Wabash Valley College
Course Syllabus
AGR 1111 – Introduction to Soil Science
Instructor: Steve Hnetkovsky
Office: ATC 107
Contact: or phone: 618-262-8641 extension 3701
Meeting Time and Place:Independent study TBA
Course Description:An introduction to the chemical, physical, and biological properties of soils; the origin, classification, and distribution of soils and their influence on people and food production; the management and conservation of soils; the environmental impact of soil use. Three classroom hours per week. Two lab hours per week. 4 semester hours credit.
Student Learning Outcomes:Successful completers will:
1. Develop an understanding and knowledge of the basic and applied chemical, physical, and biological concepts
in soils.
2. Develop an understanding of the origin, classification, and distribution of soils and their relationship to man and
food production.
3. Develop an understanding of the management and conservation soils.
4. Develop an understanding of the environmental impact of soil use.
Methods of Instruction:Instructional methods include lecture/discussion, laboratory exercises, and field trips.
Methods of Student Evaluation:Student evaluation includes quizzes, hourly exams, lab exercises, class participation, project grades, and class attendance.
A=100 - 90%B=89 - 80%C=79 - 70%D=69 - 60%Below60=F
Hourly exams 300 points
End of chapter questions and written work200 points
Quizzes200 points
Laboratory exercises300 points
Attendance and class participation100 points
Recommended Textbooks and Reference Materials:To ensure you purchase the correct textbook required for your course section, either present your schedule to the bookstore or contact the instructor.
Required Textbook: Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils, 3rd. ed. ISBN 978-0-13-501433-2
Laboratory materials will be furnished by the instructor.
Optional Textbook: Illinois Agronomy Handbook, Current edition.Hours
Topical Outline:
I. Introduction 2-3
A. Definition of soil
B. Soil as a natural body
C. Soil Components - air, water, inorganic and organic solids
II. Physical Properties 8-10
A. Soil Separates
B. Texture
C. Aggregation and structure characteristics
D. Temperature
E. Color
F. Moisture
G. Pore Space
H. Bulk density
I. Particle density
J. Aeration
K. Drainage
L. Surface area
M. Soil water
III. Chemical Properties 7-9
A. Morphology of clay
B. Chemistry of clays
C. Ionic exchange
D. Acidity, alkalinity (pH) and salinity
E. Reactions in liming and acidification
IV. Biological Properties 5-7
A. Soil organic matter
B. C:N
C. N transformation
D. Soil organisms
E. Sulfur transformation
V. Genesis and Classification 4-6
A. Profile
B. Soil forming factors
C. Soil survey methods
D. Soil survey reports
E. Soil distribution
F. Classification System
VI. Soil Fertility 8-10
A. Nutrient availability
B. Macro and micro nutrients
C. Fertilizer sources, mfg., availability
D. Application and placement
E. Fertilizer requirements
F. Site specific management
VII. Conservation and Management 5-7
A. Drainage
B. Erosion / mechanisms and control
C. Irrigation
D. Land use classification
E. Waste
1. Plant and animal
2. Municipal and industrial waste
3. Nutrient Loading
F. Tillage
Laboratory Topics: 30
Suggested minimum requirements - lab exercise or field trips for each major area in lecture.
Include one (1) land use selection exercise.
Possible Lab Exercise and Field Trips:
Texture
Structure
Bulk density and pore space
Moisture
Temperature
Ionic Exchange
Acidity, alkalinity - pH
Nutrient availability
Solid O.M.
N Transformation
Color
Origin and Classification
Universal Soil Loss Equation (U.S.L.E.) and Revised USLE
Conservation Management
NRCS Field Trip
Soil Sampling Procedure
Surface Coal Mine reclamation tour
GPS operation and principles
Wabash Valley College Code of Honor
At Wabash Valley College, it is expected that students will adhere to honest academic practices and will behave appropriately while on campus. Students shall receive maximum benefit from their experiences at WVC by doing all assignments honestly and by their own ability.
It is assumed that all students will enter WVC, perform their academic duties, and adhere to the following Code of Honor.
Honor Statement
I promise that I will do all of my academic work at Wabash Valley College in strict accordance with this WVC Code of Honor, and on all of my assignments I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid.
In any course during a quiz or a test
- I shall not offer nor accept answers for examination material to or from another student.
- I shall not utilize a textbook, classroom notes, or other printed materials to gain answers to a test, unless instructor grants permission to do so (as in an open-book test).
- I shall not use any type of cheat sheet or hidden notes.
- I shall not look over at another student’s quiz or test to see any answers.
In any course where any type of writing activity is assigned (or offered as extra credit)
- I shall not submit any work that was taken off the Internet (wholly or partially) and passed off as my (the student’s) own work.
- I shall not use an essay written by a fellow student (past or present) to gain credit for an assignment.
- I shall not take the ideas or information from a printed source and use ideas or information from it without giving appropriate credit to the original source.
In any course
- I shall not steal or take any testing material that an instructor will use to test his/her students in present or future semesters or make tests available to other students.
- I will keep electronic devices silent and out of view during lectures and tests.
- I promise that at all times I will conduct myself in an honest and responsible manner that is in accordance with this Code of Honor.
- I will act respectfully to the instructor and fellow students.
I understand that violation of this honor code could result, depending on the discretion of the instructor, in any of the following consequences:
- A verbal/written warning – no grade reflection
- A possible make-up assignment or alternate assignment
- A grade of “zero” or an “F” on the assignment
- A grade of an “F” for the course
- Other consequences as determined by the individual instructor
*Students have the right to appeal the instructor’s decision to the Dean of Instruction.*