Plant and Soil Sciences Courses

Program | Faculty | Courses

All courses carry 3 credits unless otherwise specified.

505 General Plant Pathology (1st sem)

Causes, nature, and control of plant diseases. Diagnosis of plant diseases. Mechanisms, biochemistry, and genetics of plant disease induction, development, and control. Prerequisite: a course in plant biology. Credit, 4. Mr. Wick

510 Management and Ecology of Plant Disease (2nd sem)

The ecology of plant, microbe, and human interactions in plant diseases, from wilderness to industrial farms. Epidemics, traditional farming, environmental impacts, and sustainability issues. BIOLOGY 100 or equivalent recommended. Mr. Cooley

515 Microbiology of the Soil Environment (2nd sem)

With lab. Microbial processes in the soil and sediment environment; ecology of the various microbial communities; the decomposition of organic matter, carbon transformation, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus and other mineral transformations. Chemistry of these reactions and their biogeochemical implications. Biological equilibrium, the rhizosphere, and microbial associations. Prerequisites: basic biology and chemistry courses. Consent of instructor for other than junior and seniors. Also listed as ENVIRSCI 515. Credit, 4. Mr. Simkins

520 Crop Physiology (1st sem)

With lab. Yield relationships with specific crops and management factors influencing the upper limits to yields. Lab: investigations in crop systems and computer applications. Prerequisite: PLNTSOIL 350 or 325 or consent of instructor. Mr. Herbert

530 Plant Nutrition (1st sem)

With lab. The acquisition, transport, translocation, distribution, and function of the essential inorganic elements in plants. Genetic control of plant nutrition and ecological adaptation to nutritional variables. Diagnosis of nutritional disorders. Credit, 4. Mr. Barker

535 Diagnostic Plant Pathology (2nd sem)

Methods of diagnosing plant diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and abiotic agents considered using specimens collected by students. Prerequisite: PLNTSOIL 505. Credit, 4. Mr. Wick

540 Plant Breeding (1st sem)

An introduction to the principles of plant breeding. Topics cover basic breeding methods, genetic engineering, reproductive systems of crop plants, inbreeding depression and hybrid vigor, interspecific hybridization, use of genetic markers for crop improvement, breeding for disease resistance, conservation of germplasm and crop evolution. Students also gain hands-on experience in the greenhouse and lab. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 283 or equivalent. Mr. Bernatzky

545 Postharvest Physiology (2nd sem)

The basic biochemical and physiological processes occurring in fruits, vegetables, and flowers after harvest; postharvest treatments to modify these processes. Prerequisites: CHEM 111, 112; BIOLOGY 511, 512 desirable. Credit, 4. Ms. Han

550 Plant Growth Regulators in Agriculture (2nd sem)

The involvement of naturally occurring plant hormones and the influence that synthetic plant growth regulators have on the physiology and development of the plant. Also, the use and potential use of plant growth regulators in food, fiber and flowering plant production. Mr. Greene

555 Environmental Stress and Plant Growth (2nd sem, odd yrs)

Identification of environmental stresses affecting crop plant growth and development. The physiological effects of environmental stresses on plants and mechanisms of avoidance or tolerance. Prerequisite: PLNTSOIL 397P. Mr. Manning

560 Advanced Weed Science (2nd sem, odd yrs)

Ecological concepts in weed management; historical and ecological perspectives. Weed-crop competition and allelopathy; reproductive strategy; seed dormancy, seed production, allocation of resources in perennial weeds. The physiology and biochemistry of herbicides in plants and their relationships with the soil environment. Prerequisite: PLNTSOIL 310 or consent of instructor. Mr. Bhowmik

565 Soil Formation, Classification and Land Use (2nd sem)

With lab. Effect of environmental factors on soil formation and land use. Relationship between soil morphology, classification, and use interpretations. Application of soils information to on-site sewage disposal, wetland identification, and other environmentally significant problem areas. Prerequisite: introductory course in chemistry, geology, soil, or environmental science; or consent of instructor. Credit, 4. Mr. Veneman

570 Soil Physics (1st sem, odd yrs)

With lab. Physical properties of soils and how they relate to water and solute movement in hydrologic systems, energy exchange, plant-soil-water relations, environmental problems, and soil-water management. Prerequisites: basic courses in mathematics, chemistry, and physics, or consent of instructor.

