ENSC 245 – Soils
Course Description
Soils have been described as the Earth’s Final Frontier because in many ways, the ground beneath
our feet really is as alien as a distant planet. Processes that occur in the in the top few centimeters of
the Earth’s surface provide the basis for all life on land, and yet we, as inhabitants of the aerial world,
have an incomplete and distorted view of soil.
The purpose of this course is to provide you with a both a conceptual and "hands-on" introduction to
the soil resource, its ecology, and its management, and to provide you with an overview of the
techniques used to study the amazing “underworld.” The lab component of this class will allow you get
your hands dirty, and hopefully, delving deeper into the hidden world of soils will reveal some
surprising connections to our more familiar, above ground environment, and make subterraneana a
far less alien experience!
Learning Outcomes
Students will analyze and compare a number of different soil types, evaluate the factors that lead to
variations in soils across the landscape, and explore the importance of climate, topography, time,
parent material and organisms on soil development via both lectures and a hands-on laboratory
experience. Over the course of the semester, students will learn a suite of soil analysis techniques,
and practice the science (or art) of observing and describing soil, the geomorphology of soils, and the
relationship between plant communities and the soil mosaic on the landscape. Students will be
introduced to soil physics, soil chemistry and soil ecology through a number of field and lab-based
exercises that investigate the mechanics of water movement in soil, the dynamics of ion movement in
soil, the basics of soil classification, some important aspects of soil biology, and the role of soil and
soil processes in "waste" management, among others. Students will demonstrate learning through a
series of exams and practical laboratory reports and an independent project. At the end of the course
students will possess the ability to observe, analyze and classify soils, and to understand how the
properties of individual soil types influence multiple aspects of their behavior.
(Adapted from: Alt, D. and D. W. Hyndman. 1986. Roadside Geology of Montana. Mountain Press Publishing, Missoula, 427 pp.)
Finally, soil science is an interdisciplinary subject, integrating physics, chemistry, geology, and biology
into one dynamic system. You will greatly benefit from reading your assigned chapters from the lab
book and textbook prior to coming to both lecture and lab. Good luck, and enjoy the class!
ENSC 245 - Soils
Fall 2012
Course Details
Instructor:
Name: Cory Cleveland
Department: Ecosystem & Conservation Sciences
Office: CHCB 423B (The Science Complex)
Phone: 243-6018
Email: Cory.Cleveland@cfc.umt.edu
Office Hours: 9:00 –10:00 am M & W or by appointment
Lecture location & Time: Stone (Old Journalism) 304, Time - 8:10 - 9:00 MW
Req. Text:
Brady, N.C. and R.R. Weil. 2012. The Nature and Properties of Soils, UM Custom Edition.
Pearson ISBN: 1256291013 (Available in the UMT Bookstore and on Reserve)
- This is the best soil science textbook out there, definitely the “gold standard.”
Opt. Texts:
th
Eash, N.S., Cary, C.J., Razvi, A. and Bennett, W.F. 2008. Soil Science Simplified. 5 edition,
Blackwell Publishing. ISBN: 978-0-8138-1832-8.
- This book provides a parallel, simplified presentation of many of the concepts we will be
covering in class. Highly recommended by past students.
Logan, W. B. 1995. Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth. New York: Norton. 202 pp.
- This is a book of short, but interesting vignettes about soil and soil science. Recommended for
the hardcore soils aficionado who just can't get enough of this stuff!
Additional Course Materials & Information: http://umonline.umt.edu/
On the Moodle site, you will need to enter your Net ID and password to access the course schedule, lab
manual, and material to supplement lectures, including some outside readings. Whenever possible, lecture
notes will be posted on the Moodle page before lectures but may be modified post-lecture according to how
much was covered in class.
Lab Instructors:
Melissa Moore
Office: TBA
Email: melissa.moore@umconnect.umt.edu
Office Hours: By appointment
Erin Springer
Office: TBA
Email: TBA
Office Hours: By appointment
Lab location & Time: Time: 2:10 - 5:00 M, T or W (unless otherwise noted)
In-class labs will meet in Clapp 403. Lab 1 (the week of Sept 3) will meet at the base of Mount Sentinel at
the “M” trailhead. The remaining field trips will meet at the loading dock behind Science Complex (south side
of Clapp Bldg) where we will board buses for transportation to field sites. We will depart promptly at 2:10
pm.
Lab Book: Introductory Soils Lab Manual, available on-line at http://umonline.umt.edu/. Please print it out and
read it before coming to lab each week. Expect quizzes at the beginning of each week’s lab covering material in
the lab book.
Course Grading:
Grades will be computed from the following four components:
- Lab assignments, homework, quizzes, etc. (25%)
- Midterm Exam 1 (25%)
- Midterm Exam 2 (25%)
- Midterm Exam 3 (25%)
WARNING: There will be NO MAKEUP EXAMS and NO MAKEUP LABS except under extraordinary
circumstances. If you absolutely must miss a lab, you should make plans to attend another. On that note,
attendance in lab is not optional. Students with more than two unexcused absences will not pass the lab, and
students who do not pass lab will not pass the course. Finally, students with more than one failing grade on the
midterm exams will not pass the course.
A note on course drop deadlines: If you decide to drop this course, you have the first 15 instructional days of the
semester to do so on Cyberbear. Beginning the sixteenth (16) instructional day of the semester through
the forty-fifth (45) instructional day, you may use paper forms to drop, add and make changes of section,
grading option, or credit. However, after 45 days, I will not sign drop forms except under extraordinary
circumstances, such as:
1.
2.
3.
4.
An accident or illness prevents you from meeting the course requirements
You received no evaluation of your performance before the drop deadline
A family or personal emergency prevents you from meeting course requirements
Your employment schedule changed, preventing you from meeting course requirements
Poor performance in the course is not a valid reason for dropping the course after the 45-day deadline.
