Embedded Files
Soil 260 meeting information
Soil 260 meeting information
This lecture for this course meets online synchronously on Zoom and the lab meets in person in the Nature Resources building (NR 120)
Lecture: 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. Monday and Wednesday (synchronous and recorded)
Labs: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. – 1:50 p.m. and Tuesday 2:00 - 4:50 p.m. (in person)
You are expected to regularly check Canvas (https://canvas.humboldt.edu/courses/77573) and your Cal Poly Humboldt email for information, updates, or cancelations.
Instructor Contact Information and Office Hours
Instructor Contact Information and Office Hours
Instructor: Nate Swenson
E-mail: nas8@humboldt.edu (preferred contact)
Office: Forestry 207
Office Hours: at the end of lab or by appointment
Course Description
The concept of soils as a natural body with varying physical, chemical, and biological properties, with implications for land management. Prerequisite for SOIL 260 – passing grade in Chem 107, Chem 109, or equivalent transfer course.
Course Learning Outcomes
1. Role of soils in ecosystems - functions, processes, etc.
2. Basic terminology of soil science
3. Recognize and measure basic soil properties
4. Understand how soil properties influence soil behavior
5. Learn about soil variability
6. Predict land use potentials from observations of soil properties
7. Predict limitations on land uses based on soil properties
8. Recommend management practices to enhance soil potential or minimize limitations.
Course Structure and Modality
This course includes two weekly synchronous Zoom meetings. Class time includes lectures and discussions. This course will also include work on Canvas, where you will find a detailed schedule, links to course materials, assignment instructions, etc. Review Canvas before class so you are prepared for in-class work and upcoming assignments.
This is a 3-unit course, and students should expect at least 135 of work during the semester, which equates to an average of at least 9 hours per week between in-class/instructional activities, review of materials, and completion of assignments.
Tips for Success
1. Attend (or watch) every lecture and read assignments beforehand.
2. Check your email and Canvas announcements regularly for any additional course information, cancellation of lab or lecture, or schedule changes.
3. Check Canvas for study questions and other learning aids. Weekly study questions will be posted on Canvas.
4. It is recommended you spend at least two hours per week studying for every hour of lecture.
5. Tutoring is available. See the Soil 260 page on Canvas for information about tutoring.
Required Text: Brady and Weil. 2017. The Nature and Properties of Soils 15th edition. ISBN 9780133254556
The pages listed in the reading assignments are for the 15th edition. If you have a softcover "international" edition, the pages are shifted slightly, but the material is the same. If you find a PDF copy of the book, please note that the pages are also shifted compared to those listed in the syllabus. Although the pages numbers are different between versions, the chapter numbers are the same.
Grade Breakdown
Lecture (225 points) three exams – 50 points each (lowest of the three scores is dropped)
one final exam - 50 points (cannot be dropped)
soil science review proposal - 10 points
soil science review part 1– 25 points
soil science review part 2 – 40 points
Lab (118 points) eleven lab assessments - 8 points each
two lab quizzes - 15 points each
All lecture assignments and lab assessments will be turned in through Canvas.
Exams will be taken on Canvas during the scheduled lecture time.
This course is optional grade mode – it may be taken for a letter grade or as credit/no-credit (CR/NC). Students must select the grade mode in their student center by the deadline indicated on the academic calendar. To count towards fulfilling major requirements, this course must be taken for a letter grade. Before choosing CR/NC mode, students are advised to review CR/NC and grade mode information at the registrar’s website or university catalog.
Lab Schedule for Soil 260 – Spring 2025
Week 1 – No labs this week (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.)
Week 2 – Soil Forming Minerals (Lab #1)
Week 3 – Soil Forming Rocks (Lab #2)
Week 4 – Soil Texture and Soil Structure (Lab #3)
Week 5 – Bulk Density and Bioassay Setup (Lab #4)
Week 6 – Soil Color, Field Trip to Campus Soil Pit (Lab #5)
Week 7 – Profile Description and Soil Taxonomy (Lab #6)
*Lab Quiz #1 (In-person, during lab, covers Labs #1-5)
Week 8 – Soil Surveys (Lab #7)
Spring Break Week
Week 9 – Lord Ellis Field Trip
Week 10 – No labs this week (César Chávez Day)
Week 11 – Soil/Water Relationships, Water Measurement, and Movement in Soil (Lab # 8)
Week 12 – Soil Carbon and Organic Matter, Soil Acidity and pH Correction (Lab # 9)
Week 13 – Soil Fertility and Fertilizers (Lab #10)
Week 14 – Erosion and California Erosion Hazard Rating (EHR) (Lab #11)
Week 15 – *Lab Quiz #2 (In-person, during lab, covers Labs #6-11)
Class Format
This semester, the lectures will be synchronous and through Zoom. (NOTE: you must be logged in to your Cal Poly Humoldt account to access the Zoom meetings) Please attend the class meetings whenever possible. Lecture recordings will be posted on Canvas once they are available to me. While you are not required to attend lectures, there is a large amount of new material in this class and the ability to ask questions about the material while it is being discussed is very beneficial. I strongly encourage you to attend the lectures.