575 Environmental Soil Chemistry (1st sem)

With lab. Chemical reactions that occur in soils. Topics include the nature and properties of soil minerals, cations exchange, soil acidity, and chemical relations in soils of plant nutrients and soil amendments. Prerequisites: CHEM 112, PLNTSOIL 105. Credit, 4. Mr. Xing

580 Soil Fertility (1st sem)

The role of mineral elements in the growth of plants; plant response to fertilizers and other soil amendments; soil reaction, mineral deficiencies and toxicities; environmental impact of soil fertility management practices. Prerequisites: PLNTSOIL 105, CHEM 111 or 102, or equivalent. Mr. Cox

597L Wetland Delineation, Federal Procedure (1st sem)

All aspects of the federal procedure for wetland identification and delineation. Includes wetland classification, wetland plant identification, hydric soils recognition and various delineation procedures. Classroom instruction, followed by field exercises; individual delineation project; literature studies required for final report. Mr. Veneman

597O Organic Contaminants in Soils, Waters, and Sediments (1st sem, even yrs)

Transport and fate of manmade compounds in natural and managed environments: abiotic and biotic effects including partitioning, interfaces, concentration, biodegradation and biotransformation. Examination of specific examples of compounds and classes of contaminants in affected environments, such as pesticides and petroleum products in soil and ground water. Prerequisites: CHEM 261, 262. Mr. Simkins

597P Origin and Future of Crops (2nd sem)

Reviews current knowledge about the origin of the world's crops and examines genetic changes brought about by domestication of wild plants, dispersal from the centers of domestication, and plant breeding. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 283 or equivalent. Mr. Boyle

597S Agricultural System Thinking (2nd sem)

An opportunity to learn and practice holistic systems thinking, a way of understanding complex real-world situations, such as those often encountered in food and agricultural arenas. Introduces soft systems tools for understanding complex situations and for personal and professional decision making. Prerequisites: some coursework in agriculture, biology or environmental studies. Mr. Gerber

597W Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment (1st sem)

Aquatic plant selection, sizing, and design techniques. Pollution parameters of primary concern include BOD, suspended solids, nutrients, heavy metals, pathogens, organics. Treatment applications include primary and secondary effluents and sludges; storm water and agricultural runoff; solid and hazardous waste leachates, liquid industrial wastes. Field trips, student projects. Prerequisites: college algebra, introductory chemistry, introductory physics, biology; or consent of instructor. Mr. Lavigne

597X Inorganic Contaminants (2nd sem, even yrs)

Physical, chemical, and biological factors involved in the fate and effects of heavy metals and other inorganic contaminants in soils, sediments, and groundwater. Bioleaching, acid mine drainage, and environmental bioremediation also covered. Mr. Xing

602 Research Literature (both sem)

Critical review of the scientific literature in an area of specialization.

661 Intermediate Biometry (1st sem)

Supplies background necessary to design and analyze field and laboratory experiments. Focus on statistical analysis for agricultural scientists. Primary emphasis on analysis of variance, regression, and experimental design. Computer-assisted analysis presented. Prerequisites: a course in basic statistial analysis. Credit, 4. Mr. Autio

696 Independent Study (both sem)

Selected research problems not related to a candidate's Master's thesis. Credit, 1-6.

697A Data Analysis and Interpretation (both sem)

Informal discussion class, focusing on students' problems, concerns, or enthusiasm with their own experimental designs, data analyses, or interpretations of results, including computer- (particularly SAS) generated output. New techniques presented by the instructor or guest instructors as requested by the class. Students gain practical experience with data analysis and a better understanding of the approaches necessary for their own thesis or dissertation work. Prerequisite: a course in intermediate statistical analysis. Credit, 1. Mr. Autio

699 Master's Thesis

Maximum credit, 9.

791A Seminar Methods (2nd sem)

Training and experience in oral communication. Required once of all candidates for advanced degrees and should be taken in the first year of enrollment in the program. Mr. Herbert

792A Seminar (both sem)

Departmental seminar. Expected of Master's candidates. Credit, 1.

793A Seminar (both sem)

Departmental seminar. Master's candidates attend seminar meetings and present results of their thesis research to faculty and students at a regular seminar meeting which is open to the public. Credit, 1.

802 Research Literature (both sem)

Critical review of the scientific literature in an area of specialization.

830 Advanced Soil Chemistry

Lecture and discussion of current theories of the chemistry of soils. Consent of instructor required. Mr. Xing

892A Seminar (both sem)

Same as PLNTSOIL 792Y; available to doctoral candidates. Credit, 1.

893A Seminar (both sem)

Same as PlntSoil 793; required of doctoral candidates. Credit, 1.

896 Independent Study (both sem)

Selected research problems not related to a candidate's doctoral dissertation. Credit, 1-6.

899 Doctoral Dissertation

Maximum credit, 10.