TURF 435 Syllabus
TURF 435 Turfgrass Nutrition (4): Study of turfgrass nutrition and growth; emphasizing constructed and mineral soil fertility, nutrient uptake and function, and fertilizer use efficiency. Prerequisites: SOILS 101, TURF 235
Instructor
Max Schlossberg
Associate Professor of Turfgrass Nutrition/Soil Fertility
403 Agricultural Sciences & Industries Building
University Park, PA 16802
Email: Use ANGEL E-mail
Responsibilities and Interests
My current research objective is to maximize fertilizer use efficiency in turfgrass systems. Current projects include evaluation of fertilizer programs, cultural practices for accelerated treatment of acid soil complex, characterization of organic and inorganic soil amendment of turfgrass root zones, and development of soil sampling, analysis, and interpretation protocol on the basis of site and management-specific parameters. Future research directions include soil hydrophobicity causes, identification, and remediation, and transport modeling of nutrients in natural and constructed turfgrass soil systems. I teach Turfgrass Nutrition in the 2 and 4-year programs.
Overview
Within this course, we will take a look at turfgrass nutrition and growth with an emphasis on constructed and mineral soil fertility, nutrient uptake and function, and fertilizer use efficiency. The course material presenting this information will be offered within 10 lessons, each containing either one or more lesson quizzes, a lab exercise, or a combination of the two.
Lesson quizzes require students to demonstrat familiarity with lesson content by identifying and applying concepts and principles introduces in the associated lesson content. There are (10) lesson quizzes worth a total of 300 points.
The lab exercises require students to work in teams to:
- compile data provided,
- employ formulas for transformation of data into more useful forms,
- compare the results of various treatments,
- and apply concepts introduced in the associated lesson to make inferences and conclusions from the results.
There are (6) lab exercises worth a total of 200 points.
The midterm exam is worth 240 points; and the final exam is worth 260 points. The total point value for this course is 1000 points.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of TURF 235, students will have:
- Distinguish the function and requirements of plant nutrients in the turfgrasses.
- Describe how physical and chemical properties of soil affect nutrient availability, and select soil amendments to remedy soil chemical limitations.
- Discover how best to sample soil, tissue, and water; submit samples, choose appropriate specialty tests, and interpret reports.
- Identify fertilizers and application methods to satisfy site-specific nutrient requirements.
- Prepare nutrient management plans by appraising edaphic and environmental conditions and current cultural management and use.
Course Schedule
Refer to the Course Schedule (under the Lessons tab) for assignment due dates.
Website
ANGEL: https://cms.psu.edu
PSU Policies:
Log-In Policy:
Students are expected to log-in regularly to keep up-to date with announcements, discussions, etc. The class will progress at a regular pace throughout the semester and there are specific due dates and times for assignments, etc.
Academic Integrity:
Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, students should act with personal integrity, respect other students' dignity, rights and property, and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts. Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others (see Faculty Senate Policy 49‐20 and G‐9 Procedures) PSU Student Affairs Office of Student Conduct
Read the Academic Integrity Guidelines for the College of Agricultural Sciences
A lack of knowledge or understanding of the University’s Academic Integrity policy and the types of actions it prohibits and/or requires does not excuse one from complying with the policy. Penn State and the College of Agricultural Sciences take violations of academic integrity very seriously. Faculty, alumni, staff and fellow students expect each student to uphold the University’s standards of academic integrity both in and outside of the classroom.
Disability Access Statement:
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. If you have a disability-related need for reasonable academic adjustments in this course, contact the Office for Disability Services (ODS) at 814-863-1807 (V/TTY). For further information regarding ODS, please visit the Office for Disability Services Web site at http://equity.psu.edu/ods/.
In order to receive consideration for course accommodations, you must contact ODS and provide documentation (see the documentation guidelines at http://equity.psu.edu/ods/guidelines). If the documentation supports the need for academic adjustments, ODS will provide a letter identifying appropriate academic adjustments. Please share this letter and discuss the adjustments with your instructor as early in the course as possible. You must contact ODS and request academic adjustment letters at the beginning of each semester.
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or spouses with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, disabilities, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Use of Trade Names:
Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the World Campus, Outreach and Cooperative Extension, the College of Agricultural Sciences, or The Pennsylvania State University is implied.
Subject to Change Statement:
Please note that this Course Syllabus is subject to change. Students are responsible for abiding by such changes.
