EARTH221-20B (HAM)

Soil Science

15 Points

Edit Header Content
Division of Health Engineering Computing & Science
School of Science

Staff

Edit Staff Content

Convenor(s)

David Lowe

David Lowe
4438
DE.3.02
To be advised
david.lowe@waikato.ac.nz

Lecturer(s)

Louis Schipper

Louis Schipper
4468
FG.3.03
To be advised
louis.schipper@waikato.ac.nz

Tanya O'Neill

Tanya O'Neill
5608
F.G.06E
To be advised
tanya.oneill@waikato.ac.nz

Administrator(s)

Placement Coordinator(s)

Tutor(s)

Student Representative(s)

Lab Technician(s)

Librarian(s)

You can contact staff by:

  • Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
  • Extensions starting with 4, 5 or 9 can also be direct dialled:
    • For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 9: dial +64 7 837 extension.
Edit Staff Content

Paper Description

Edit Paper Description Content

An introduction to the nature, formation, and classification of soils, their physical, chemical, mineralogical, and biological properties, and issues of soil quality, land degradation and sustainable management.

Edit Paper Description Content

Paper Structure

Edit Paper Structure Content

The paper is composed of lectures, laboratories (which are streamed, A and B), a half-day field trip, and tutorials. The paper will run during Semester B and will start Mon 13 July (week 29) with both lectures and labs.

Lectures

There will normally be three one-hour lectures per week

Lecture 1: Monday 2 pm MSB1.01

Lecture 2: Tuesday 11 am S1.01

Lecture 3: Wednesday 2 pm KG.11

Labs

We have three labs in total. Students must attend one stream of the labs (A or B), including the essential introductory laboratory (Lab 1, 1.5 hours), as follows:

Lab 1 stream A Intro (Lab 1A): Thursday 16 July, 9 am – 10.30 am E1.06 (week 29)

Lab 1 stream B Intro (Lab 1B): Thursday 16 July, 10.30 am – 12.00 noon E1.06 (week 29)

Lab 2 stream A (Lab 2A): Thursday 23 July, 9:00 am – 12.00 noon E1.06 (week 30)

Lab 2 stream B (Lab 2B): Thursday 30 July, 9:00 am – 12.00 noon E1.06 (week 31)

Lab 3 stream B (Lab 3B): Thursday 6 August, 9:00 am – 12.00 noon E1.06 (week 32) [note stream B this week]

Lab 3 stream A (Lab 3A): Thursday 13 August, 9:00 am – 12.00 noon E1.06 (week 33) [note stream A this week]

Field trip

There will be a half-day field trip to a site likely to be near Tamahere on Sat 19 September. Departs uni at 8 am, finishes ~12.30 pm (return to uni by 1 pm). Students must attend the field trip.

Tutorials

A number are scheduled: see below and main schedule

The programme of lectures, practicals and tutorial topics are provided in a schedule available on Moodle and in the printed study guide.

The paper is supported by learning resources accessed via Moodle, and printed lecture resources are available for purchase, or downloadable from Moodle (lab manual, field trip guide).

Edit Paper Structure Content

Learning Outcomes

Edit Learning Outcomes Content

Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:

  • 1. Explain the role of soil science as a central discipline in the geosciences and wider community.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • 2. Describe key features of soil profiles/pedons including horizonation and show the general distribution of soil types on a large-scale map.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • 3. Describe the physical properties of soil and their importance including the storage of water and air and their movement into and out of soil.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • 4. Describe the biology community of soil and the pools of organic matter and nutrients (specifically C, N, and P) in soil and explain how they are cycled.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • 5. Describe the clay mineralogy of soil, exchange mechanisms of cations and anions.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • 6. Describe the macro and micronutrient in soil and their availability to organisms.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • 7. Describe use of the language of communication about soils via soil classification.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • 8. Describe soil formation and explain the broad pattern of soils in part of the Waikato region.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • 9. Describe the general pattern of soils in New Zealand and some of their land-use attributes.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • 10. Communicate effectively through written reports.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • 11. Collect, analyse and interpret field and laboratory data appropriate to soil science.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • 12. Undertake basic soil investigation in the field including soil mapping and selection of soil profile sites and reference data, and the description of soil profiles using appropriate (pedological) terminology.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • 13. Undertake soil investigation methods in the laboratory including a range of soil chemical and soil physical analytical techniques.
    Linked to the following assessments:
Edit Learning Outcomes Content
Edit Learning Outcomes Content

Assessment

Edit Assessments Content
Information about each item is provided in the lab manual and field trip guide, and in class/tutorials
Edit Additional Assessment Information Content

Assessment Components

Edit Assessments Content

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 50:50. There is no final exam. The final exam makes up 50% of the overall mark.

