupinski, NRCS, Room 445 King Hall, 608 890 0384, krupinski@wisc.edu

 

LECTURES:                Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 2:25-3:15, Room 357 Soils

 

OFFICE HOURS:       Office hours for E. Jerry Tyler are by appointment and can be made by calling (608) 262 0853, day or night or leaving message or sending an email ejtyler@wisc.edu.  If the telephone machine answers leave your name and telephone number and you will be contacted soon. Please say your name and telephone number very slowly and distinctly.

 

TEXT:                          Readings are frequently assigned from:  Singer, M.J., and D.N. Munns. 2006. SOILS. An Introduction.  6th Edition. Prentice-Hall Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. The book is available on reserve in Steenbock Library as well as at the Underground and University Book Stores.

 

INTRODUCTION:      During study in Soil Science 315 a working knowledge of Soil Science should be acquired such that the information can be intelligently used to discuss and make decisions.  Those successfully completing the course will understand the vocabulary and the basic chemical, physical and biological principles of soils and be able to relate the principles of soil science to ecological systems, agricultural production, world food needs, engineering uses of soils and waste disposal such that the information may be used as a basis for wise land use decisions and land use planning.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:Each student is responsible for attending class, completing readings, submitting written projects, and taking examinations. Also, each student is responsible for hearing announcements and picking up handouts provided in class. Class announcements are the primary route for class information. Occasionally emails will be used to provide information. The Web site is provided for your use but may not be current. All activities are to be done in a timely manner.

 

It is the responsibility of each student to act in a most ethical and honest manner. Any activities inconsistent with University rules and policies will be handled according to the rules of the University.

 

Prof Tyler, as instructor, will provide classes and schedule guest lecturers, activities and examinations. He will be available to answer questions and discuss issues presented in class or found in readings.  It is recommended that you meet at least once with each Dr. Tyler during the semester.

 

Mr. Krupinski, as an instructor, will provide selected lectures and be available to assist with activities. He will be available to answer questions and discuss issues presented in class or found in readings. It is recommended that you meet at least once with Mr. Krupinski during the semester.

 

READINGS:                Readings will be assigned throughout the semester.  Materials will be available as handouts or at the Steenbock library reserve reading desk.  You will find it particularly useful to have access to a copy of Singer, M.J., and D.N. Munns. 2006. SOILS. An Introduction.  6nd Edition. Prentice-Hall Inc.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458.

 

Readings are an integral part of the class and should be done in timely manner.  Questions on examinations and on problem sets will relate directly to reading materials.

 

EXAMS:                    Three 50 minute exams will be given.  Two exams will be offered during the scheduled class period.  A comprehensive third exam will be given during the final examination period. Exams will each have 20 multiple-choice questions. Exams will be March 6 and April 24 during class and May 7 at 10:05AM.

 

Each student is responsible for completing exams. No make up exams will be offered for the first missed exam regardless of the reason and no excuse for the first missed exam is necessary. The second and succeeding exams missed can be made up with a valid excuse for missing the original exam.

 

Exams will have 20 multiple choice questions and cover material presented in class and in the assigned reading and will be designed such that you can demonstrate your knowledge of soil science and its interrelationship with land use decisions and planning in Wisconsin and the world.  About half of each exam will give you a chance to demonstrate your knowledge of the basic principles of soil science and soil science vocabulary, and half to demonstrate your knowledge of applications related to the course objectives.

 

PROBLEMS:            Twelve (12) problem sets offering an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge of soil science and the integration of soil information for land use planning will be provided. Problem sets will be distributed in class on Mondays. Completed problem sets are due Friday of the same week at 2:25PM. Problem sets will not be accepted late. Each problem of a set will be graded as accepted or re-do (not accepted) and returned the following Monday. Each problem marked as “re-do” may be corrected and submitted on Wednesday along with the original work. To get credit for an entire problem set each problem on the set must be acceptable. If you do not submit a respectable attempt at solving each of the problems as a first draft you cannot hand in a final set and get credit. 

 

GRADES:                  The problem sets will be weighted equally to one exam. The highest three scores of the possible four scores, three exams and the problem sets, will be used to calculate the final grade.  Therefore, final grades may be based on the average of the three exams or the average of two exams and the problem sets.