Recommended Preparation
- Successful completion of a university-level chemistry course (e.g., CHMY 121N).
- Come to class and be prepared to participate.
- Before class, read the assigned material and be prepared to answer questions. Quizzes covering the
reading are fair game.
- Check web notes a few days following the lecture for changes and review.
- Turn in assignments on time.
- Come to class prepared. Redundant, I know, but if you don’t, you will struggle.
- To pass this course, you MUST pass the lab, so plan accordingly.
Other, Warnings, Caveats, Red Tape, and University Considerations
You are expected to read the assigned material, and will be responsible for its content. I will ask a lot of you
in this class, and expect a high level of commitment to the course. A knowledge of soil and the science of
soil is integral to understanding a range of critical environmental issues the world now faces, but just like in
many areas of science, to deal with those issues, you must first learn the basics of the discipline. And
hopefully along the way you have some fun!
Students with learning disabilities or disadvantages needing special dispensation or assistance, please
inform the instructors during the first week of class.
All course activities are governed by the Student Conduct Code, which embodies the ideals of academic
honesty, integrity, human rights, and individual responsibility. It is your responsibility to read, understand
and adhere to the student conduct code. See http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php for more
information.
ENSC 245 – Soils
Fall 2012
Dr. Cory C. Cleveland
Lecture Schedule
Schedule
Date
Class
Topic
Required Reading
Chapter (Opt. Text)
8/27
1
Introduction: Course Mechanics
8/29
2
Soils as a Complex System
9/3
3
Labor Day (NO CLASS)
9/5
4
Geology and Parent Material
2.1-2.3 (2)
9/10
5
Soil Genesis: Climate and Biology
2.4-2.5 (2)
9/12
6
Soil Genesis: Topography and Time
2.6-2.8 (2)
9/17
7
Soil Morphology
2.9, 3.1-3.2 (11)
9/19
8
Soil Classification I
3.3-3.8 (11)
9/24
9
Soil Classification II
3.9-3.18 (11)
9/26
10
Exam 1: Soil Genesis, Morphology & Classification
10/1
11
Soil Physical Properties
4.1-4.7 (3)
10/3
12
Soil Porosity and Moisture
4.8-4.10, 5.1-5.3 (3, 6)
10/8
13
Soil Water I
5.4-5.7 (6)
10/10
14
Soil Water II
5.8-5.11 (6)
10/15
15
Soils and Hydrology
6.1-6.7
10/17
16
Soil Colloids
8.1- 8.4 (5)
10/22
17
Clay Mineralogy & Formation
8.5-8.7 (5)
10/24
18
Cation Exchange
8.8-8.14 (5)
10/29
19
Soil Acidity and Alkalinity
9.1-9.8 (5)
10/31
20
Exam 2: Soil Physics & Chemistry
11/5
21
Soil Biology
11.1-11.11 (4)
11/7
22
Soil Microbial Ecology
11.12-11.15 (4)
11/12
23
Veteran’s Day (NO CLASS)
11/14
24
Soil Organic Matter and Humus Formation 12.1-12.10 (4)
11/19
25
Soil Nutrients: Nitrogen & Sulfur
11/21
26
Thanksgiving Break (NO CLASS)
11/26
27
Soil Nutrients: Phosphorus & Potassium
14.1-14.3, 14.13 (8)
11/28
28
Soil Nutrients and Fertility
10.1-10.6, 16.11 (8)
12/3
29
Wrap Up/Review
12/5
30
Exam 3: Soil Biology and Biochemistry
1 (1)
13.1-13.15 13.20-22 (4, 8)
Soils
Fall 2012
Laboratory Schedule
Week Beginning
Lab Assignment
Location
Lab Book
September 3*
The Soils Around Us
Field
Lab 1
September 10
Rocks, Minerals, and Soil
CHCB 403
Lab 2 r
September 17
Dry Grassland and Riparian Soils
Field
Lab 3 r
September 24
Soil Classification and Mapping
CHCB 403
Lab 4 r
October 1
Moist Grassland and Tertiary Sediments
Field
Lab 5 r
October 8
Dry Forest and Fire Effects
Field
Lab 6 r
October 15
Soil Hydrology
CHCB 403
Lab 7r
October 22
Soil Chemistry
CHCB 403
Lab 8 r
October 29
Soil Biology
CHCB 403
Lab 9 r
November 5
DIRT: The Movie
CHCB 403
Lab 10 r
The letters r = written lab report due in class.
* As a result of Labor Day on Monday, September 3, students whose labs do not meet on Monday should plan
to attend another lab that week.
With the exception of lab 1, all lab reports must be typed and are due at the beginning of the following
week’s lab session. Late reports will receive a 10% deduction per day.
Finally, labs meet rain or shine, so check weather forecasts and dress accordingly.
Lab Instructors:
Melissa Moore
Office: TBA
Email: melissa.moore@umconnect.umt.edu
Office Hours: By appointment
Erin Springer
Office: TBA
Email: TBA
Office Hours: By appointment
Lab location & Time: Time: 2:10 - 5:00 M, T or W (unless otherwise noted)
In-class labs will meet in Clapp 403. Lab 1 (the week of Sept 3) will meet at the base of Mount Sentinel at
the “M” trailhead. The remaining field trips will meet at the loading dock behind Science Complex (south side
of Clapp Bldg) where we will board buses for transportation to field sites. We will depart promptly at 2:10
pm.
Lab Book: Introductory Soils Lab Manual, available on-line at http://umonline.umt.edu/. Please print it out and
read it before coming to lab each week. Expect quizzes at the beginning of each week’s lab covering material in
the lab book.