Agronomy
G.M. Pierzynski, Interim Head
M.D. Ransom, Assistant Head—Teaching
J.P. Shroyer, Extension State Leader
W.T. Schapaugh, Jr., Graduate Program Coordinator
Professors Al-Khatib, Buchholz, Claassen, Devlin, Donnelly, Fjell, A. Fritz, Gordon, Ham, Hargrove, Kilgore, Kirkham, Kluitenberg, Maddux, Mengel, Owensby, Pierzynski, Peterson, Posler, Ransom, Regehr, Rice, Schapaugh, Shroyer, Skidmore, Stone, Thien, Thompson, Tuinstra, and Welch; Associate Professors Dille, Duncan, Fick, J. Fritz, Heer, Janssen, Leikam, Martin, and Staggenborg; Assistant Professors Nelson and Prasad; Research Assistant Professor Kulako; Instructors Cunningham and D. Minihan; Agronomist Roozeboom and Schaffer; State Climatologist Knapp; Assistant Agronomist Stamm; Adjunct Professors Cox, Sears, and Skidmore; Adjunct Associate Professors Brown-Guedira and Hagen; Adjunct Assistant Professors Bai, Bean, Ristic, and Tatarko; Adjunct Associate Agronomist Strouts; Emeriti: Professors Barnett, Bidwell, Bieberly, Bohannon, Hobbs, Jacobs, Liang, Mader, Paulsen, Russ, Swallow, Vanderlip, Wassom, Whitney, and Withee; Associate Professors Eberle, Ehler, Ohlenbusch, and Walter; Assistant Professors Lundquist and Moore.
E-mail: agronomy@k-state.edu
Agronomy
Bachelor of science in agriculture
127 semester hours
Agronomy includes crop, soil, weed, range, and environmental sciences. Students in agronomy have diverse interests, including crop production and physiology; crop breeding; soil management, fertility, and conservation; soil and water quality; physical and chemical properties of soils; forages; and range management.
Requirements*
Students majoring in agronomy are required to complete the following courses, plus those in the option that the student selects.
| ENGL 100 | Expository Writing I | 3 |
| ENGL 200 | Expository Writing II | 3 |
| SPCH 105 | Public Speaking IA | 2 |
| MATH 100 | College Algebra | 3 |
| AGRON 220 | Crop Science | 4 |
| AGRON 305 | Soils | 4 |
| AGRON 455 | Computer Applications in Agronomy | 3 |
 CHM 210 | Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHM 230 | Chemistry II | 4 |
| Organic/biochemistry | 3-5 | |
| BIOL 198 | Principles of Biology | 4 |
| or | ||
| BIOL 210 | General Botany | 4 |
| Physics | 4 | |
| Social sciences/humanities electives | 3-9 | |
| Communications elective | 3 | |
| All options except soil and environmental science require | ||
| GENAG 101 | Ag Orientation | 1 |
| ECON 110 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| *Agronomy majors must include 18 credit hours of university general education courses, with at least 6 credit hours numbered ≥ 300. At least one university general education course must be taken in each of the following categories: (a) biological and physical sciences, (b) communications, social sciences, and humanities, (c) agriculture, and (d) free electives. | ||
Options
| Additional courses required for specific option: | ||
| Business and industry option | ||
| AGEC 120 | Agricultural Econ/Agribusiness | 3 |
| or | ||
| ECON 120 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| AGRON 330 | Weed Science | 3 |
| AGRON 360 | Crop Growth and Development | 3 |
| AGRON 375 | Soil Fertility | 3 |
| AGRON 405 | Internship in Agronomy | 3 |
| Agronomy electives | 9 | |
| General agriculture elective | 3 | |
| STAT 350 | Business and Economics Statistics I | 3 |
| Agricultural economics or business | 12 | |
| ACCTG 231 | Accounting for Business Operations | 3 |
| PLPTH 500 | Plant Pathology | 3 |
| ENTOM 300 | Economic Entomology | 3 |
| Two of the following: | ||
| ASI 500 | Genetics | 3 |
| AGRON 645 | Soil Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 455 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 500 | Plant Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 529 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 3 |
| GEOG 508 | Fundamentals of GIS | 3 |
| MATH 205 | Calculus and Linear Algebra | 3 |
| PHYS 115 | Descriptive Physics | 5 |
| Electives | 12-15 | |
| Consulting and production option | ||
| AGRON 330 | Weed Science | 3 |
| AGRON 360 | Crop Growth and Development | 3 |
