A general course dealing with the origin, classification, and the physical, chemical and biological properties of mineral and organic soils; the soils as a medium for plant growth. Special emphasis will be given to the principal soil management problems in the tropics.

The use of vegetation, plant barriers, terraces, mechanical structures, crop rotations, and other practices for soil and water conservation; forest and wildlife conservation; conservation problems, adjustments, and programs in Puerto Rico. Field trips.

Biological soil processes; occurrence and activity of soil microorganisms as applied to soil fertility; their influence on organic matter transformation, and nitrogen economy in soils.

Adaptation, botany distribution, varieties, culture, crop improvement, harvesting and marketing of corn, rice, cotton and sweet potatoes. Field trips.

Study of the establishment, management and conservation of forest resources with economical, ecological and recreational purposes.

Problems in the production, improvement and genetics of crop plants will be assigned, or may be selected, subject to the approval of the professor in charge.

An advanced course in the physical and chemical processes of soils, with emphasis on their practical application and significance. Laboratory practice in the use of physical and physicochemical techniques used in soil investigations.

Reports and discussions of observations and problems in farm practices and recent crop investigations.

Reports and discussions of observations and problems in farm practices and recent crop investigations.

Study of the environmental conditions which determine the adaptation, distribution and productivity of crops.

Application of the principles of soil science and crop science, in the evaluation of management practices in tropical soils.

Study of the natural resources of Puerto Rico and the principles involved in their utilization, management and development. Study of the effect of demand and activities of people on the natural resources and related to the conservation of natural resources and the quality of environment will be discussed. Field trips and a written report are required.

Fundamental principles underlying the maintenance of soil productivity; sources, manufacture, and utilization of fertilizer materials and mixed fertilizers, and their effect on the plant and on the soil.

Practical work experience in crops and soils. It will be conducted under the supervision of the department in collaboration with public and private entities.

The basic processes and principles of mineral nutrition of higher plants will be covered. Special emphasis will be given to the factors that affect absorption and translocation as well as the function of essential elements in higher plants.

A fundamental study of grasses, especially those of economic importance in the Caribbean area: the main characteristic of various genera and species of grasses, their identification, distribution, propagation, and economic uses. Will also include knowledge on the adaptation, management, and nutritive value of cultivated and native pasture plants, with special emphasis on the establishment, management, and improvement of temporary and permanent pastures. Required field trips.

Practical experience in agronomy or soil sciences in cooperation with the private sector or government. To be jointly supervised by the academic department, the Coop program coordinator, and an official from the cooperating entity. Written reports will be required upon completion of each work period.

Basic concepts of statistical reasoning applied to problems in agricultural, biological and environmental sciences. Data gathering, graphical description and numerical summarization. Concepts of probability and sampling. Estimation and hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, linear regression and correlation. Students describe and analyze real data sets and use statistical computing programs.

Historical development of concepts of soil and systems of soil classification; principles and nomenclature of "Soil Taxonomy"; environmental factors and processes of soil formation; and field study of soil profiles. Field trips are required.

Physical properties of soils, and factors affecting them; soil consistency, structure, water, air, temperature, tillage; evaluation and influence in determination of soil productivity.

Study of the genesis and distribution of the soils of Puerto Rico, based on environmental conditions; classification of soils using the "Soil Taxonomy" system; evaluation of the morphological, chemical, physical, and mineralogical properties of soils with respect to agricultural and not agricultural uses. Representative soil profiles are studied during field trips.

The study of the composition and structure of the different forest systems of the tropics; wet forest, deciduous forest, conifer forest and mangrove from the stand point of multiple use and sustainability. Field trips required.

Study of concepts, methods and techniques in the conservation, management and development of natural resources, and their effects on environmental quality. Contemporary issues and problems in the management and allocation of natural resources will be discussed.

Biological concepts for biotechnology: enzymes, nucleic acids, genetic transfer mechanisms, operons, plasmids, vectors, cloning, DNA sequencing, monoclonal antibodies, clonal production and hybridization.

Experiments or demonstrations on microbial growth, DNA isolation, embryo transfer, protoplast isolation, tissue culture, plant hybridization, mutagenesis plasmid isolation and DNA electrophoresis. Restriction enzymes and other DNA techniques.

Fundamental principles of the growth and propagation of agronomic and horticultural plants; the relation of environment to the distribution, adaptation and utilization of crops; fundamentals of soil management, tillage, rotation, plant improvement, pest control, and other practices related to the production and management of crops.

Principles of the vital processes of crops: growth, differentiation and development. Mineral nutrition, plant-water relationships, photosynthesis, respiration, photoperiodism and plant hormones.

The improvement of crop plants by hybridization, selection and induced mutations; methods and techniques applicable to sexually and asexually reproduced plants.

Advanced undergraduate course where the principles used in Phytoremediation will be discussed. These include the use of vascular plants for the phytoextraction, rhyzofiltration, phytostabilization and phytovolatilization of organic contaminants from the soils and water resources. Phytoremediation offers a permanent solution for removing the contaminants from the environment.