This course is normally given during the fall semester.

Background

The course aims at a systems approach to assessment of the capacity of a soil for crop production. The course will be useful for students in both the Soil Science and Land Management fields of study. It may also be of interest to students in Crop Science and Environmental Biology.

Course objectives:

A) To develop student's abilities to integrate the physical, chemical and biological components of soils as they interact with plants into a system for assessing the capacity of soils for sustainable crop production while minimizing environmental impact.

B) To improve student's abilities to critically assess information in the scientific literature.

C) To foster within students the desire and ability to adopt a cross-disciplinary, team approach to advancement of scientific knowledge.

Material and Method of Presentation

The course will include in-depth discussion of the interaction between the chemical, physical and biological components of soils and crop growth. It is assumed that students will enter the course with a good understanding of the general concepts. This understanding will be developed in greater depth through critical analysis of current literature. One or more existing soil-based crop growth model will be used as the focus and the components of these models will be assessed and suggestions for improvements will be one of the aims for the student presentations. The format will be primarily discussion and student presentations. Each student will be required to prepare and present an in-depth analysis of current understanding of a component of the system.
 
 

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