Agronomy 378
Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition
Fall 2012
Instructor: Dr. Joel Gruver
Phone: (309) 298-1215
Email: J-Gruver@wiu.edu
Office: Knoblauch Hall 302
Office hours: M, W 10-11, Th 10-12
Class meeting time and location: M, W, F 11-11:50 am in Knoblauch Hall
306
Course objectives:
This course will familiarize students with current soil fertility concepts and
their historical roots. The following concepts will be emphasized:
1) The critical role of healthy roots in supplying crops with nutrients.
2) The impact of agricultural practices on nutrient stocks, cycles and
flows.
3) The impact of macro and micro nutrients on crop yield and quality.
4) Methods of assessing the nutrient status of plant and soil systems and
strategies for using this information to guide management decisions
Text: No text is required but readings will be assigned each week from a
variety of mostly on-line sources.
Grading scale:
Grades:
Activity
Attendance
Reading Qs/problem sets
Nutrient balance project
Covercrop innovator project
Quizzes
Final Exam
10%
25 %
10%
20%
20 %
15 %
A
AB+
B
B-
> 93
90-93
87-90
83-87
80-83
C+
C
CD
F
77-80
73-77
70-73
60-70
< 60
Education majors must receive a C or better!
Schedule:
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Class meetings
8/20, 8/22, 8/24
8/27, 8/29, 8/31
--9/5,
9/7
9/10, 9/12, 9/14
9/17, 9/19, 9/21
9/24, 9/26, 9/28
10/1, 10/3, 10/5
10/8, 10/10, --10/15, 10/17, 10/19
10/22, 10/24, 10/26
10/29, 10/31, 11/2
11/5, 11/7, 11/9
11/12, 11/14, 11/16
----------------------11/26, 11/28, 11/30
12/3, 12/5, 12/7
12/12
Topic
The history of soil fertility
Roots: the hidden half of agriculture
Nutrient stocks, cycles and flows
Soil acidity, alkalinity and salinity
Nitrogen in plant and soil systems
Phosphorus in plant and soil systems
Potassium in plant and soil systems
Sulfur in plant and soil systems
Calcium and Magnesium in plant and soil systems
Micronutrients in plant and soil systems
Soil and plant testing – part I
Soil and plant testing – part II
Nutrient sources and application methods
Thanksgiving !!
Variable rate nutrient management
Biological soil fertility
Take home final is due !
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
Participation and timeliness: You are expected to attend class regularly, actively
participate in class discussions and submit assignments on time. ATTENDANCE WILL
BE MONITORED.
Academic integrity: NO CHEATING, PLAGIARISM, OR OTHER VIOLATIONS
OF THE WIU ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY WILL BE TOLERATED.
Please talk to me if you have any questions about the WIU academic integrity policy.
All suspected violations of the WIU academic integrity policy will be addressed promptly
and individually.
Student rights and responsibilities: Detailed information regarding student rights and
responsibilities can be found at http://www.wiu.edu/provost/student/.
You are responsible for being familiar with your rights and responsibilities.
Special accommodations: If you have special needs, please let me know and/or contact
Disability Support Services at 298-2512.