Courses
All courses carry 3 credits unless otherwise specified and can be found in SPIRE listed under Stockbridge School of Agriculture.
510 Management and Ecology of Plant Diseases (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. How agriculture, particularly plant production and plant disease management, change ecosystems. Independent project. BIOLOGY 100 or equivalent recommended. Credit, 3. Dr. Cooley
515 Microbiology of the Soil (2nd sem, odd yrs)
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 instructors other than juniors and seniors. Also listed as ENVIRSCI 515. Credit, 3. Dr. Simkins
520 Physiology of Crop Yield (1st sem)
Physiology of crop plants, carbon fixation, partitioning, growth and development, crop competition, environmental factors, and crop yield relationships. Credit, 3. Dr. Herbert
523 Plant Stress Physiology (1st sem)
Major topics and recent advances in plant stress physiology. Discussion of environmental stresses addresses the methodology used for evaluating stress tolerance and assessing current research areas in plant stress physiology Credit, 3. Dr. DaCosta
525 Mycology (1st sem)
Biology, ecology, physiology, and taxonomy of fungi. This includes consideration of fungi as sources of food, medicine, and fiber, as well as causes of diseases in animals, humans, and plants, as well as their uses in agriculture and biotechnology applications. Credit, 4. Dr. Hestrin
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. Dr. Barker
535 Diagnostic Plant Pathology (2nd sem, odd yrs, currently not offered))
Methods of diagnosing plant diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and abiotic agents are considered using student specimens. Credit, 4. Dr. Petit
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. Credit, 4. Dr. Xing
580 Soil Fertility (2nd 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. Credits, 3. Dr. Barker
581 Integrated Pest Management (1st sem)
With the lab. Theory and application of the principles of insect, disease, and weed pest management; emphasis on insects. Focus on pest and natural enemy sampling techniques, properties of available control strategies, underlying ecological and behavioral principles, model pest management systems, and societal concerns. Prerequisite: STOCKSCH 326 or 505. Credits, Dr. Pinero.
585 Inorganic Contaminants in Soil, Water (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 are also covered. Credit, 3. Dr. Xing
587 Phyto/bioremediation (1st sem)
The use of hyper-accumulator and transgenic plants and their associated microbes for environmental clean-up of contaminated soil, sediments, and water. Various strategies for a wide range of organic and elemental pollutants, emphasizing toxic metals. Credit, 3. Dr. Dhankher
590STA Methods in Rhizosphere Ecology and Plant-Microbe Interactions (2nd sem)
Plant-microbe-soil interactions mediate key ecological functions, such as nutrient cycling, plant productivity and stress tolerance, soil carbon storage, and ecosystem response to change. This class will explore the intricate relationships between plants, microbes, and other biota inhabiting the soil. Students will gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills to investigate fundamental and applied aspects of rhizosphere ecology and plant-microbe interactions. Credit, 4. Dr. Hestrin
Plant Biotechnology Journal Club (both sem)
This course will familiarize students with concepts and current status of plant genetic engineering for crop improvement and health applications, covering with wide range of topics for engineering plants for abiotic and biotic stresses, metabolic engineering for nutrient enhancement, and risk assessment of engineered crops. Credit, 1. Dr. Dhankher
597M Topics in Turf Pathology (2nd sem)
Review and discussion of concepts and issues related to turfgrass diseases. Weekly readings of scientific papers and trade journals are required. Guest speakers from the turfgrass industry present many topics and lead subsequent class discussions. Credit, 2. Dr. Jung
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 haloorganics and petroleum products in soil and ground water. Dr. Simkins
597V Special Topics in Integrated Turf Management (2nd sem, TBD)
Integrates material from several turf courses. Concepts of Integrated Pest Management, including stress management and pest management, emphasized. Each student develops an ITM plan for a turf setting.
597W Artificial Treatment Wetlands (1st sem, even yrs, currently not offered)
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.
602 Research Literature
Critical review of the scientific literature in an area of specialization (GPD)
622 Soil Ecology (1st sem)
Biological processes found in the soil are essential to life on Earth. This course will introduce students to soils as their own ecosystem. Throughout the course, we will weave together descriptions of the diversity of life found within soils, plant-soil interactions and biogeography to paint a mosaic of soil life, its complexity and global importance. The final portion of the course will address the global challenges facing soil ecosystems and the potential of the soil health movement. There is also a field component. Credit, 3. Dr. Keiser
650 Global Challenges in Agriculture and Environment. (2nd sem) (required)
This course will address topics related to the challenges imposed by climate change and environmental contamination on plant growth and production, ecosystem integrity, soil health and ecology, and the sustainability of landscapes. (Group Teaching)
687 Phyto/bioremediation (1st sem)
The use of hyper-accumulator and transgenic plants and their associated microbes for environmental clean-up of contaminated soil, sediments, and water. Various strategies for a wide range of organic and elemental pollutants, emphasizing toxic metals. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 100 or 103, or Instructor's permission. (Credit 3, Dr. Dhankherr)
691A Research Proposal Presentation
Master’s and Ph.D. candidates attend and present their research proposals in a regular seminar meeting open to all Plant and Soil Sciences graduate students. Credit, 1. (Dr. Hashemi)
691S Special Topics in Sustainable Soil Management Journal Club (2nd sem) Credit, 1. Dr. Hashemi
692B Soils and Climate Change Journal Club (Fall semesters). This journal club will review the effect of climate change on nutrient cycling and the impact of soil on climate. Credit 1. Dr. Keiser
692M Plant-Microbe-Soil Interactions (both semesters)
This journal club will review current scientific literature on plant-microbe-soil interactions. Credit, 1. Dr. Hestrin
696 Independent Study
selected research problems not related to a candidate’s master’s thesis. Credit, 1-6. (Graduate student choice of instructor)
699 Master’s Thesis
Credit, 6-10.
696 Independent Study
Selected research problems not related to a candidate’s master’s thesis. Credit, 1-6. (GPD)
699 Master’s Thesis Credit, 6-10.
830 Advanced Soil Chemistry (2nd sem, every 3-4 years, depending on students’ enrollment)
The course discusses the chemical processes affecting the fate, bioavailability, and redistribution of organic and inorganic chemicals in soils and the state-of-the-art knowledge, theories, and research in soil chemistry. Research methodology, including advanced analytical instruments, is also covered. Credit, 3. Dr. Xing
896 Independent Study
Selected research problems not related to a candidate’s doctoral dissertation. Credit, 1-6.
899 Doctoral Dissertation Credit, 1-9