i. Course Title: SS 201 – Fundamentals of Soil Science
ii. Course Aim: the course is aimed at imparting students with understanding and skills on fundamentals of soil science
iii. Course expected Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
• Appreciate soil as composed of different components and their global proportions
• Understand the physical, chemical and biological compositions of the soil and concepts relating to soil functions.
• Understand the characteristics that render soils to be problematic from the view point of plant growth and soil management.
• Determine practically some Physical and chemical soil characteristics.
iv. Course status: Core/Elective
v. Credit ratings: 10 Credits
vi. Total hours Spent: 90 hours
Lecture 40hrs
Tutorial 10hrs
Assignments 10 hrs
Practical 30hrs
Independent study 20 hours
Pre-requisite: None
vii. Course contents:
Introduction to soils and the components of soils. Physical properties of soils: Soil texture; Soil structure; Soil consistence; Soil pore system; Soil temperature; bulk and particle density; Soil tilth; and Soil colour. Soil water relationships: Energy concept of soil water; Water movement; Concepts of soil water availability. Chemical properties of soils: Soil colloids; structure of silicate clays; ion exchange and nutrient availability. Soil reaction: Sources of soil acidity and alkalinity; Concept of sodicity and salinity; management of acid and salt affected soils. Soil organisms: Micro and macro organisms in soils; types and importance of soil micro and macro organisms; organic matter transformation.
Practical Skills:
Determination and interpretation of soil texture, soil structure, soil and bulky density; Determination and interpretation of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable bases and extractable micronutrients
i. Teaching and learning activities
The teaching methods to be used are divided into three broad categories – mass-instruction methods, student-centered learning methods based on individualized study, and group-learning methods.
• Mass-instruction techniques: including but not limited to lectures and similar expository techniques like seminars and workshops; and mass practical work;
• Individualized-learning techniques: including directed study of material in textbooks, paper-based self-study materials, self-instruction via mediated materials, computer-based learning and multimedia, individual assignments, projects, and individual practical work;
• Group-learning techniques: including buzz sessions and similar small-group activities; class discussions, seminars, group tutorials; participative exercises of the game/simulation/case study type; mediated feedback/discussion sessions; group projects and self-help groups.
ii. Assessment Methods
Formative and summative assessments for learners shall be used.
• Assignments, Seminar presentations, Seminar reports, Practical reports, Practical tests, Quizzes, Theory tests, University Exam
iii. Reading List:
Brady, N.C. and Weil, R.R. (2008). The Nature and Properties of Soils, 14th Edition. Pearson Prentice-Hall Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, USA. Pages:978.
Hillel, D. (1982). Introduction to Soil Physics. Academic Press Ltd 24-28 Oval Road, London NW1 7DX, ISBN0-12-348520-7
Page, A.L., Miller, R.H. and Keeny, D.R. (Editors) (1982). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2 – Chemical and Microbiological Properties. 2nd Edition. ASA/SSSA, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin,USA.
Kosmulski, M. and Saneluta, C. (2004). ‘Point of zero charge/isoelectric point of exotic oxides: Tl2O3’, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 280(2):544–545.
Jara, A.A., Goldberg, S. and Mora, M.L. (2005). ‘Studies of the surface charge of amorphous aluminosilicates using surface complexation models’, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science,292(1):160–170.
Russel, W.B., Saville, D.A. and Schowalter, W.R. (1992). “Colloidal Dispersions”, Cambridge University Press, ISBN0-521-42600-6