• TEXT (Recommended) :
  • Soil Sci. & Mgt. by E.J.Plaster (Soil0100 textbook)
  • Various extension publications

• LAB MANUAL (Required) :
  • Soil0200 Laboratory Manual.
    (available online)

1. Our Soils & Their Management.
   by Donahue, Follett, & Tulloch.
   (soil mgt for crop production
   - previously used text)

Soil0200 deals with the management of the chemical, physical and biological properties of soil for crop production. Topics include soil fertility and fertilizer use, soil pH management, tillage, water management, soil conservation and use of manures/biosolids.

Labs take the form of tutorials designed to develop numerical problem-solving skills in soil management. Tutorial exercises are drawn from the farming and landscaping industries.

Lecture Material (75%)
Weekly quizzes	45%
Final exam	30%
Lab Material (25%)
Lab assignments (for each lab)	14%
Lab test (late Mar./early Apr.)	11%
	100%

Take note that the majority of the marks (59%) come from weekly quizzes and assignments. It is critical, therefore, to keep current with the lecture and lab material during the term.

A student who misses a quiz for a valid reason, will get a "deferred" mark (There are no make-up quizzes). At the end of the term a mark proportional to the student's mark on the final exam will replace all deferred quiz marks. Students must submit requests for deferred mark in writing as soon as possible after absence. If a student knows in advance that he/she will be absent, then request must be made prior to the quiz. Request for deferral must include student's name, quiz number and reason for, and date(s) of, absence.

TITLE

LECTURE TOPICS

• Soil N cycle
• Soil P cycle / Microbial Relations
• Soil K cycle
• Soil Ca & Mg cycles
• Soil S cycle
• Micronutrients

1. Tilth & tillage
2. Soil erosion & conservation
3. Land Drainage & Management

1. Livestock manure
2. Compost
3. Use & mgt. of sewage sludge

Labs take the form of problem-solving tutorials. There are 7 or 8 tutorials scheduled during this course. These labs are designed to develop numerical problem-solving skills. Word problems in soil management are assigned and solved during the tutorial.

A lab assignment must be submitted at the end of each tutorial. Instuctors will correct student solutions and return the assignments during the following tutorial period.

Marking of lab exercises (out of 2):

• Full marks (2 / 2):
  • Assignment reflecting diligent effort is handed in at end of tutorial
    or
  • Complete & correct assignment (done during tutorial period) is handed in before end of tutorial
• Half marks (1 / 2):
  • Incomplete or incorrect assignment handed in before end of tutorial
• No marks (0 / 2):
  • No assignment handed in.

Lab preparation & follow-up: Students must prepare for the tutorial in advance by reading over the problem, trying out the examples and sample problems, and formulating questions on how to approach the problems. Students must also follow up on the exercises by ensuring that they understand the solutions and can do them on their own. Correct solutions will be posted for student reference.

There is no make-up lab period. The lab exercises must be done during your scheduled lab periods. Marks for labs missed for a valid reason may be deferred; that is, the missing mark would be replaced by a mark proportional to the lab test mark. Requests for deferral must be made in writing and include student's name, reason for, and date(s) of, absence , and title of missed lab .

TENTATIVE LAB SCHEDULE (Subject to change).

• Jan.11: Units & Conversions < Friday Lab section.
• Jan.18: Interpretation of soil test report / fertilizer calculations.
  
• Jan.25: Blended Fertilizers /
• Feb.1:  Field trip to fertilizer bulk-blending plant.
• Feb.8: Calibration of field equipment.   Mon. Sections
• Lab Quiz - Fri.Feb.15
• Mar.8: 5B. Mixing turf media - Environmental Hort.
• Mar.8: 5A. Tillage- Agr. Technology.
• Mar.15: 6B. Erosion & conservation on construction sites (Env.Hort.)
  - distributed during tutorial period.
• Mar.15: 6A. Soil erosion & conservation (Agr.Tech.).
• Mar.22: 7. Use of manures or biosolids (all lab sections)
• MAr. 29: Lab Test (Copies of last year's tests: Agric. Tech. / Env. Hort.)