AGRN473: Nutrient Management - Spring 2014
Instructor: Dr. Joel Gruver
Phone: (309) 298 - 1215
Office: Knoblauch Hall 302
E-mail: J-Gruver@wiu.edu
Office Hours: MW 9-10 and 11-12
Class meeting location and time: Knoblauch Hall 306, MWF10-10:50 pm
Text: 4R Plant Nutrition: a manual for improving the management of plant nutrition
hardcopy: http://ppi-store.stores.yahoo.net/4rplnumafori.html
ebook: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/4r-plant-nutrition-manual/id518382706?mt=11
Reading questions will be assigned from the 4R manual and other sources most weeks
Course Description:
This course will begin with a brief review of soil fertility and plant nutrition principles and
quantitative problem solving strategies. The rest of the course will explore 3 topics:
1) the 4R concept (right source, rate, placement & timing)
2) the fertilizer industry in IL, the US and the world
3) manure and biosolids management
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
1/13 1/15, 1/17
Soil fertility/plant nutrition review
2
1/20, 1/22, 1/24
Soil fertility/plant nutrition review
3
1/27, 1/29, 1/31
Right source
4
2/3, 2/5, 2/7
Right source
5
2/10, 2/12, 2/14
Right rate
6
2/17, 2/19, 2/21
Right rate
7
2/24, 2/26, 2/28
Right placement
8
3/3, 3/5, 3/7
Right timing
9
SPRING BREAK
10
3/17, 3/19, 3/21
Fertilizer industry in IL
11
3/24, 3/26, 3/28
Fertilizer industry in the US
12
3/31, 4/2, 4/4 Global fertilizer industry
13
4/7, 4/9, 4/11
Science of manure management
14
4/14, 4/16, 4/18
Practice of manure management
15
4/21, 4/23, 4/25
Biosolids management
16
4/28, 4/30, 5/2
Wrap-up
17
5/5 @ 10 am
FINAL EXAM
I will not be present on dates with a strike-through. The university will be closed on
the 2 dates in bold (1/20 & 2/12). We will discuss on a case-by-case basis whether class
will meet on all other dates with a strike-through.
Grade Determination:
Homework
Interview projects
Quizzes
Midterm exam
Take home final exam
Attendance
25 %
30 %
20%
10%
10 %
10 %
A
AB+
B
BC+
93 - 100
90 – 92
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
C
CD+
D
DF <
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
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 and 2 exams (mid-term and final). Students will each interview 3 different types of
nutrient management stakeholders and share 1 oral presentation based on interviews with the
class. Students will submit transcripts and short commentaries for *each* interview.
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.