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
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