| Course Syllabus
- Soils and Environmental Quality |
SOILS AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
AGRN 5000/6000
Instructor: Wes Wood, 255 Funchess Hall, 844-3997,
wwood@acesag.auburn.edu
Course Objective: To provide the student with
basic knowledge concerning: (1) the role of soils in biogeochemical cycling
of major elements and compounds of environmental concern, (2) interactions
of pollutants with soil, water, and air, (3) methods to minimize or correct
pollution.
Text: Pepper, I.L., C.P. Gerba, M.L. Brusseau. 1996. Pollution
Science. Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, CA. 397 pp.
Missed Lectures: It is the student’s responsibility
to obtain notes from other classmates when lectures are missed. The
instructor will not copy, or arrange to copy, notes for students that have
missed lectures.
Grading: Four examinations worth 1/4 of final grade each.
Exams will cover lecture notes and assigned reading from the text. Test 4,
which is not comprehensive, will be given at the scheduled time for the final
examination. Three to five pop-quizzes over the course of the semester,
worth one point each towards the final grade. Grading is based on a 10-point
scale.
Missed Exams: Arrangement to make up missed examinations
due to properly authorized excused absences (as defined by the Tiger Cub)
shall be initiated by the student within one week from the end of the period
of the excused absence. A make-up exam shall occur within two weeks from
the time that the student initiates arrangements for it.
AGRN 6000: Students registered for AGRN 6000 will
be required to write a term paper on a topic assigned by the instructor.
The term paper will be worth 20% of the final grade for AGRN 6000 students.
Honesty: Cheating will not be tolerated. Breaches of
academic honesty will be handled according to rules in the Tiger Cub.
Violations will be reported to the Academic Honesty Committee.
AGRN 5000/6000
COURSE OUTLINE
I. Introduction to Environmental Quality (Read Chapters
1 & 23)
A. Environmentalism
B. Environmental Science and the General
Public
C. Pollution
1. Definitions
2. Underlying Causes
3. Population Pressure
4. Science and
Pollution
D. Regulations
1. Safe Drinking
Water Act
2. Clean Water
Act
3. CERCLA
4. FIFRA
5. Clean Air Act
6. Pollution Prevention
Act
II. Environmental Monitoring (Read Chapter 9)
A. Introduction
B. Sampling and Sampling Plans
C. Sampling Patterns
D. Soil Sampling
E. Water Sampling
F. Air Sampling
G. Accuracy, Precision, and Errors
III. Fertilizers as a Source of Pollution (Read Chapter
14)
A. Introduction
B. Nitrogen
1. Use in Agriculture
2. Pollution from
N
3. Factors Affecting
Pollution from N Fertilizer
4. Best Management
to Prevent N Pollution
C. Phosphorus
1. Role in Agriculture
2. Environmental
Impacts of P
3. Transport of
P to Surface Water
4. Managing Agricultural
P for Water Quality
IV. Animal Wastes (Read Chapter 16)
A. Introduction
B. Nonpoint versus Point
C. Specific Pollutants
D. Pollution Prevention and Mitigation
E. Land Application
F. Decomposition and Nutrient Release
V. Municipal Wastes (Read Chapters 10 and 20)
A. Introduction
B. Waste Forms
C. Landfills
D. Composting
E. Landfarming
F. Incineration and Immobilization
G. Deep Injection of Liquid Waste
H. Wastewater Treatment
VI. Industrial Wastes (Read Chapter 18)
A. Introduction
B. Waste Forms
C. Treatment and Disposal
D. Treatment and Reuse
VII. Remediation (Read Chapter 11)
A. Basic Concepts
B. Containment
C. Removal
D. In situ Treatment