| AGRON 375 | Soil Fertility | 3 |
| AGRON 385 | Soil Fertility Lab | 2 |
| AGRON 405 | Internship in Agronomy | 3 |
| AGRON 650 | Integrated Weed Management | 3 |
| AGEC 120 | Agricultural Econ/Agribusiness | 3 |
| or | ||
| ECON 120 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ENTOM 300 | Economic Entomology | 3 |
| or | ||
| ENTOM 312 | General Entomology | 2 |
| and | ||
| ENTOM 313 | General Entomology Lab | 1 |
| ENTOM 612 | Insect Pest Diagnosis | 2 |
| or | ||
| ENTOM 767 | Insect Pest Management | 3 |
| PLPTH 500 | Plant Pathology | 3 |
| PLPTH 585 | Crop Diseases | 2 |
| ATM 653/654 | Irrigation Practices and Lab | 3 |
| Agricultural electives | 14-16 | |
| Business or economics electives | 3 | |
| One of the following: | ||
| AGRON 645 | Soil Microbiology | 4 |
| ASI 500 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 455 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOL 529 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 3 |
| GEOG 508 | Fundamentals of GIS | 3 |
| Electives | 8-11 | |
| Range management option | ||
| MATH 150 | Plane Trigonometry | 3 |
| BIOL 500 | Plant Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 529 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 551 | Taxonomy of Flowering Plants | 4 |
| ENTOM 300 | Economic Entomology | 3 |
| GEOL 100 | Earth in Action | 3 |
| AGRON 501 | Range Management | 3 |
| AGRON 515 | Soil Genesis and Classification | 3 |
| AGRON 560 | Field Identification of Range and | |
| Pasture Plants | 1 | |
| AGRON 660 | Range Research Techniques | 3 |
| AGRON 670 | Range Management Problems | 3 |
| AGRON 681 | Range Ecology | 3 |
| AGRON 762 | Range Grasses | 2 |
| AGRON 790 | Range Management Planning | 3 |
| ASI 102 | Principles of Animal Science | 3 |
| ASI 515 | Beef Science | 3 |
| AGEC 120 | Agricultural Econ/Agribusiness | 3 |
| or | ||
| ECON 120 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Math or statistics elective | 3 | |
| Electives | 14-17 | |
| Plant science and biotechnology option | ||
| AGEC 120 | Agricultural Econ/Agribusiness | 3 |
| AGEC 415 | The Global Agricultural Economy, Hunger, and Poverty | 3 |
| AGRON 330 | Weed Science | 3 |
| AGRON 360 | Crop Growth and Development | 3 |
| AGRON 375 | Soil Fertility | 3 |
| AGRON 610 | Biotechnology | 3 |
| AGRON 630 | Crop Improvement and Biotechnology | 3 |
| Agronomy electives | 9 | |
| PLPTH 500 | Plant Pathology | 3 |
| ASI 500 | Genetics | 3 |
| or | ||
| BIOL 450 | Modern Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 500 | Plant Physiology | 4 |
| CHM 350 | General Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| STAT 340 | Biometrics | 3 |
| MATH 150 | Plane Trigonometry | 3 |
| PHYS 114 | General Physics II | 4 |
| or | ||
| PHYS 115 | Descriptive Physics | 5 |
| ENTOM 300 | Economic Entomology | 3 |
| Electives | 12-13 | |
| Plus 12 credit hours from the following courses: | ||
| AGRON 770 | Plant Genetics | 3 |
| BIOCH 521 | General Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOL 529 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 675 | Genetics of Microorganisms | 3 |
| BIOL 676 | Molecular Genetics Lab | 3 |
| ENTOM 745 | Plant Resistance to Insects | 2 |
| MATH 220 | Analytical Geometry and Calculus | 4 |
| PHYS 114 | General Physics II | 4 |
| PLPTH 635 | Introduction to Plant Resistance to Pests | 2 |
| PLPTH 585 | Crop Diseases | 2 |
| PLPTH 755 | Plant Resistance to Diseases | 1 |
| Soil and environmental science option | ||
| MATH 150 | Plane Trigonometry | 3 |
| STAT 340 | Biometrics I | 3 |
| GEOL 100 | Earth in Action | 3 |
| GEOL 103 | Geology Laboratory | 1 |
| AGEC 525 | Natural Resources Environmental | |
| Economics | 3 | |
| AGEC 120 | Agricultural Econ/Agribusiness | 3 |
| or | ||
| ECON 120 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| AGRON 335 | Environmental Quality | 3 |
| AGRON 360 | Crop Growth and Development | 3 |
| AGRON 375 | Soil Fertility | 3 |
| AGRON 385 | Soil Fertility Lab | 2 |
| AGRON 515 | Soil Genesis and Classification | 3 |
| AGRON 605 | Soil and Environmental Chemistry | 3 |
| AGRON 635 | Soil Conservation and Management | 3 |
