Sustainable agriculture can be understood as an ecosystem approach to agriculture. Practices that can cause long-term damage to soil include excessive tilling of the soil (leading to erosion) and irrigation without adequate drainage (leading to salinization).Long term experiments have provided some of the best data on how various practices affect soil properties essential to sustainability. In the United States a federal agency, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, specializes in providing technical and financial assistance for those interested in pursuing natural resource conservation and production agriculture as compatible goals.
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environmental healthThis concept deals with how air, water, energy and soil can be used to provide healthy nutritious food while enhancing the quality of our resources.
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economic profitabilityThis concept maximizes the farmer's reliance on diversity and natural as well as renewable inputs while providing for financial sustainability.
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social and economic equityThis concept reflects the farmers social as well as lifestyle choices that nourish the community as well as the individual.
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Assignments for PLSCI 22
Level 1 Investigation: Click on the button entitled "Soil Characteristics" and read the chapter and your notes on Soil introduction. In addition, watch one of then VDOs in the VDO section. After you have completed you reading and watching VDO complete the form entitled, "Level 1 Review: Why are soils so important?"
Level 2 Guiding Question: Watch the VDO entitled "Analysis of Soil Monoliths " and read the "Soil Profile" chapter as well as the Power Point on "Soils and their Significance". When you are finished with the VDO and reading, complete the form entitled, "Soil Horizons and Profiles". Don't forget to click on the submit button to turn in your assignment.
Level 2 Investigate: Watch the VDO entitled "Purdue Agronomy Soil ...." (see above in Video section). Click on the button above to open the website entitled SoilWeb (http://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/gmap/)
Due Sept. 4
Level 3 Investigate: Watch the VDO entitled "Soil Formation" and read and review the powerpoint and chapter of the same name. To complete the assignment you must click on the next button to start the "Soil Processes & Factors" assignment.
Level 3 Elaborate: Watch 2 of the three Videos (in the video section) above they present a little points of view on soil formation. Using the CLORPT formula create a 1-2 minute VDO that you will share with your instructor by either emailing a link or the video itself.
Level 4 Elaborate: Read your notes and the website above on the "The 12 soil orders" and/or watch the above videos and the following soil orders: Aridisols, Vertisols, Alfisols an Mollisols. When you have completes reading and watching please summarize have each soil has been created and what the commons characteristics of each soil and what part of California can you find them in. You can do this by completing the following form, "Soil Orders in California".
Level 4 Review: Soil Orders Review practice test please take it will not be recorded it is here for each one of you to practice and review the content we have been studying.
Due Sept. 21
Level 5 Elaborate: How to create maps and reports
Watch the Video above and complete the attached assignment entitled, "East Woodland Development.
Level 5 Summary: Unit Test on Soil Formation, Classification and Soil Series & Maps (will post September 21).
Due Sept. 28
Level 3, 4 & 5 Summary: Unit Test will posted on Sept. 22 (pm)
Level 6 Guiding Question: Isn't all soil the same soil?
Read the above article (The components of color explained by Professor A.H. Mussel) and complete the form above (Explaining color as told by A.H. Mussel).
Due Oct. 5
Level 7 Investigation: Soil Structures & Macropores
Click on the button entitled "Soil Quality Website" and answer the questions on the form below.
Level 7 Elaborate: Soil Structure Summary
Choose one of these VDOs to watch and write a one paragraph summary above.
Level 8 Summary: Quiz on bulk and particle density Download and print your work and bring it to class to turn in to your instructor.
Level 6, 7 & 8 Summary: Unit Test will posted on Oct. 6 (pm)
Due Oct. 12
PLSI 22L: Lab notebook with 2 Completed Field Sheets as well as the bulk density, soil structure and moisture content labs.
Due Oct. 17
Level 6, 7 & 8 Summary: Unit Test needs to be completed by Oct. 18 by midnight
Due Oct. 26
Level 9 Guiding Question: How do water and soil interact? Complete the Soil Water Basics google form after watching the video.
Level 9 Investigation: Water and soil interactions Complete the Soil Water Vocabulary after reading the lecture notes.
Level 9 Investigation: Water and soil interactions Complete the Soil Moisture Retention google form after watching one of the videos.
Due Nov. 2
Level 9 Review: How do soil and water react? Making Infographics
Your assignment is to make an Infographic that contains the following criteria: the topic has to do with Soil Water (i.e. water retention, Field Capacity/Wilting Point, Soil water potential, Conversation Practices, Bulk Density/Porosity. Use at least three colors, four graphics, attribution,
two different font types and or sizes, 3 pieces of information or stats and must be appealing to the eye. You may use any free online infographic app (see the VDO below about how to use one such source (https://www.easel.ly), if you are artist create it yourself. Please either send it via email to your instructor or if you create it yourself scan or take a picture of it and submit via email.
two different font types and or sizes, 3 pieces of information or stats and must be appealing to the eye. You may use any free online infographic app (see the VDO below about how to use one such source (https://www.easel.ly), if you are artist create it yourself. Please either send it via email to your instructor or if you create it yourself scan or take a picture of it and submit via email.
Due Nov. 10
Level 10 The Guiding Question: Where does our water come from and what role does soil play? Click on the button "Online Chapter for Water" to read the chapter on water and then take the short summary below it.
Level 10 Investigation: Top 10 Myths about California Water On the right is a button for an interactive website that helps explain about California water myths, please take the tour and focus what you believe are the TOP 5 Myths that you believe that need to be expelled and why?
Level 10 Elaborate: Video Review Project:Use the groundwater model and a video camera to create a review video that you will demonstrate 2 groundwater concepts that you have observed while doing your labs on groundwater. Optional: the final product will be posted on this website, you and your team will have 2 days in class to compile, shoot and present this video.
Due Nov. 17
Level 11 Review: Nutrient Cycles Watch the two videos in the video section and take the two reviews.