AGRN473 – Nutrient Management - Spring 2013
Instructor: Dr. Joel Gruver
Office: Knoblauch Hall 302
Phone:
E-mail:
(309) 298 - 1215
J-Gruver@wiu.edu
Office Hours: MW 9-10 and 11-12
Class meeting location and time: Knoblauch Hall 226, MWF10-10:50 pm
Text: No text – readings will be assigned on a regular basis
Course Description:
This course will begin with a brief review of soil fertility and plant nutrition fundamentals. The rest of the course will explore 3 topics:
1) the fertilizer industry in IL, the rest of the US and the rest of the world
2) manure and biosolids management
3) the 4R concept (right product, rate, placement & timing)
Interview projects will play a key role in exploring these 3 topics from the perspectives of diverse stakeholders (e.g., farmers, soil testing professionals, fertilizer industry professionals, independent consultants, research scientists, regulators, policy makers and environmental activists).
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course, students should be able to:

Apply scientific principles and quantitative skills to nutrient management decisions

Identify nutrient management stakeholders and describe how they participate in current nutrient management issues

Describe the role(s) that they would personally like to play in the future of nutrient management
Lecture schedule:
Week Dates Topic
1 1/14 1/16, 1/18 Soil fertility/plant nutrition review
2 nc, 1/23, 1/25* Soil fertility/plant nutrition review
3 1/28, 1/30, 2/1 Fertilizer industry in IL
4 2/4, 2/6, 2/8 Fertilizer industry in US
5 2/11, 2/13, 2/15* Global fertilizer industry
6 2/18, 2/20, nc Manure management
7 2/25, 2/27, 3/1 Manure management
8 3/4, 3/6, 3/8* Biosolids management
9 nc nc nc SPRING BREAK
10 3/18, 3/20, 3/22 Right product
11 3/25, 3/27, 3/29* Right product
12 4/1, 4/3, 4/5 Right rate
13 4/8, 4/10, 4/12* Right rate
14 4/15, 4/17, 4/19 Right placement
15 4/22, 4/24, 4/26 Right timing
16 4/29, 5/1, 5/3 Wrap-up
17 5/6 @ 10 am TAKEHOME FINAL EXAM DUE

Grade Determination:
Homework
Interview projects
Quizzes
25 %
30 %
25%
A
A-
B+
93 - 100
90 – 92
87-89
C
C-
D+
73-76
70-72
67-69
B 83-86 D 63-66
Take home final exam
Attendance
10 %
10 %
B-
C+
80-82
77-79
D- 60-62
F < 60
A set of reading questions/quantitative problems will be assigned most Mondays.
Answers will generally be due each Friday and must be submitted electronically using
Western On-line. The steps used to solve quantitative problems must be shown for each type of problem. There will be ~ 5 quizzes spread throughout the semester. Students will each interview 3 different types of nutrient management stakeholders and share 2 oral presentations based on interviews with the class. Students will submit transcripts and short commentaries for *each* interview. There will be a take-home final exam.
Attendance and deadlines:
Your attendance grade will be 100% if you miss 4 or fewer classes. You will lose 10% of your attendance grade for each additional class missed. You will have 1 week to submit late assignments for partial credit unless granted special permission.
Academic honesty:
The WIU academic integrity policy will be strictly followed in this class. http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.shtml
NO CHEATING, PLAGIARISM, OR OTHER VIOLATIONS OF THE WIU
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY WILL BE TOLERATED .
Student Rights and Responsibilities:
Detailed information regarding student rights and responsibilities can be found at http://www.wiu.edu/provost/student/ . It is your responsibility to be familiar with the posted information.
Special Accommodations:
In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), special accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to my attention, as I am not legally permitted to inquire about the needs of specific students. Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should let me know the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an emergency. Contact Disability Support Services at 298-2512 for additional services.