The
PLANT
& SOIL SCIENCE 264: CHEMISTRY of SOIL and WATER
Schedule: Tuesday/Thursday, 10:00-11:15 am, 367 Votey
Lab: Wednesday,
12:50-3: 05 pm, 188 Jeffords
Instructor: Don
Ross
Plant
and Soil Science
260
Jeffords Hall, UVM
Phone:
802-656-0138
dross@uvm.edu
Text:
Soil and Water
Chemistry, 2004. Michael Essington. CRC
Press,
Course
Goal: Topics in the
Chemistry of Soil and Water range
widely from the structure of soil minerals to aqueous reactions in the
environment. The focus will be much more
on soils than water but the two are often interrelated. Students who have successfully completed this
course should be able to demonstrate their understanding of soil chemical behavior
both from an environmental and an agronomic point of view.
Course
Objectives:
Course activities include:
Course Requirements:
Course
Grading:
The
final course letter grades will be a percentile average made up of the scores
on your activities listed below. Course grades may be curved at our discretion.
Grading
System:
Take-home
midterm and final: 25% each
Project: 25%
Labs: 20%
Problems sets 5%
Academic
Integrity: Integrity in all aspects of your academic and
professional life is central to the meaning of the university, to the life of a
professional, and to personal relationships between colleagues and friends. We
expect you to follow the code of academic integrity set by this institution in
the work that you submit to us for this class. We encourage you to review the
UVM Academic Integrity Policy at http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/acadintegrity.pdf.
You really should read the policy so you know what is expected of you. If you
are having problems understanding material or completing assignments, please
talk with us. We are here to help you, and we want you to succeed!
Religious Holidays: Students have the right to practice the religion of their choice. Each semester students should submit in writing to their instructors by the end of the second full week of classes their documented religious holiday schedule for the semester. Faculty must permit students who miss work for the purpose of religious observance to make up this work.
Estimated
Dates |
Topic |
Reading
Assignment |
Jan.
13, 15 |
Soil
Review |
Text
chapter 1 |
Jan.
20, 22, 27 |
Mineralogy |
Text
chapter 2 |
Jan.
29, Feb. 3 |
Weathering |
Text
chapter 3 |
Feb.
5, 10, 13 |
Organic
Matter |
Text
chapter 4 |
Feb.
17, 19 |
Soil
Solution |
Text
chapter 5 |
Feb.
24 |
Mineral
Solubility |
Text
chapter 6 |
Feb.
26, March 5… No Class March 3 (Town Meeting) |
Surface
Chemistry / Sorption
|
|
March 5 |
take-home MIDTERM due |
|
March
17, 19 |
Surface
Chemistry / Sorption (continued) |
Text
chapter 7 |
March
24, 26 |
Cation
Exchange |
Text
chapter 8 Handouts |
March
31, April 2, 7, 9 |
Oxidation
- Reduction |
Text
chapter 9 |
April
14, 16, 21 |
Acidity |
Text
chapter 10 |
April
23, 28 |
Project
Presentations |
|
On or about May 5 |
take-home FINAL due on the date scheduled for the final exam |