| AGRON 645 | Soil Microbiology | 4 |
| AGRON 646 | Soil Microbiology Lab | 1 |
| AGRON 746 | Physical Properties of Soils | 3 |
| One of the following: | ||
| HIST 511 | Environmental History | 3 |
| ANTH 260 | Introduction to Archaeology | 3 |
| SOCIO 536 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| Four of the following courses: | ||
| AGRON 655 | Site Specific Agriculture | 3 |
| ATM 661 | Water and Waste in the Environment | 3 |
| BAE 533 | Applied Hydrology | 3 |
| BIOCH 521 | General Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOL 500 | Plant Physiology | 4 |
| BIOL 529 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 3 |
| CHM 371 | Chemical Analysis | 4 |
| FOR 375 | Introduction to Natural Resource Management | 3 |
| GEOG 508 | Fundamentals of GIS | 3 |
| GEOG 535 | Fundamentals of Climatology | 3 |
| GEOG 705 | Remote Sensing Environment | 3 |
| GEOG 725 | Geography of Water Resources | 3 |
| GEOL 506 | Geology and Environment | 3 |
| GEOL 520 | Geomorphology | 2 |
| MATH 220 | Analytical Geometry and Calculus | 4 |
| PHYS 114 | General Physics | 4 |
| Electives | 12-18 | |
| Denotes university general education courses. | ||
Research center, laboratory, and greenhouse facilities are used by the Department of Agronomy for both research and instruction.
Agronomy minor
Students enrolled in any primary undergraduate major will be admitted as a candidate for the agronomy minor program upon filing a notice of intent with the department's teaching office. Admission must be completed prior to enrollment in the final 9 hours of course work to receive certification of the minor. Upon filing for admission, an agronomy advisor will be assigned to assist students in selecting course work.
To earn an undergraduate minor in agronomy, students are required to complete 16 or 17 credit hours consisting of the following courses:
| AGRON 305 | Soils | 4 |
| AGRON 220 | Crop Science | 4 |
| or | ||
| AGRON 501 | Range Management | 3 |
An additional 9 hours of agronomy courses numbered 300 or greater selected by the student in consultation with an agronomy advisor.
Agronomy courses
AGRON 220. Crop Science. (4) I, II. Principles underlying practices used in the culture of corn, grain sorghum, wheat, and soybeans. A basic course for majors in agronomy and others interested in crop production. Three hours lec. and two hours lab a week. Not open to students with credit in HORT 201.
AGRON 305. Soils. (4) I, II. Fundamental chemical, physical, and biological properties of soils; their formation, fertility, and management. Three hours lec. and two hours lab a week. Pr.: CHM 110 or 210.
AGRON 320. Seed Technology. (3) II. An introductory course to prepare students for the anticipated expansion of the seed industry resulting from the impact of biotechnology and identity preservation. Basic concepts of seed quality, purity, vigor testing, and quality assurance will be emphasized. Two hours lec. and two hours lab a week.
AGRON 330. Weed Science. (3) I, II. For those interested in crop production, crop protection, and agricultural education. Considers the origin of weeds, their relations to crops, and control systems emphasizing cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical practices. Includes weed identification. Two hours lec. and two hours lab a week. Pr.: AGRON 220.
AGRON 335. Environmental Quality. (3) I. An examination and survey of topics in environmental quality. Includes classification of soil, air, and water pollutants and their interaction with the environment, including the human food chain. Discussion of remediation techniques, risk assessment, and environmental legislation. Three lectures a week. Pr.: CHM 110 or 210.
AGRON 340. Grain Grading. (2) I, II. Procedures for grading grains, emphasizing soybeans, corn, wheat, and sorghum. Identification and evaluation of kernel damage and other conditions determining grades of these grains. Four hours lab a week.
AGRON 350. Plant and Seed Identification. (2) II. Identification of crops and weeds by seed and vegetative characteristics. Analysis of seed samples for impurities. Four hours lab a week.
