Coursetitle:Soilorganicmatterandbiochemistry;ENVS*6350

CourseOutlineForm:Fall2017

GeneralInformation

CourseTitle:Soilorganicmatterandbiochemistry;ENVS*6350

CourseDescription:Soilorganicmattercharacterization,dynamicsofsoilorganicmatter,nutrientcycling.

CreditWeight:0.5

AcademicDepartment(orcampus):SchoolofEnvironmentalSciences

Campus:Guelph

SemesterOffering:Fall2017ClassScheduleandLocation:TBD Instructor Information

InstructorName:ProfessorPaulVoroney

InstructorEmail:

Officelocation and officehours:ALEX217;byappointment

CourseContent

Thelearningactivitiesduringthesemesterwillinvolvelectures,readings,andstudentseminarstoprovidestudentswiththebackgroundforamodelingexerciseofasoil/cropagriculturalsystem.Duringthelatterhalfofthecourse,studentswillworkontheprogressiveconstructionofaCenturymodeloftheirchosen soil/cropsystem fordescribingagriculturalmanagementeffectsonC/N/Pdynamics.

LearningObjectives:

1.CriticalandCreativeThinking:

1.1ReinforcementofInquiry andAnalysisthroughcriticalreviewof scientificjournalarticles.

1.2ReinforcementofIntegrativeandAppliedLearningthrougharesearchtopicwhichevaluatespotentialeffectsofmanagementpracticestotheproblemofmaintainingandenhancingsoilorganicmatterstocks.

2.Literacy:

2.1ReinforcementofCollaborativeLiteracythroughtheselectionofagrouptopicforresearchandoralpresentation.

2.2ReinforcementofDepthandBreadthofUnderstandingthroughindividualresearchfororalandwrittenproject.

3.GlobalUnderstanding:

3.1IntroductionofGlobalKnowledgethroughresearchandreviewofrelevantscientificliteraturedescribingcontrastingagroecosystems,e.g.tropicalsoils.

3.2IntroductionofInterculturalKnowledgeandCompetencethroughresearchandreviewofrelevantscientificliteraturedescribingcontrastingmanagementsystems.

4.Communicating:

4.1ReinforcementofOralCommunicationthroughoralpresentationsassociatedwithselectedtopicsin soilorganicmatter.

4.2ReinforcementofReadingComprehensionthroughindividualresearchtopicsandwrittenpaper.

5.ProfessionalandEthicalBehavior:

5.1ReinforcementofTeamwork throughselectionofresearchtopicsofinteresttotheclassandpromotionofactiveparticipationinclassroom.

LectureContent:

Studentswillbe assignedscientificarticlesto criticallyreviewandlead aseminar/discussionofthearticles.Theseminarshould be amaximumof20-25min (~10-12power pointslides)with

~20mindevotedtoquestionsanddiscussion.

Courseoutline:

1.Introduction- what issoilorganicmatter(SOM)

2.Carboncyclingand SOM

-longtermcarboncycle

-shorttermcarboncycle

3.Nature (chemical,physical andbiological)anddynamics(pool sizesandkinetics)ofthecomponentsofSOM

(i)componentsofSOM

(ii)methodsfor studyingpoolsizes/dynamicsof SOM

-tracertechniques: 14C,13C,15N(naturalandenriched)

-chemicalmethods

-physicalmethods

(iii)modelingthedynamicsof soilorganicmatter(SOM)

-generalapproachandutility

-specificmodels:CENTURY(DayCent);ROTHC

4.ProcessesaffectingSOM

(i)cultivation andannualcropping

(ii)inputsofplantresidues,light fractionparticulateorganicmatter

(iii)decompositionofplantresidues

(iv)synthesisofmicrobialbiomass,carbon-useefficiency

(v)stabilizationoforganicmatter,physicalprotection,chemicalrecalcitrance

(vi)aggregationandsoiltexture

5.ImportanceofSOMin:

(i)soilphysical, chemicalandbiologicalproperties

(ii)soilfertility(withspecialreferencetoNand P):

(iii)internalnutrientcycle:MIT

(iv)greenhousegasemissions(CO2,N2O,NH3,CH4)

(v)CandN sequestration

CourseAssignmentsandTests:

Finalexaminationdateandtime:Notapplicable

CourseResources

RequiredTexts:NoneRecommendedTexts:NoneLabManual:None

OtherResources:Studentsreadingsfromscientificjournalarticles

FieldTrips: Notapplicable

CoursePolicies

GradingPolicies:Assignmentsaredueonthedate indicatedand shouldbesubmitted atthestartofthe classorto my office(ALEX217)bytheend ofthe day.Thepenaltyforlatesubmissionis-10%ofthe earnedmarkfor submission anytimewithin thefirst24hours;-5%for

anytimewithin eachsubsequent24hours.Documentationfor valid excusesforlate ormissingassignmentsneedstobeprovided.

CoursePolicyonGroupWork:Notapplicable

CoursePolicyregardinguseofelectronicdevicesandrecordingoflectures:

Electronicrecordingofclassesis expresslyforbiddenwithout consent oftheinstructor.Whenrecordingsarepermittedtheyaresolelyforthe use ofthe authorizedstudentandmaynot bereproduced,ortransmittedtoothers,withouttheexpresswrittenconsentoftheinstructor.

