Agronomy 378
Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition
Fall 2014
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 306
Course objectives:
This course will familiarize students with current soil fertility concepts and their
historical roots. The following concepts will be emphasized:
1)
2)
3)
4)
The critical role of healthy roots in supplying crops with nutrients
The impact of agricultural practices on nutrient reserves, cycles and flows
The impact of macro and micro nutrients on crop yield and quality
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 most weeks from a variety of
mostly on-line sources
Grades:
Activity
Reading Qs/problem sets
Quizzes
Interview projects
Nutrient balance project
Attendance
Final Exam
Grading scale
25 %
25 %
20%
10%
10%
10 %
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
15
16
Class meetings
8/25, 8/27, 8/29
---,
9/3,
9/5
9/8,
9/10, 9/12
9/15, 9/17, 9/19
9/22, 9/24, 9/26
9/29, 10/1, 10/3
10/6, 10/8, --10/13, 10/15, --10/20, 10/22, 10/24
10/27, 10/29, 10/31
11/3, 11/5, 11/7
11/10, 11/12, 11/14
11/17, 11/19, 11/21
------------------------12/1, 12/3, 12/5
12/8, 12/10 12/12
12/17
Topic
The history of soil fertility
Roots: the hidden half of agriculture
Nutrient reserves, 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
Thanksgiving Break!!!
Nutrient application methods
Take home final is due on Wednesday @ 10 am!
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.
9/12/14 jg