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
http://www.soils.umn.edu/academics/
classes/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 Soils 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 cant 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