Exams will be given during the scheduled class time – on Monday or Wednesday from 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. If you cannot take the exam at the scheduled date or time, contact me before the exam to make alternate arrangements. If you have an emergency that prevents you from attending the exam, please let me know as soon as possible after the exam. All exams will be open notes and open book. You may use any material that has been posted in Canvas for this course. You may NOT discuss the exam during with any other humans through text, phone, streaming platform, telepathy, or any other forms of communication. Feel free to talk o your dog, cat, bearded dragon, favorite tree, or other nonhuman emotional support entity. Do your own work. The lowest exam of the three exam scores will be dropped. The final exam cannot be dropped.
The lab portion of this class will meet in person in NR120. For most weeks, lab instruction will be during the first half of the lab. The remainder of the lab time can be used to complete the lab assignment or to further explore the lab topic. This time will also function as open office hours. During this time, you can ask about lab or lecture materials or any other concerns/issues you may have. Contact me if you need to set up an alternate time to meet.
The material needed for the labs will be posted on Canvas. Please bring a paper or digital copy of the lab handout to the lab each week. While the lab material is organized into weekly modules on Canvas, you can also find all the lab files in a module at the bottom of the Canvas page called "Lab Manual Files". Each lab will have an assessment that may include a short quiz or homework.
There will be three extra credit opportunities related to the research paper assignment. These will be discussed later in the semester.
Policy on make-up work and late assignments
All assignments are due on the date and time indicated in the course schedule. Each day (including weekends) an assignment is late, 10% of possible total points will be deducted from the points earned. Assignments turned in more than seven days after the due date will not receive any points toward your final grade. If you have a compelling reason for extending your due date for an assignment, please let me know before the assignment is due.
Make-up work is not permitted unless you have a documented medical, or family emergency or have contacted me before the due date. You are responsible for advising the instructor of any special needs or schedule conflicts you may have. If you miss an exam without prior authorization or a documented emergency, you will receive no credit for the missed exam.
Tutoring Services for Soil 260
There are tutors for Soil 260. The Science Lab offers drop-in tutoring support for SOILS students on the 1st floor of the Library. Hours are Monday through Thursday 11 am - 8 pm and Friday, 11 am -3 pm. View the Schedule: https://learning.humboldt.edu/peer-tutoring
Some of the tutors work as academic peer coaches and can be booked by appointment for individualized tutoring for SOILS 260. In addition to individualized tutoring support, they support students on study strategies, time management, and organizational skills. To learn more about the academic peer coaching program: https://learning.humboldt.edu/academic-peer-coaching
In addition to our live resources, we now provide access to Net Tutor. Net Tutor is a 3rd party vendor who we are contracting with to provide our students with additional after-hours tutoring support. To learn more about Net Tutor: https://www.nettutor.com/
The Writing Studio
The Writing Studio provides free writing support for Humboldt students at any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming to final touches. Students at all levels and in all majors can benefit from discussing their writing projects with our friendly, trained writing consultants. We offer in-person and Zoom consultations for live conversations about your writing and email consultations for written feedback. Open day and evening hours. The Writing Studio is located on the first floor of the library.
Campus Policies and Resources
Please see the following links for information regarding campus policies, procedures, and resources.
Pay especially close attention to the policies regarding cheating and plagiarism.
https://academicprograms.humboldt.edu/content/syllabus-addendum
https://libguides.humboldt.edu/cite/plagiarism
Use of generative AI
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) programs, such as ChatGPT, may not be used for any exams, quizzes, or lab assignments. However, it may be used in this course for tasks related to ONLY the soil science review paper assignment to: brainstorm or learn more about your topic, revise your work, draft an outline or organize thoughts, check grammar, or improve writing style with appropriate citation complying with Humboldt's Student Academic Honesty Procedure. You are responsible for fact-checking statements composed by generative AI models and respecting intellectual property. Generative AI may not be used for composing discussion posts writing papers or portions of papers for class assignments. If you are unsure about the appropriate use of generative AI in this course, please reach out to your instructor for clarification. Inappropriate use of generative AI programs is not permitted and will be treated as plagiarism as defined in Humboldt's Student Academic Honesty Procedure and handled in accordance with the Procedure.
COVID-19 and other illness
If you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or have any symptoms please get tested before coming to the lab. If you have cold or flu-like symptoms (sore throat, runny nose, etc.) please do not come to lab. Contact me to inform them of any illness. See the link for more information. https://risksafety.humboldt.edu/covid-forms
Professionalism
Employers in the forestry sector tell us there are few things they value more in their employees than
professionalism. Behaving professionally isn’t one thing; it’s a combination of qualities. These qualities mean that someone is: responsible, ethical, team-oriented, possesses strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, and behaves appropriately. Every student should regard this class as an opportunity to develop their professionalism skills in preparation for their career.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse