SRJC Course Outlines

10/9/2024 10:27:08 PMAGRI 30 Course Outline as of Fall 2025

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  AGRI 30Title:  INTRO SOIL SCIENCE  
Full Title:  Introduction to Soil Science
Last Reviewed:4/22/2024

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled2.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled35.00
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled3.008 min.Lab Scheduled52.50
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total5.00 Contact Total87.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  AGRI 60

Catalog Description:
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This course is an introduction to the science, ecology and management of soils. A key focus of the class is viewing soil health as the basis for ecological land management and discussing management practices to conserve and improve soils. Soil physical, chemical and biological properties and processes are all examined in detail through class lectures and discussion. The class laboratory focuses on evaluating soil health with field measurements, laboratory analyses, and calculations, including using soil testing to develop soil nutrient plans.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
This course is an introduction to the science, ecology and management of soils. A key focus of the class is viewing soil health as the basis for ecological land management and discussing management practices to conserve and improve soils. Soil physical, chemical and biological properties and processes are all examined in detail through class lectures and discussion. The class laboratory focuses on evaluating soil health with field measurements, laboratory analyses, and calculations, including using soil testing to develop soil nutrient plans.
(Grade Only)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Fall 2019
Inactive: 
 Area:C
Natural Sciences
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 B1Physical ScienceFall 2019
 B3Laboratory Activity  
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1981Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 2025Inactive:
 
C-ID:
 CID Descriptor: AG - PS 128L Introduction to Soil Science SRJC Equivalent Course(s): AGRI30

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1.  Discuss the importance of soil health to ecosystem services.
2.  Explain soil physical properties and their influence on plant growth.
3.  Explain the importance of soil organic matter and soil structure and propose management
    practices that improve these soil properties.
4.  Interpret a laboratory soil nutrient report for agricultural nutrient management.
 

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Collect, prepare, and test a representative soil sample for a variety of crop and forest environments and landscape situations.
2. Compare the functions of the four physical components of soil: air, water, mineral solids, organic matter.
3. Compare USDA Web Soil Survey maps and data with actual soil conditions encountered in field observations.
4. Define and cite examples of the five soil-forming factors: parent material, climate, topography, living organisms and time.
5. Distinguish the attributes of the typical horizons within a soil profile.
6. Relate the importance of soil texture to water holding capacity, aeration, permeability to plant roots, and drainage characteristics of soils.
7. Analyze soil texture using "feel" method and classify soils by percent sand, silt and clay content using the soil textural triangle.
8. Explain the natural processes that result in the formation of soil aggregates and recommend practices that enhance or maintain good soil structure.
9. Summarize the cation exchange process in relation to plant nutrient availability.
10. Describe the sources of soil acidity.
11. Describe harmful effects of pH imbalances and recommend materials and methods for managing soil pH.
12. Categorize the major groups of soil microflora and microfauna and explain benefits supported by the soil food web.
13. Explain the beneficial significance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi.
14. Explain mineralization and immobilization of nutrients.
15. Describe the role of soils in the global carbon cycle and select management practices that support carbon farming.
16. List the factors that influence decomposition and describe the process of decomposition of organic matter.
17. Analyze the nutrient content of synthetic and organic fertilizer materials and predict suitability and effectiveness of fertilizers for a variety of crops.
18. Define accelerated erosion by wind and water and describe control methods.

Topics and Scope
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I. Soils and Society
    A. Ecosystem services supported by soils.
     B. Material composition of a healthy soil.
     C. Soil health
II. Soil Profiles - Six Master Horizons
III. Soil Formation
    A. 3 Types of Rock
    B. Types of Weathering
    C. Factors of soil formation
    D. Parent material influence on soil formation
    E. Climate influence on soil formation
    F. Topography influence on soil formation
    G. Organisms influence on soil formation
    H. Time influence on soil formation
    I. Soil formation processes
IV. Soil Physical Properties
    A. Soil color
         1. Soil processes that influence color
         2. Munsell soil color system
    B. Soil Texture
         1. Size of primary soil particles
         2. Influence of texture on soil physical and chemical properties
    C. Soil Structure
         1. Aggregate hierarchy
         2. Chemical and physical processes involved in aggregation of soil
         3. Biological processes involved in aggregation of soil
         4. Management of soil tilth
    D. Bulk density and compaction
V. Soil Classification
    A. Soil taxonomy
    B. Properties used to classify soils
    C. Diagnostic horizons
    D. Soil orders: characteristics and geography
    E. Soil series: definition and Official Series Description (OSD)
    F. Soil survey
    G. Digital soil mapping
    H. Web soil survey
VI. Soil Water Dynamics
    A. Structure of water molecule
    B. Cohesion and adhesion
    C. Water potential
     D. Soil water availability and status
         1. Field Capacity
         2. Permanent Wilting Point (PWP)
         3. Available water capacity
    E. Infiltration
VII. Soil and the Hydrologic Cycle
    A. Hydrologic cycle
    B. Watersheds
    C. Factors influencing water infiltration and runoff in soils
    D. Saturated hydraulic conductivity
    E. Septic systems
    F. Subsurface drainage methods
VIII. Soil Colloids
    A. Properties of colloids
    B. Structure of clay molecules
    C. Surface charge of clays
    D. 1:1 and 2:1 clays
    E. Cation exchange capacity
IX. Soil Acidity and Alkalinity
    A. pH scale
    B. Processes that contribute to soil acidity
    C. Processes that contribute to soil alkalinity
    D. Pools of soil acidity
    E. Buffering capacity
    F. Management of acidity with lime
    G. Salinization of dryland soils
X.  Nutrient Cycles and Soil Fertility
    A. Essential plant nutrients
    B. Nitrogen cycle
    C. Nitrification and denitrification
    D. Management of soil nitrogen
    E. Biological Nitrogen fixation
    F. Haber Bosch process
    G. Phosphorous cycle
    H. Phosphorous fixation in soils
    I. Phosphorous management
    J. Soil fungi and Phosphorous
    K. Potassium cycle
    L. Potassium management
    M. Micronutrients
XI. Nutrient Management
    A. Nutrient management plan
    B. Ecological problems associated with nitrogen and phosphorous
     C. Tools for field nutrient monitoring
    D. Diagnosing nutrient deficiencies in crop plants
    E. Riparian buffers
XII. Soil Erosion and Conservation
    A. Land degradation: extent and causes
    B. Process of soil erosion by water
    C. Types of soil erosion by water
    D. Factors that influence rate of soil erosion by water
    E. Process of soil erosion by wind
    F. Management of soil cover by vegetation and crop resides
    G. Soil conservation practices
XIII. Soil Organisms and Ecology
    A. Quantities of soil organisms
    B. Soil food web
    C. Types of soil organisms and their ecological roles
    D. Benefits to agriculture provided by soil food web
    E. Effect of soil management practices on organisms
XIV. Soils and the Carbon Cycle
    A. Global carbon cycle
    B. Pools, fluxes, and residence time in carbon cycle
    C. Role of soils in generating carbon emissions
    D. Effect of cultivation on soil carbon
    E. Factors affecting decomposition of plant residues
    F. Types and pools of soil carbon
    G. Carbon Farming
    H. Potential of land management to offset greenhouse gas emissions
XV. Laboratory Topics
    A. Scientific method applied to soils and agriculture
    B. Collecting and processing soil samples from field for nutrient management
    C. Calculating land area
     D. Conversion of units
    E. Web Soil Survey
    F. Munsell soil color chart
    G. Texture by "feel" method
    H. Water infiltration with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) method
    I. pH and liming of soil
    J. Fertilizer grades and nutrient content
    K. Calculating fertilizer application rates
    L. Interpreting a laboratory soil nutrient test
    M. Bulk density
    N. Land evaluation
    O. Visual soil assessment
    P. Interpretation of soil property data under different land uses

Assignments:
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Lecture-Related Assignments:
1. Weekly text reading assignments of approximately 20-40 pages per week
2. Quizzes on text reading (10 - 15)
3. Web soil survey report
4. Mid-term and final exams
 
Lab-Related Assignments:
1. Weekly laboratory practicals (10 - 15)
2. Calculation problem sets (3 - 5)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
10 - 20%
Lab practicals and web soil survey report
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
20 - 40%
Lab practicals and calculation problem sets
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
30 - 60%
Quizzes, midterm, final exam: Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items, Completion
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
10 - 20%
Lab participation


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils. 4th ed. Brady, Nyle and Weil, Raymond. Pearson. 2019
Soil Science Simplified. 5th ed. Franzmeier, Donald and McFee, William and Graveel, John. Waveland Press. 2016
Soil Science Lab Manual. SRJC Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources. 2023

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