Soil Physics

Soil Physics 2010

AGRONENSCI

477577

2026 Agronomy, 10:00 – 10:50 MWFDr. Ewing

Soil Physics 2010

Outline

• Introduction to the course

• Who am I?

• Who are you?

• The lab (AGRON 578)

• Introduction to the topic

Soil Physics 2010

Introduction to the course(This next stuff is on the syllabus)

Objectives:1: To learn and understand basic concepts of soil physics

2: To apply soil physics concepts as appropriate

3: To recognize soil physics when you see it outside the classroom

4: To enhance your overall scientific, quantitative, and computer skills

Soil Physics 2010

Dr. Robert (Toby) Ewing

ewing@iastate.edu

Office phone (preferred): 294-7856; cell 451-7224

2596 Agronomy Hall

Office hours: Monday 2:00 to 5:00, or by appointment

Instructor:

Soil Physics 2010

Official Prerequisites: 2 soils courses, calculus recommended

Unofficial prerequisites: 1 soils course, math up to calculus

Optimal: 1+ soils course, 1+ semester each of calculus and physics

Or permission of instructor

Prerequisites

Soil Physics 2010

Please address any special needs or accommodations with me at the beginning of the semester, or as soon as you become aware of them.

Those seeking accommodations based on disabilities should obtain a Student Academic Accommodation Request (SAAR) from the Disability Resources (DR) office (294-7220), in Room 1076 of the Student Services Building.

Disabilities:

Soil Physics 2010

You will be tested on material in this book, so I strongly encourage you to buy it!

Textbook:

Soil Physics 2010

Dani Hillel has written the most widely used

textbooks in soil physics.

Soil Physics 2010

If you own the older(and bigger, and more expensive)Environmental Soil Physics,

please tell me.

Soil Physics 2010

www.agron.iastate.edu/soilphysics/agron577

I post lectures (.ppt format), assignments, announcements, and related material.

I would love to post lectures ahead of time, but that probably won’t happen.

Website:

Soil Physics 2010

• Act with academic integrity.

• Be courteous to me and to your fellow students.

• Attend and participate in lectures.

• Read the assigned readings before each lecture.

• Tell me in advance (email is fine) if you are going to miss a class.

• Submit assignments on time.

• Tell me when you don’t understand the material.

My expectations of you:

Soil Physics 2010

• Act with academic integrity.

• Be courteous to you.

• Prepare and present informative lectures.

• Provide you with information.

• Help you to learn the material.

• Foster an environment conducive to learning.

• Fairly and promptly grade assignments and tests.

My obligations to you:

Soil Physics 2010

477 is for undergraduates; 577 is for graduate students and advanced undergraduates.

More is expected of students enrolled in 577. Specifically:

• their exams will have one or two additional questions, and

• they must write an article for Wikipedia, and present it to the class, on a soil physics topic that is mutually agreed upon by the student and the instructor.

Differences between AGRON/ENSCI 477 and 577:

Soil Physics 2010

Evaluation:

477 5772 semester exams 20% each 20% each

Final exam 30% 25%

Quizzes 15% 15%

Homework 15% 10%

Wikipedia article NA 10%

Soil Physics 2010

Exams (including the final) are comprehensive.

You may use a calculator and an 8.5 x 11" sheet of paper with notes, equations, diagrams, etc. (no scanning or photocopying!) on one side, and your name on the other.

Exams

Soil Physics 2010

Quizzes will occur frequently and without notice, at the beginning of a class period.

They are short (1-3 questions), cover assigned reading and the previous lecture, and take about 5 minutes.

Their purpose is to encourage you to read the assignments, and to show up on time.

There will be no make-up quizzes, but your lowest quiz score will not count towards your final grade.

Quizzes

Soil Physics 2010

…may be done with others: this is often a good way to learn.

Each person must submit their own copy, and give names of those with whom they worked.

Assignments submitted late are docked 10% per day, starting at the end of the class period at which the assignment was due.

Homework:

Soil Physics 2010

On Nov. 2009 I counted about 30 articles that were both listed under the topic “soil physics”, and fell within the domain of this course.

The article on porosity is a reasonable guide to what I am looking for in terms of length and depth.

For your presentation, plan for 10 minutes of presentation and 5 minutes of questions and discussion.

Wikipedia articles will be presented to the class, and discussed, at the appropriate time in the course. For example, if you have chosen to write about gas-phase diffusion, you will present your article on March 26th. Talk to me early in the semester so you can get the topic you want.

Wikipedia

Soil Physics 2010

Course outline:

• Porous medium basics

• The solid phase

• Single-fluid transport

• Dual-fluid transport

• Heat transport

• Composite transport

Soil physics, as a scientific endeavor, deals with the state and movement of matter and with the fluxes and transformations of energy in the soil and related porous media. (SSSA)

• Porous medium basics

• The solid phase

• Single-fluid transport

• Dual-fluid transport

• Heat transport

• Composite transport

Soil Physics 2010

Who am I?Degrees:B.S., Plant & Soil Science, University of MaineM.S., Crop Science, North Caroline State U.Ph.D., Soil Physics, University of Minnesota

Courses taught:Physical Geography (4), Meteorology, Hydrogeology (2), Water Resources, A Sustainable Society, Soil Physics, Advanced Soil Physics (6)

Research areas:Diffusion, Radioactive waste management, Percolation theory, Coupled heat & water movement

Soil Physics 2010

Who are you?

Please write on a sheet of paper:

• Your full name, and preferred name if different• Email address• Preferred phone number (optional)• Major and year (undergrad) or major prof.

(grad)• Courses you’ve taken (no more than 3 each) in:• Soil science• Other earth science• Math• Physics

…and hand in the paper.

Soil Physics 2010

The Lab (AGRON 578)

The Lab is not required, but it is recommended.

It can help to get a hands-on sense of what we talk about in class.

Currently the lab is scheduled for Monday, 1:10 – 4:10 pm.

Soil Physics 2010

Introduction to soil physics

Soil Physics

GeologyMineralogyHydrologyMeteorology

Quantum MechanicsAstrophysicsMathematical EquationsLarge Hadron Collider

AgricultureCrop ManagementHorticultureBotany

Soil Physics 2010

Introduction to soil physics

Soil Physics

GeologyMineralogyHydrologyMeteorology

Mathematical EquationsNewtonian PhysicsCondensed Matter Physics

AgricultureCrop ManagementHorticultureBotany

Petroleum EngineeringGeotechnical Eng.Hydraulic EngineeringCivil EngineeringElectrical Engineering

Soil Physics 2010

What’s my point?

• All the sciences are inter-related

• Soil physics borrows heavily from other sciences, and also informs other sciences

…and also

• Physical sciences tend to be more mathematical

• Soil physics is both fundamental and applied

• Physical explanations should make physical sense

Soil Physics 2010

Physical properties of soil

• What do soils do?

• What physical properties make this possible?

• What physical processes must occur in soils to make this possible?

Soil Physics 2010

Current issues in soil physics

What are the big issues in soil physics today?

My top 4:

• Heterogeneity, randomness and structure

• Scale, upscaling, downscaling, and scale integration

• Integration with meteorology, hydrology, etc.

• Legacy of empirical, non-physical concepts