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 50:50 or 0:0, whichever is more favourable for the student. The final exam makes up either 50% or 0% of the overall mark.

Component DescriptionDue Date TimePercentage of overall markSubmission MethodCompulsory
1. Lab report no. 1
7 Aug 2020
5:00 PM
7.5
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
2. Lab report no. 2
21 Aug 2020
5:00 PM
7.5
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
3. Test 1 (1st half of paper)
7 Sep 2020
2:00 PM
12
  • Hand-in: In Lecture
4. Field report
28 Sep 2020
5:00 PM
7.5
  • Hand-in: Faculty Information (FG Link)
5. Test 2 (2nd half of paper)
12 Oct 2020
2:00 PM
12
  • Hand-in: In Lecture
6. Online quizzes
3.5
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
7. Exam
50
✔
Assessment Total:     100    
Failing to complete a compulsory assessment component of a paper will result in an IC grade
Edit Assessments Content

Required and Recommended Readings

Edit Required Readings Content

Required Readings

Edit Required Readings Content

Copies of PowerPoint lectures in full are collated in the study guide (available for purchase from Waikato Print Shop).

A lab manual will be available for downloading from Moodle (print off your own copy).

The field trip guide will be available for downloading from Moodle (print off your own copy).

Two field guide books will be lent to students to save costs. They will be available for collection before the field trip from the FG Link reception area. They must be returned in good order at the end of the paper to the same staff in FG Link (ground floor).

(i) B. Clayden & A.E. Hewitt Horizon Notation for New Zealand Soils (reprinted courtesy of Manaaki Whenua Press and Landcare Research); and

(ii) Guide to Pedon Description compiled by D.J. Lowe.

if you intend going on in soil science or pedology, you are welcome to purchase your own private copie of these two booklets. They are available for purchase from Waikato Print Shop (combined into a single small booklet with white covers).

Edit Required Readings Content

Recommended Readings

Edit Recommended Readings Content

Highly recommended

R. McLaren & K. Cameron. Soil Science - Sustainable Production and Environmental Protection, revised edition. Oxford Univ. Press.

L. Molloy & Q. Christie. Soils in the New Zealand Landscape 2nd ed. published by the NZ Society of Soil Science (NZSSS), Lincoln.

The latter book has recently been reprinted by NZSSS and soft­bound copies ($40) are available from the society's secretariat at info@groundworkassociates.co.nz . The book is also available free (as a series of chapters in pdf format) on the NZSSS website at https://nzsss.science.org.nz/books/

Recommended

R. Weil & N. Brady. The Nature and Properties of Soil, 15th edition. Pearson.

Edit Recommended Readings Content

Online Support

Edit Online Support Content

Online support will be provided via Moodle, which is accessible to all students who are enrolled in the paper. PLEASE NOTE: Moodle will be used for class notices etc. and it is your responsibility to check the site regularly. Instructions provided on Moodle and in lectures are considered to be given to the class as a whole. Lectures will be recorded on Panopto and uploaded to Moodle. However, the best predictor of university success is attendance at lectures, so you should make every effort to attend lectures in person.

Edit Online Support Content

Workload

Edit Workload Content
There are 30 lectures, 5 tutorials, a short introductory lab and two full labs, ~4.5 hours for a half-day field trip, 2 tests, online quizzes, and a three-­hour exam. The workload for each item should relate broadly to the value of the assignment but is largely individual choice. A 200­ level 15-point paper in any of the science subjects offered by the University of Waikato typically involves ~50 hours of supervised study and it is assumed that up to around 100 hours will be spent in private study by an ‘average’ student.
Edit Workload Content

Linkages to Other Papers

Edit Linkages Content

This paper is a prerequisite for two level-3 papers EARTH321 "Pedology and Land Evaluation" and EARTH322 "Soil and Water Management"

Edit Linkages Content

Prerequisite(s)

Prerequisite papers: EARTH101 or ENVSC101 or ERTH104 or ENVS101

Corequisite(s)

Equivalent(s)

Restriction(s)

Restricted papers: ERTH233, ERTH234

Edit Linkages Content