CS 400 - TURF CULTURAL SYSTEMS
Spring 2010 / M W F 11:20 - 12:10 / WMS 1403
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TOPIC
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January 11 Introduction
13 Turf Production as a Component of Sustainable Agriculture
15 Turf Management on the “Edge”
18 No Class – Martin Luther King Holiday
20 Soil Modification
22 Methods of Putting Green Construction
25 Supplemental Cultural Practices – Thatch and vertical mowing
27 No class, NC Turfgrass Conference – Hilton North Raleigh
29 Supplemental Cultural Practices – Wear, Compaction & Aeration
February 01 Supplemental Cultural Practices – Topdressing
03 Field Trip to NCSU Athletic Fields
05 ***** FIRST EXAM*****
08 A Review of Soil Chemistry and Plant Nutrition
10 Nutrient Management
12 Developing Nutrient Management Programs
15 Best Management Practices for Water Conservation
17 Best Management Practices for Water Conservation
19 Environmental Stress Management – Drought Tolerance
22 Environmental Stress Management – Heat Tolerance
24 Field Trip to NCSU Short Game Practice Facility
26 ***** SECOND EXAM *****
March 01 Environmental Stress Management – Cold Tolerance
03 Managing Turfgrasses in the Shade
05 Student Presentations (2)
08 Localized Dry Spots and Wetting Agents
10 Winter Overseeding of Dormant Turfgrass
12 Student Presentations (2)
March 15 - 19 No Class - Spring Break
22 PGRs
24 Weed Control Strategies
26 Student Presentations (2)
29 Student Presentations (2)
31 Student Presentations (2)
April 02 No Class - Spring Holiday
05 The Cultural Intensity Spectrum
07 Student Presentations (2)
09 ***** THIRD EXAM *****
12 Golf Course Management
14 Athletic Field Construction and Management
16 Student Presentations (2)
19 Lawn Care Programming – Cool-season grasses
21 Lawn Care Programming – Warm-season grasses
23 Student Presentations (2)
26 Student Presentations (2)
28 Turfgrass Sod Production
30 *****FOURTH EXAM*****
May 07 **** FINAL EXAM **** 8:00 - 11:00 1403 WMS
NOTE: This schedule is tentative and may be adjusted if it is in the best interest of the class.
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Instructors: Dr. Charles H. Peacock OFFICE HOURS: Any time, by appointment
1215 Williams Hall
Charles_Peacock@ncsu.edu
515-7615
Dr. Dan Bowman
4123 Williams Hall
Dan_Bowman@ncsu.edu
515-2085
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Students will gain an understanding of the following concepts of turfgrass culture:
1. Techniques for soil modification and construction of high quality intensive use turfgrass areas such as golf greens and athletic fields including selection of materials and various construction techniques.
2. Incorporation of supplementary management practices such as aerification, topdressing, and overseeding into cultural management systems for turfgrass areas.
3. The physiological function of essential plant nutrients as well as characteristics of commercially available fertilizers and how to develop nutrient management programs.
4. Strategies for managing turfgrasses under environmental stress including heat, cold and shade.
Course Policies
Attendance
Regular attendance at all lectures is expected. Any student missing more than three lectures without an approved excuse will have their final grade reduced by 2% for each missed lecture after three absences. Probably the most important factor in good student performance is attending class and taking effective notes. If you simply come to class each week, pay attention, and take good notes, you will be well on your way to doing well in the class.
No laptop or cell phone use is allowed in class. Anyone caught using a cell phone for text messaging will be dismissed from class and given an unexcused absence for that day.
You are responsible for all material covered and announcements made during class. Important announcements are often made during class. That is the time when all students should be present and, thus, will be sure to hear the announcement. If you miss a lecture, arrange to obtain handouts and notes from another student.
In case of inclement weather for both students and instructors, the following will apply:
If the university is officially closed, there will be no class.
If Wake County schools are closed, you will be sent an email by 9 am informing you if class will be held. Both Drs. Peacock and Bowman live in areas which do not have immediate road clearing when there is snow and ice and this may prohibit their traveling to campus.
For more information consult:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/pols_regs/REG205.00.4.php
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/campus_environ/health_safety_welfare/POL04.20.1.php
Exams
Lecture exams will be given in Room 1403 WMS on the dates listed in the syllabus. Students should inform the instructor in writing if they anticipate being absent for a valid reason. Exams may be taken early if the student presents a valid reason for being absent on the day of the exam. Excuses for emergency absences (due to illness, injury or death in the family) should be reported to the instructor as soon as possible. Make-up exams will only be allowed if there is a legitimate (University approved) excuse, and if the instructor is notified of the missed exam immediately. Make-up exams will not be identical to the general class exam and will be more in-depth. They may be administered using an oral question and answer approach. The policy of not allowing make-up exams unless extraordinary circumstances exist is meant to assure that all students receive a fair examination.
Policy on Returning Exams
Evaluation of student performance in this course is based to a large extent on testing. If exams are returned to the class, previous exams are often circulated among friends and selected other students who then gain an unfair advantage over students who do not have access to previous exams. Thus, lecture exams will not be returned to students following exam review. Students will be given the opportunity to review their exam during a time set aside during our regular class sessions or during office hours with Dr. Bowman or Dr. Peacock. Following each exam, all students will be able to review their exam, ask questions, and check to assure that their grade was calculated properly.
Grading
* Lecture exams will contribute to the final grade as follows:
First exam 12%;
Second exam 12%;
Third exam 12%;
Fourth exam 12%
Final exam 12%.
* Occasional Quizzes (announced or unannounced): 15%
* A 20 - minute oral presentation (20%)
* Class participation: 5%
Final letter grades in the course will be based on the exams and other work described above and will be determined according to the following scale:
Letter Grade Numerical Grade Letter Grade Numerical Grade
A+ 95.00 – 100 C+ 78.00 - 79.99
A 92.00 - 94.99 C 72.00 - 77.99
A- 90.00 - 91.99 C- 70.00 - 71.99
B+ 88.00 - 89.99 D+ 68.00 - 69.99
B 82.00 - 87.99 D 62.00 - 67.99
B- 80.00 - 81.99 D- 60.00 - 61.99
F 0.00 - 59.99
Students With Learning Disabilities
In order to assure that all students gain as much from this class as possible, every reasonable effort to accommodate students’ specific needs will be made. Lecture exams are designed to be completed without time difficulties by the “average student” during the course of a standard class period. If you have a learning disability which has been certified by the Learning Disabilities Center (1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, Raleigh, NC 27695-7509 / phone: 515.7653) please see Dr. Peacock prior to the first exam to make alternative arrangements if needed.
For more information consult:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/pols_regs/REG205.00.28.php
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to comply with the University policies concerning academic honesty. Violations of academic integrity such as cheating, plagiarism or giving unauthorized aid to others in their work will not be tolerated and will be dealt with according to the NCSU Code of Student Conduct.
For more information consult:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student_conduct/POL445.00.1.htm