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To impart knowledge to the students on the Fundamentals of Soil Science and impart skills in collecting and analyzing soils for basic physical, physico-chemical and chemical properties for using it as a medium for plant growth.
By the end of the course, the B.Sc.(Ag) students will be able to
i.Understand the fundamentals and principles of Soil Science
ii. Explain how different soils are formed and how does soils act as a medium for plant growth.
iii. Explain soils of India and Land use capability, soil pollution and its effect on crop and mitigation of soil pollution
iv. Analyze the soils for basic physical, physico-chemical &chemical properties.
THEORY
MODULE I : Session 1-5
Soil as a natural body, Pedological and edaphological concepts of soil. Components of soil. Soil genesis: Composition of Earth's crust- soil forming rocks and minerals – Primary and secondary minerals. Weathering of rocks and minerals. Factors of soil formation. Soil forming processes. Soil Profile.
MODULE II: Session 6-14
Soil physical properties: Soil texture, structure, density and porosity, soil colour, consistence and plasticity. Soil water retention, movement and availability. Soil air, composition, gaseous exchange-problem and its effect on crop growth. Source, amount and flow of heat in soil, Soil temperature and crop growth.
MODULE III: Session 15-18
Soil physico chemical and chemical properties: Soil reaction-pH, soil acidity and alkalinity, buffering, effect of pH on nutrient availability. Electrical conductivity. Soil colloids - inorganic and organic. Silicate clays: constitution and properties, sources of charge, ion exchange, cation and anion exchange capacity and base saturation.
MODULE IV: Session 19-20
Soil organic matter: composition, properties and its influence on soil properties. Humic substances - nature and properties. Soil Biology : Soil organisms : macro and micro organisms, their beneficial and harmful effects. Soil enzymes.
MODULE V : Session 21-25
Elementary knowledge of soil taxonomy, classification and soils of India - Soil pollution – Types and behaviour of pesticides. Inorganic contaminants. Prevention and mitigation of soil pollution.
PRACTICAL SCHEDULE : EX No.1-11
Study of soil profile in field. Study of soil sampling tools, collection of representative soil sample, its processing and storage. Study of soil forming rocks and minerals. Determination of soil density, moisture content and porosity. Determination of soil colour. Determination of soil texture by feel and Bouyoucos Methods. Studies of capillary rise phenomenon of water in soil column and water movement in soil. Demonstration of heat transfer in soil. Preparation and standardization of laboratory reagents, indicators and buffers. Determination of soil pH and electrical conductivity. Determination of cation exchange capacity of soil. Estimation of organic matter content of soil. Study of soil map.
References :
1. Indian Society of Soil Science. 2012. Fundamentals of Soil Science, IARI, New Delhi.
2. Das, D. K .2015. Introductory Soil Science, 4 th Edition, Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi
3. Sehgal, J. 2015. A Text Book of Pedology – Concepts and Applications, Kalyani publishers, New Delhi.
Session 1:
Soil as a natural body, Pedological and edaphological concepts of soil -Components of soil-Soil genesis-Composition of Earth's crust
Session: 2
Rocks- classification -Minerals – Primary, secondary, essential and accessory minerals – Primary minerals-weatherability of primary minerals-Non-silicate minerals
Session: 3
Weathering – Types of weathering – Physical weathering of rocks – Agents of physical weathering and their role- Biological weathering – Role of flora and fauna in weathering process-Chemical weathering – Solution, hydration, hydrolysis, carbonation, oxidation and reduction
Session: 4
Factors of soil formation-Soil forming processes
Session: 5
Soil profile
Session 6
Soil physical properties: Soil Texture
Session: 7
Soil Structure
Session: 8
Soil density, crusting and tillage
Session: 9
Soil porosity and Soil consistency
Session: 10
Soil water-properties, classification Soil water potential -Hysteresis
Session: 11
Movement of soil water
Session: 12
Soil moisture constants and measuring techniques
Session: 13
Soil air
Session: 14
soil Temperature
Session: 15
pH and nutrient availability
Session: 16
Soil colloids and Secondary or silicate clay minerals
Session: 17
Origin of charge in organic and inorganic colloids
Session: 18
Cation and anion exchange capacity of soils
Session: 19
Soil biology and soil organic matter
Session: 20
Carbon cycle- Biological N fixation-C:N ratio-PGPR
Session: 21
Soil taxonomy and nomeclature
Session: 22
Soil classification-Diagnostic soil horizons-surface and subsurface-soil moisture and temperature regimes
Session: 23
Soil pollution -causes, prevention and mitigation of soil pollution
Session: 24
Behaviour of pesticides and inorganic contaminants
PRACTICALS
EXERCISE 1
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS- PRINCIPLES, TECHNIQUES AND CALCULATIONS
EXERCISE 2
SOIL SAMPLING –TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
EXERCISE 3
DETERMINATION OF BULK DENSITY BY CORE SAMPLER METHOD
EXERCISE 4
DETERMINATION OF SOIL TEXTURE BY BOUYOUCOS HYDROMETER (or) PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS
EXERCISE 5
DESCRIPTION OF SOIL PROFILE IN THE FIELD
EXERCISE 6
DETERMINATION OF INFILTRATION RATE BY DOUBLE RING INFILTROMETER
EXERCISE 7
DETERMINATION OF SOIL TEXTURE BY FEEL METHOD
EXERCISE 8
DETERMINATION OF SOIL REACTION (pH)
EXERCISE 9
DETERMINATION OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY (EC) OF SOIL
EXERCISE 10
DETERMINATION OF SOIL COLOUR BY MUNSELL COLOUR CHART
EXERCISE 11
DETERMINATION OF ORGANIC CARBON IN SOIL BY WALKLEY AND BLACK METHOD
Dr.Pedda Ghouse Peera S.K. holds Ph.D in Soil Science from Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Bapatla and M.Sc(Ag) from TNAU, Coimbatore, having 5+ years of experience in multifaceted fields of agriculture including teaching,extension and in agricultural and rural finance as RDO,SMS and Assistant Professor. He has 20+ research publications , 10+ popular articles in national and international […]