AGRON 360. Crop Growth and Development. (3) I. Comparative growth and development of warm- and cool-season monocot and dicot crops. Environmental influences on growth and development processes and management techniques to minimize stresses. Three lec. a week. Pr.: AGRON 220 and 305.
AGRON 375. Soil Fertility. (3) II. Detailed information on the plant nutrition, soil fertility, and fertilizer management of the essential macro- and micronutrients. The influence of numerous soil biological, physical, and chemical properties on plant nutrient availability to crops will be emphasized. Three hours rec. a week. Pr.: AGRON 220 and 305.
AGRON 385. Soil Fertility Laboratory. (2) II. Detailed information on (1) the chemical methods utilized in routine soil testing and plant analysis, (2) field soil sampling techniques, (3) fertilizer recommendations, and (4) fertilizer response functions. Soil chemistry and computer laboratory exercises are designed to reinforce the theoretical principles presented in lectures. One hour lec. and two hours lab a week. Pr.: AGRON 375 or conc. enrollment.
AGRON 400. Undergraduate Topics in Agronomy. (1-3) I, II, S. Special topics in agronomy not completely treated in other courses. Pr.: Consent of instructor.
AGRON 405. Internship in Agronomy. (0-3) I, S. Intern programs in various areas of agronomy. One hour credit for each four weeks of supervised and evaluated work experience with cooperating employers. A maximum of 3 hours may be applied to the major in agronomy. May be repeated once if second internship is different from the first. Pr.: AGRON 220 and 305.
AGRON 415. Soils Judging. (0 or 1) I and II. Techniques employed in writing descriptions of soil morphology and in classifying soils for intercollegiate soils judging. Six hours lab a week for the first half of the semester. Pr.: AGRON 305. May be repeated to a maximum of 3 hours for credit.
AGRON 420. Field Course in Weed Science. (1) II. A laboratory and field course pertaining to weed identification, sprayer calibration, herbicide action, and herbicide performance. Pr.: AGRON 330 or equiv.
AGRON 450. Crops Team. (2) I. Grain grading, seed and plant identification, and seed analysis. Studies lead to participation in intercollegiate crops contest. Four hours lab per week.
AGRON 455. Computer Applications in Agronomy. (3) I, II. Application of computer technology to plant and soil science. Emphasis on use of current software in managing data and knowledge useful to crop production. Three hours lec. a week. Pr.: AGRON 220 and 305.
AGRON 501. Range Management. (3) I. Fundamental ecological principles of production, conservation, and use of grasslands. Application of these fundamental principles to range management. Three hours rec. a week.
AGRON 515. Soil Genesis and Classification. (3) II. Factors and processes of soil formation, classification of soils according to soil taxonomy, and use of soil survey information. Practical field experience describing soil properties. Required field trips. Two hours rec. and three hours lab a week. Recommended pr.: GEOL 100 or AGRON 305.
AGRON 550. Forage Management and Utilization. (3) II. Production and utilization of forage crops. Development of forage programs for livestock production, including pasture and stored forages. Three hours rec. a week. Recommended pr.: AGRON 220 and junior standing.
AGRON 551. Forage Management and Utilization Laboratory. (1) II. Identification of forage species, techniques for estimating forage quality, forage physiology, and field trips. One two-hour lab a week. Pr.: Completion of or conc. enrollment in AGRON 550.
AGRON 560. Field Identification of Range and Pasture Plants. (1) I, in odd years. Identification of range pasture plants through exposure to them in their natural environment.
AGRON 599. Agronomy—The Profession. (1) II. An overview of opportunities, responsibilities, and challenges for the professional agronomist. Discussion of current topics and important issues in crops and soils, range management, and soil and water resources.
Undergraduate and graduate credit
AGRON 600. Crop Problems. (Var.) I, II, S. Studies may be chosen in: genetics, crop improvement, forages, ecology, weed control, plant physiology, or crop production.
AGRON 605. Soil and Environmental Chemistry. (3) II. A study of inorganic and organic chemistry of soils with a detailed examination of the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases. Includes discussions of mineral solubility, electrochemical and adsorption phenomena, acidity, salinity, and fertility. Emphasis is placed on the biogeochemical cycling of plant nutrients and important soil contaminants. Three hours rec. a week. Pr.: AGRON 375 or AGRON 305 and CHM 230.
AGRON 610. Biotechnology. (3) II, in odd years. The use of biotechnology and molecular genetic approaches in plant and animal sciences. Emphasis is on the use of molecular techniques for plant and animal improvement. Three hours lectures per week. Pr.: ASI 500. Cross-referenced as PLPTH 610.
