FERTILIZERS AND SOIL FERTILITY
SSC 051 (3 credit hours)
SYLLABUS
Spring Semester 2009
Instructor: Steve Broome
Office: 3214
Williams Hall
E-mail: stephen_broome@ncsu.edu
Fax: 919-515-2167
Telephone: 919-513-2555
Office Hours: By appointment
Time & Place:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday,
Text:
Soil
Fertility Manual – International Plant Nutrition Institute ($33 new)
Course Objectives and Student
Outcomes:
After completing the course
the student will be able to:
1. Describe the factors that affect plant growth and explain how soil
fertility and nutrient management interacts with these factors.
2. Identify the essential plant nutrients and
discuss their role in plant nutrition.
3. Explain the importance of soil acidity and
liming in crop production, and turf and landscape management in the Southeast.
4. Explain and interpret soil test results.
Project:
Students must complete a team project (2-4 students per group) to be
completed no later than
Grades:
Exams will cover material from lecture and reading assignments. Exam questions will be short answer, multiple choice, matching, blanks to fill in or calculations. The exams will be given during a lecture period. Grades will be determined using the following weighting scheme:
Attendance and
Participation 5%
Homework 15%
Team Project 10%
3-Hour Exams 50%
Final Exam 20%
TOTAL 100%
Grades will be assigned as follows:
A+ 97-100 C+ 77-79
A 93-96 C 73-76
A- 90-92 C- 70-72
B+ 87-89 D+ 67-69
B 83-86 D 63-66
B- 80-82 D- 60-62
F <60
Academic Integrity:
The Instructor will uphold the Code of Student Conduct, and the University's policies on Academic Integrity. He expects that students have read and understand the "Code," particularly the definitions and examples of "Cheating," "Plagiarizing," and "Aiding and Abetting Others to Cheat or Plagiarize." Students caught cheating on exams or plagiarizing will receive a zero for that portion of the course. University procedures for reporting cheating will be followed.
It is the Instructor's
understanding and expectation that each student's signature on any test or
assignment means that the student neither gave nor received unauthorized aid.
Attendance:
Students are expected
to attend all lectures. Recording absences is mandatory in all classes in
the Agricultural Institute. Please sit in the seat you prefer by the end of
the second week and use that seat for the remainder of the semester. It is
the student's responsibility to contact the instructor and collect all handouts
and assignments that were missed due to absence. Students meeting the requirements
for "Excused Absence" will be allowed to make-up missed exams and
assignments.
Conduct:
You are expected
to conduct yourself in a mature manner that is considerate and respectful
of your classmates, the instructor, and yourself to create an atmosphere conducive
to learning. Do not disrupt class by arriving late, talking during lecture
or creating any other types of distraction. The best discipline is self-discipline.
Students with handicaps and
disabilities:
If you have a handicap or disability that may affect your participation in this class, please notify the Instructor as soon as possible so that any necessary adjustments can be made.
Class Schedule Spring 2009:
|
Day |
Date |
Lecture topic |
Chapter |
|
Wednesday |
January 7 |
Introduction-History |
|
|
Friday |
January 9 |
Fertilizer Chemistry |
|
|
Monday |
January 12 |
Fertilizer Terminology |
|
|
Wednesday |
January 14 |
Factors Affecting Plant
Growth |
|
|
Friday |
January 16 |
Factors Affecting Plant Growth |
|
|
Monday |
January 19 |
Martin
Luther King Holliday |
|
|
Wednesday |
January 21 |
Soil Properties Related to Soil Fertility
|
1 |
|
Friday |
January 23 |
Soil Properties Related to Soil Fertility
|
1 |
|
Monday |
January
26 |
Soil Properties Related to Soil Fertility
|
1 |
|
Wednesday |
January
28 |
Essential Elements |
|
|
Friday |
January
30 |
Essential Elements |
|
|
Monday |
February
2 |
Essential Elements |
|
|
Wednesday |
February
4 |
Review |
|
|
Friday |
February
6 |
EXAM 1 |
|
|
Monday |
February
9 |
Soil pH and Liming |
2 |
|
Wednesday |
February
11 |
Soil pH and Liming List of Group Members and Title of Group Project Due |
2 |
|
Friday |
February
13 |
Soil pH and Liming |
2 |
|
Monday |
February
16 |
Soil pH and Liming |
2 |
|
Wednesday |
February
18 |
Nitrogen |
3 |
|
Friday |
February 20 |
Nitrogen |
3 |
|
Monday |
February 23 |
Nitrogen |
3 |
|
Wednesday |
February 25 |
Phosphorus |
4 |
|
Friday |
February 27 |
Phosphorus Outline of Group Project Due |
4 |
|
Monday-Friday |
March 2-6 |
SPRING BREAK |
|
|
Monday |
March 9 |
Phosphorus |
4 |
|
Wednesday |
March 11 |
Potassium |
5 |
|
Friday |
March 13 |
Potassium |
5 |
|
Monday |
March 16 |
Review |
|
|
Wednesday |
March 18 |
EXAM 2 |
|
|
Friday |
March 20 |
|
|
|
Monday |
March 23 |
Secondary Nutrients |
6 |
|
Wednesday |
March 25 |
Micronutrients |
7 |
|
Friday |
March 27 |
|
7 |
|
Monday |
March 30 |
Soil Testing and Interpretation |
8 |
|
Wednesday |
April 1 |
Soil Testing and Interpretation |
8 |
|
Friday |
April 3 |
Plant Analyses |
|
|
Monday |
April 6 |
|
|
|
Wednesday |
April 8 |
Environmental Issues |
|
|
Friday |
April 10 |
Good Friday |
|
|
Monday |
April 13 |
Effects of Nutrients on Water Quality |
10 |
|
Wednesday |
April 15 |
Review;
Projects Due |
|
|
Friday |
April 17 |
Exam 3 |
|
|
Monday |
April 20 |
Nutrient Management |
|
|
Wednesday |
April 22 |
Nutrient Management |
|
|
Friday |
April 24 |
LAST DAY OF CLASS (Review) |
|
|
Monday |
April 27 |
FINAL EXAM |
|