UniversityPolicies

AcademicConsideration:

TheUniversityofGuelphiscommittedto supportingstudentsintheir learningexperiencesandrespondingtotheirindividualneedsandis awarethat avarietyofsituationsoreventsbeyondthestudent'scontrolmayaffectacademicperformance.Supportisprovidedtoaccommodateacademicneedsinthe faceofpersonaldifficultiesorunforeseeneventsintheformofAcademicConsideration.

InformationonregulationsandproceduresforAcademicConsideration,AppealsandPetitions,includingcategories,grounds,timelinesandappealscanbefoundinSection VIII (UndergraduateDegreeRegulationsandProcedures)oftheUndergraduateCalendar.

AcademicMisconduct:

TheUniversityofGuelphiscommittedtoupholdingthehigheststandardsof academicintegrityand it istheresponsibilityofallmembersoftheUniversitycommunity, faculty,staff,andstudentstobeawareofwhat constitutesacademic misconduct andtodoasmuchaspossibletopreventacademicoffences fromoccurring.

UniversityofGuelph studentshavetheresponsibilityof abidingbytheUniversity'spolicyonacademicmisconductregardlessoftheir locationofstudy;faculty,staffand studentshavetheresponsibilityofsupportinganenvironmentthatdiscouragesmisconduct.Studentsneedtoremainaware thatinstructorshaveaccesstoandtherighttouseelectronicandothermeansofdetection.Pleasenote:Whetherornotastudentintendedtocommitacademicmisconductisnotrelevantforafindingofguilt.Hurriedor carelesssubmissionofassignmentsdoesnotexcusestudentsfromresponsibilityforverifyingtheacademicintegrityoftheirworkbeforesubmittingit.Students who are inanydoubt astowhether anactionontheir partcouldbeconstruedasanacademicoffence should consultwith afacultymemberorfacultyadvisor.

DetailedinformationregardingtheAcademicMisconductpolicyisavailableinSectionVIII (UndergraduateDegreeRegulationsandProcedures)oftheUndergraduateCalendar.

Accessibility:

TheUniversityofGuelphiscommitted tocreatingabarrier-freeenvironment.Providingservicesforstudentsisasharedresponsibilityamongstudents,facultyand administrators.Thisrelationship isbased onrespectofindividual rights, thedignityofthe individualandtheUniversitycommunity'ssharedcommitmenttoanopenandsupportivelearningenvironment.Studentsrequiringservice oraccommodation,whetherduetoanidentified,ongoingdisabilityorashort-termdisabilityshouldcontacttheStudentAccessibilityServices(SAS), formerlyCentreforStudentswithDisabilities(CSD), assoon aspossible.

Formoreinformation,contact SAS visittheStudentAccessibilityServiceswebsite(

CourseEvaluationInformation:

Endofsemestercourseandinstructorevaluationsprovidestudentstheopportunitytohavetheircommentsandopinions used asan important component intheFacultyTenure andPromotionprocess,andasvaluablefeedbacktohelpinstructorsenhancethe qualityoftheirteachingeffectivenessandcoursedelivery.

Whilemanycourseevaluationsareconductedin classothersarenowconductedonline.PleaserefertotheCourseandInstructorEvaluationWebsiteformore information.

Dropperiod:

Thedropperiodforsingle semester coursesstartsatthebeginningoftheaddperiod andextendstotheFortieth(40th)classdayofthecurrentsemester(thelastdatetodrop asinglesemestercourseswithout academicpenalty)whichislistedinSectionIII(ScheduleofDates)of theUndergraduateCalendar.

Thedropperiodfortwosemestercoursesstartsat thebeginningoftheaddperiod inthefirstsemesterand extendstothelast dayofthe addperiodinthesecond semester.

InformationaboutDroppingCoursescanbe found in SectionVIII(UndergraduateDegree RegulationsandProcedures)oftheUndergraduateCalendar.

AdditionalCourse Information

• Class seminar/discussion/questioning

-assigned papers for review

-search out additionalpaper(s) on topic,annotateandshare with class

-classpresentation (~10 slides)

• Centurysimulation modelingexercise (go to NRELatColorado StateUniversity)

(

oListofNRELprojects

Down load CENTURY4 material

-major research paper related to thesis research

-testableresearch hypothesis

-computer modelingto doresearch

-classpresentation

-format ofa scientific article

• Annotated bibliography

-obtainappropriate softwarefor reference organizationand citing-e.g. Procite

- organize in terms of researchtopics/methodology/

-preparebrief summaryofscientific articles

-shouldcontain20-40articlesbytheend oftheclass

• Textbook

Soil microbiology, ecologyandbiochemistry. 2007. Editor E.A.Paul,3rdEdition. AcademicPress.

- Chapters 1, 2, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16

Soil microbiology, ecologyandbiochemistry. 2014. Editor E.A.Paul,4thEdition. AcademicPress.

- Chapters 1, 2, 12, 13, 14, and 17