AGRON 615. Soil Problems. (Var.) I, II, S. Studies may be chosen in: chemistry, physics, conservation, fertility, genesis, morphology, or classification.
AGRON 630. Crop Improvement and Biotechnology. (3) II. Techniques in basic plant breeding and biotechnology used to genetically improve crops and procedures to increase, distribute, and maintain breeding stocks and varieties. Two hours lec. and one two-hour lab a week. Pr.: AGRON 220 and ASI 500.
AGRON 635. Soil Conservation and Management. (3) I. Principles, mechanics, and prediction of water and wind erosion. Influence of soil erosion on soil productivity and environmental quality. Conservation management technologies for erosion control and sustaining soil productivity. Legislation and land-use planning for soil conservation. Course requires microcomputer skills. Two hours rec. and 1 three-hour lab a week. Pr.: AGRON 305.
AGRON 640. Cropping Systems. (3) I. Principles for developing and managing cropping systems in the Great Plains for the efficient use of natural resources, primarily water. Emphasis on dryland cropping systems, management of crop rotations, and the plant/soil/environment interaction. Includes the efficient use of natural resources via an understanding of yield limiting factors, impact of crop rotations and cultural practices, climate, plant growth, and development. Three hours rec. a week. Pr.: AGRON 375 or conc.
AGRON 645. Soil Microbiology. (3) I. The nature and function of soil microorganisms in the soil ecosystem. The role of soil microbial activity to soil organic matter, mineral transformations, plant nutrition, and environmental quality. Three hours rec. a week. Pr.: AGRON 305 or BIOL 455.
AGRON 646. Soil Microbiology Laboratory. (1) I. Discuss and perform laboratory procedures for enumerat- ing soil microorganisms, quantifying soil biological activities, and nutrient cycling. Three hours lab a week. Pr.: AGRON 645 or conc. enrollment.
AGRON 650. Integrated Weed Management. (3) II. The development of weed management systems based on diagnosis of weed and crop problems, understanding crop-weed associations and interactions with the environment, and integrating weed control tactics such as chemical, biological, cultural, and mechanical practices into recommendations. Three hours rec. a week. Pr.: AGRON 330.
AGRON 655. Site Specific Agriculture. (3) II. Introduction to spatial analysis and management of agricultural and environmental resources using geographic information systems (GIS) technology. Emphasis on collecting, displaying, and analyzing spatial or georeferenced soil, crop, or other land surface data. Two hours lecture, two hours lab, and one hour by appointment per week. Pr.: AGRON 220 and 305 and GEOG 508.
AGRON 660. Range Research Techniques. (2) I, in even years. Theory in rangeland sampling techniques including the proper number, shape, and size of plots. Methods for determination of plant biomass, cover, frequency, and density. Procedures for measurement of forage quality and utilization. Use of statistical techniques for sampling, analysis, and presentation of data. Meets during the first half of the semester. Three hours rec. and one two-hour lab a week. Pr.: AGRON 501 and STAT 340.
AGRON 670. Range Management Problems. (Var.) I, II, S.
AGRON 681. Range Ecology. (3) II, in even years. Application of ecological principles to range ecosystem management. Study of plant-soil-animal interactions with rangelands, and discussion of plant succession, environmental influences, and ecological concepts. Two hours rec. a week and one lab credit consisting of field trips to representative range areas. Pr.: AGRON 501 and BIOL 529.
AGRON 746. Physical Properties of Soils. (3) II. The properties of soils as affected by their physical environment, including water content, water potential, temperature, aeration, flocculation-dispersion, and soil compaction. Three hours rec. a week. Pr.: AGRON 305.
AGRON 762. Range Grasses. (2) I, in even years. Field and laboratory study of range and pasture plants, with special emphasis on grasses and their distinguishing characteristics. One hour rec. and two hours lab a week. Pr.: BIOL 198 or 210.
AGRON 770. Plant Genetics. (3) I. Concepts and application of basic genetic principles in higher plants. Probability, linkage, chromosome aberrations, aneuploidy analysis, gene transfer in wide crosses, tissue culture and crop improvement, and genetics of disease resistance. Three hours rec. a week. Pr.: ASI 500.
AGRON 790. Range Management Planning. (3) II, in odd years. Inventory and analysis of rangeland resources and development of detailed management plan. Emphasizes range management principles and practices useful in maximizing production from rangelands. Two hours rec. a week and one lab credit including field trips to ranch operations. Pr.: AGRON 501.