SOIL 433/633 Soil Physics
Syllabus
| Instructor: | Dr. Lyle Prunty |
| Office Location: | 147 Walster |
| Office Phone: | 701-231-8580 |
| Email: | lyle.prunty@ndsu.edu |
| Office Hours: | To Be Announced |
| Class Hours: | Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00am to 12:15 pm plus arranged laboratory hours |
| Class Location: | Room 221 Walste |
Textbook
Hillel, Daniel. 1998. Environmental Soil Physics. Academic Press, San Diego CA.
Grading Policy
Grades will be assigned as follows*:
A=87-100%
B=75-86.9%
C=63-74.9%
D=50-62.9%
F=less than 50%
*Approximate percentages for the course as a whole. Minor adjustments may occur before final grade assignment.
Total course grade will be based on these components:
| Lab | 25% |
| Quizzes: | 10% |
| Homework: | 10% |
| Exams (2): | 15% each =30% |
| Final Exam: | 25% |
Exams
There will be two exams during the semester. Examinations will largely cover material from lecture, homework assignments and outside reading material. The second exam will cover material since the first exam or as specifically announced. A final exam will be given which will be comprehensive.
Assignments and Projects
Homework will be assigned regularly and will usually be due one week later. Each lecture topic in the following list will take approximately one class period.
Schedule
| Topic # | Title (Chapter of Textbook) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction - Soil Physical Characteristics (1) |
| 2 | Volume and Mass Quantities in Soils (1) |
| 3 | Water Properties (2) |
| 4 | Soil Particles - Size and Distribution (3) |
| 5 | Soil Texture and Specific Surface (3) |
| 6 | Clay (4) |
| 7 | Soil Structure (5) |
| 8 | Soil Water Content (6) |
| 9 | Soil Water Potential (6) |
| 10 | Soil Water Characteristic Curve (6) |
| 11 | Measurement of Soil Water Potential (6) |
| Exam 1 | |
| 12 | Darcy's Law and Other Linear Transport Laws (7) |
| 13 | Saturated Flow of Soil Water (7) |
| 14 | Unsaturated Flow of Soil Water (8) |
| 15 | Infiltration (14, 16) |
| 16 | Groundwater and Drainage (17) |
| 17 | Movement of Solutes (9) |
| 18 | Soil Salinity (9) |
| 19 | Soil Gas (10, 11) |
| Exam II | |
| 20 | Soil Temperature and Heat Flow (12) |
| 21 | Energy and Water Balance (18, 20) |
| 22 | Soil Strength, Stress and Strain (13) |
| 23 | Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Relations (19) |
| 24 | Runoff and Water Erosion (15)* |
| 25 | Irrigation and Water Use Efficiency (21)* |
| FINAL EXAM - Tuesday, December 13th; 1:00-3:00 PM |
*optional topic
Disabilities:
Any student with disabilities, or others who need special accommodations in this class, are invited to share their concerns or requests with the instructor as soon as possible.
Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism:
Work in this course must adhere to the Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct as cited in "Rights & Responsibilities of Community: A Code of Student Conduct"
