Introductory Soil Science Basic Soils & The Soil Resource Fall 2011 Intro Lecture A

Soils Week 1 Activities this first Week: 1) Lecture- Intro Lecture A - The Course and Friday Intro Lecture B -”What is soil?” 2) No Lab This Week 3) Practice Team Exams in Recitation on Thursday 4) Laboratory in 243 Borlaug – Lab 1, will start next Monday, Lab Report checked by TA Lab times M 10:30-4:30, T 9:00AM-5 PM, Wed 10:30-6

Course Information: Syllabus- Class schedule – Lecture-, Exams- Web Exam. Team Exams Final Exam – Land Use Project – Develop the land use according to the soils for a square mile (640 acres). Soil of the week- 10 different soils of Minnesota on Web Pages

Class Resources CD-From Instructor with Web Pages, Lab Investigations and Power Point Lectures or go to the web at asses/soil2125/ asses/soil2125/ Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils -- Brady and Weil (Recommended) One copy at the Borlaug Library reserve desk Soils and Landscapes of Minnesota -- Anderson, Bell,Cooper, Grigal – available online Course Packet: Available from Instructor $20.00 cash or check made out to Univ. of Minnesota & fill out the slip with your name. Do Your Readings!!!

Class Participation Class participation required. Come to class prepared for team exams Being unprepared is as bad as missing class. Missing class, being late, not completing work, or late work will play a role in determining your course grade. Remember –Lecture Counts Late Work=Make-up Team Exams = 90% of in class exams. Late Web exams not accepted. If you are ill - Bring note from Health Center for make ups.

Scholastic Dishonesty & Collaboration Scholastic dishonesty can earn you an F for the course "Scholastic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to) cheating on in class examinations; plagiarism; depriving another of necessary course materials; or sabotaging another's work.“ However, you are encouraged to work together on Webexams and Lab Reports- With Collaboration you will learn more!

Exams and Grading 2125 Lecture Dyads=5% Team Exams= 20 % Lecture Exams (4) =15% Web Exams 20% Lab Assignments=10% Land Use Project=20% Final Exam=10% Course Grades: Course grades will be determined using a curve of A> 89%, B>79%, C> 69%, D> 59%. Final Course grades will use the + and - system of grading. The class average is expected to be 76%(C+)

Objectives for Intro Soils - Learn about : soil variability terminology to classify and describe soils physical, chemical, and biological soil properties management practices to manipulate soil properties use of soil survey to determine wise land use.

The Professor I have been teaching beginning soils since 1975 I coach the soil judging team and teach the field study of soils May session and fall semester I teach Problem Solving, Environmental Review, and Soil Geography spring semester. I Advise ESPM Undergrads Prior to arriving in Minnesota I taught soils in California for 5 years and spent two years in the USMC. I graduated from Michigan State University In my spare time I golf, fish, camp, and look at road cuts!

How to Pass this Soil’s Class! Bring the professor newspaper clippings dealing with the subject of soil. Look Alert: Take notes eagerly. Nod frequently and murmur “How True”!! Laugh at his jokes. (be sure it is a joke before bursting out in loud laughter) Ask any question you think he can answer. (conversely, avoid questions he can’t answer)

If you must sleep, arrange to be called at the end of class ( creates unfavorable impression if the rest of class has left and you remain). NEVER SAY D_ _ T. substitute “soil” every time that word almost pops out of your mouth -

Soil – The most important natural resource on planet earth. All natural resources...are soil or derivatives of soil. Farms, ranges, crops, and livestock, forests, irrigation water and even water power resolve themselves into questions of soil. Soil is therefore the basic natural resource. --- Aldo Leopold