Soil and the Environment

North Dakota State University

[Objective][Syllabus and Schedule][Objectives and Methodology]

Soil and the Environment Syllabus

Date Subject Specific Topics Assignment/FYI
Jan. 11 Introduction: Environmental issues Environmental quality; Pollution; Environmentalism -World fertility report
Jan. 18 Atmosphere/ hydrosphere Climatic patterns, Rainfall and ecodivides, Hydrological cycle -610 semester project
- NASA's -The Visible Earth
Jan. 25 Soil Formation/ Description Soil formation factors (pm, r, cl, o, t), Major soil orders  
Feb. 1 Soil Organic Matter Soil organic matter (forest vs prairie), Aggregate formation; Soil plants and animals

Assignment 1

610 objective 1 due
Feb. 8 EXAM I Covers lectures from Jan. 11 - Feb. 1

410 & 610 Assignment 1 due 

Feb. 15 Soil Physical Properties Particle size, Soil fractions, Bulk Density, Water content; Porosity; Surface area  
Feb. 22 Soil Chemistry Clays and organic matter, and their charges  
March 1 Soil Solution Ion exchange of nutrients and pollutants 610 objective 2 due on project
March 8 Nutrient Cycles Nitrogen cycle, Phosphorous cycle Assignment 2 
March 15   SPRING BREAK NO CLASS  
March 22 EXAM II Covers lectures from Feb. 15 - March 8 410 & 610 Assignment 2 due 
March 29 Water Transfer Saturated flow: Darcy’s Law, Unsaturated Flow  
April 5 Pollutant Transport Surface and subsurface movement of pollutants 610 objective 3 due on project
April 12 Best Management Practices Agricultural practices used to reduce nutrient loss Assignment 3 
April 19 Pollution Remediation; Statistics in Pollution Science Methods of cleaning contaminated areas; Statistical concepts  
April 26 Hypoxia in the Gulf/ Review Relating soils to the environmental issue of hypoxia (low oxygen levels) in the Gulf of Mexico 410 & 610 Assignment 3 due
May 3 Final Exam Covers lectures from Jan. 11 - April 26  

 
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