SOIL 3893*
Soil Chemistry and Environmental Quality

Instructor: Dr. Chad Penn

Credit Hours: 3

Semesters Offered: Sp

Prerequisite: SOIL 2124

Soil chemical processes that affect plant nutrition, nutrient cycling, and fate of environmental pollutants.

Chemistry of soil surfaces and soil solution, of important soil processes, and of agronomic and environmental topics such as water quality, soil acidity, pesticide residues, environmental chemistry and risk assessment, soil remediation and contaminant bioavailability, land application of municipal and industrial wastes, long-term reactions and environmental fate.

Course Description

Chemical and colloidal properties of clays and organic matter in soil systems including ion exchange, retention, and precipitation; soil acidity and salinity; mineral weathering and formation; oxidation-reduction reactions; trace and toxic elements, water quality, land application of wastes, and soil remediation.   

Educational Objectives

The overall objective of this course is to describe soil chemistry within the bounds of established chemical principles which are difficult due to the extreme complexity and heterogeneity of soils.  Having successfully completed this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Identify the elemental chemical, and physical composition of soil,
  2. Describe and quantify the properties of clay minerals and organic matter,
  3. Identify and describe the physical-chemical factors that determine mineral weathering and formation,
  4. Examine and quantify the source of ion exchange capacity in soils,
  5. Relate inorganic ion retention to exchange, chemisorption, and precipitation reactions,
  6. Identify, describe, and model soil acidity and salinity reactions,
  7. Describe and identify the oxidation-reduction reactions that exert chemical controls in soils,
  8. Describe and evaluate hydration states in clays and swelling of soils,
  9. Describe, interpret, and solve agricultural and environmental problems through knowledge of soil chemistry.

Course Format

  1. Class Attendance: Optional; however, it is highly recommended and the student is responsible for all materials presented in class.

Reading Material

All Powerpoint presentation slides will be posted onto the OSU “Desire to Learn” (D2L) system.  You are responsible for printing these out prior to lecture and taking notes in class.  In addition, there may be further reading/handouts on various internet websites.  The URL for these sites will be indicated on the D2L system when relevant and will be mentioned in class as well as under “announcements” on D2L.

Required textbook for this class:

Soil Chemistry, 3rd ed. 2001. H.L. Bohn, B.L. McNeal, and G.A. O'Connor

In addition, the following textbooks may also aid students in further understanding of certain soil chemistry topics, or for obtaining a basic background:

Environmental Soil and Water Chemistry. 1998. V.P. Evangelou
Environmental Soil Chemistry, 2nd ed. 2003. D.L. Sparks
Soils and Environmental Quality. 2nd edition. 2000. G.M. Pierzynski et al.
The Nature and Properties of Soils, 11th ed. Brady

Some of these books can be checked out from my office; all are found in the library.

Grading System

  1. Exams – 90%: A total of 4 exams (including the final) will be given and make-ups may be oral as determined at the discretion of the instructor.  The Honor System will be in effect for all exams.  Exams will be given during the class period.  Three exams will be worth 20% each, and the final exam will be worth 30% of your grade.

    No cell phones, palm pilots, or electronic devises allowed during exams unless approved by instructor.

  2. Homework – 10%: Working with other students on homework assignments is allowed; copying someone else’s work is not. Homework assignments turned in late will automatically be deducted 10 points for each late class period.

Final Grades

  1. A = 90-100
  2. B = 80-89
  3. C = 70-79
  4. D = 60-69
  5. F = <60

The OSU Honor Code

The tenets of the OSU honor code will be strictly enforced in this course, and all assignments shall be subject to the stipulations of the honor code.  For more information on the honor code, please refer to http://academicintegrity.okstate.edu/

Disabilities

Any student that has a disability should feel free to meet with me any time to discuss accommodations.

Office Hours

My door is always open, just knock.  However, I prefer that most students come by on Thursday between the hours of 10 and 12.  In addition, if the need arises, please set up an appointment for a specific time to meet.

 

*Graduate Credit