Introduction To Soil Chemistry, Fertility And Microbiology
- Agricultural Sciences
- 300 level
- 3 credit units
- 96 pages
- 35 units
This course introduces the basic concepts of soil chemistry, fertility, and microbiology. It covers soil phases, cation exchange capacity, soil acidity, nutrient movement, and uptake mechanisms. Students will learn about essential nutrient availability, microorganisms in soil, and their roles in plant growth. The course also explores nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics, and the importance of organic matter in soil.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 150 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical
- Practical work
- No
- SLM 201 (Principles of Soil Science)
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of SLM305, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
- UNIT 1: SOIL COMPOSITIONPage 8
- MODULE 2Page 9
- MODULE 2Page 11
- UNIT 2: FACTORS AFFECTING THE ABILITY OF THE SOIL TO SUPPLY NUTRIENTS IN AVAILABLE FORMSPage 13
- MODULE 2Page 15
- UNIT 3 AVAILABILITY OF NITROGENPage 17
- UNIT 4 AVAILABILITY OF PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUMPage 19
- MODULE 2Page 21
- UNIT 5: BORON (B) AND IRON (Fe)Page 24
- MODULE 2Page 25
- UNIT 6: MANGANESE AND MOLYBDENUMPage 27
- MODULE 2Page 29
- UNIT 7: AVAILABILITY OF ZINC, COPPER, CHLORINE AND SODIUMPage 30
- MODULE 2Page 31
- UNIT 8 THE ION EXCHANGE PHENOMENONPage 33
- UNIT 9: CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY (CEC), ANION EXCHANGE CAPACITY (AEC), BASE SATURATION, FLOCCULATION, AND DISPERSIONPage 35
- MODULE 2Page 37
- UNIT 10: BUFFERING CAPACITY, SOIL SALINITY, ALKALINITY AND SODICTYPage 40
- UNIT 11: SOIL REACTION AND LIME REQUIREMENTPage 44
- UNIT 12 ADSORPTION/DESORPTIONPage 47
- MODULE 2Page 49
- UNIT 13 NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY PLANT ROOTSPage 52
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
SLM305 · MODULE 1
The biological population of the soil, especially the microbial population, plays a vital role in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrient elements such as C, N, P and S, and hence, in the regulation of soil fertility. However, the activities of macro and microorganism in the soils are regulated by soil chemistry properties.
What you should be able to do
- Define soil chemistry, fertility, and microbiology.
- Explain the factors affecting nutrient availability in soils.
- Describe the roles of microorganisms in soil processes.
- Discuss the importance of soil organic matter.
- Explain the principles of ion exchange and buffering capacity.
What it prepares you for
- Agronomist
- Soil Scientist
- Environmental Consultant
- Agricultural Extension Officer
- Farm Manager
- Agriculture
- Environmental Management
- Horticulture
- Land Management
- Research
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 8: The Ion Exchange Phenomenon
Understanding the equilibrium reactions and their impact on nutrient availability requires a strong foundation in chemistry principles.
- Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 11: Soil Reaction and Lime Requirement
Calculating lime requirements involves understanding soil buffering capacity and complex chemical reactions.
- Module 3: Soil Microorganisms
Unit 5: Reactions of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Soil
Requires understanding of microbial metabolic pathways and their impact on nutrient transformations.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 68 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Soil Chemistry and its Relation to Other Fields of Science
Unit 1: Meaning of Soil Chemistry · 3 hours
Define soil chemistry and its importance.. Explain the relationship between soil chemistry and other fields of science..
Unit 2: Relationship between Soil Chemistry, Water Chemistry and Pollution Science · 3 hours
Explain the relationship between soil chemistry, water chemistry, and pollution science.. Discuss the significance of soil chemistry in environmental science..
- Week 2Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 1: Soil Composition · 3 hours
Identify the components of soil.. Explain the factors affecting soil composition..
Unit 2: Factors Affecting the Ability of the Soil to Supply Nutrients in Available Forms · 3 hours
Discuss the factors affecting the ability of the soil to supply nutrients in available forms, such as pH, inorganic reactions, and organic matter..
- Week 3Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 3: Availability of Nitrogen · 4 hours
Explain symbiotic nitrogen fixation.. Discuss the impact of microbial and plant C:N ratio on nitrogen availability..
- Week 4Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 4: Availability of Phosphorus and Potassium · 4 hours
Discuss the factors affecting phosphorus availability, including clay content, pH, and organic matter.. Explain the factors affecting potassium availability, including clay type and moisture..
- Week 5Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 5: Boron (B) and Iron (Fe) · 4 hours
Explain the factors influencing boron availability, such as organic matter content and soil pH.. Discuss the factors affecting iron availability, including soil pH and nutrient interactions..
- Week 6Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 6: Manganese and Molybdenum · 4 hours
Discuss the factors affecting manganese availability, including organic matter and soil pH.. Explain the factors affecting molybdenum availability, such as soil pH and texture..
- Week 7Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 7: Availability of Zinc, Copper, Chlorine and Sodium · 4 hours
Discuss the factors affecting the availability of zinc and copper.. Explain the roles of chlorine and sodium in plant nutrition..
- Week 8Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 8: The Ion Exchange Phenomenon · 4 hours
Explain the ion exchange phenomenon.. Describe the cation exchange process and its importance in nutrient availability..
- Week 9Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 9: Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), Anion Exchange Capacity (AEC), Base Saturation, Flocculation, and Dispersion · 4 hours
Define cation exchange capacity (CEC) and anion exchange capacity (AEC).. Explain base saturation, flocculation, and dispersion..
- Week 10Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 10: Buffering Capacity, Soil Salinity, Alkalinity and Sodicty · 4 hours
Explain buffering capacity, soil salinity, alkalinity, and sodicity.. Discuss the causes and effects of soil salinity..
- Week 11Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 11: Soil Reaction and Lime Requirement · 4 hours
Discuss soil reaction and lime requirement.. Explain the importance of soil pH in crop production..
- Week 12Module 2: Soil Chemistry/Fertility
Unit 12: Adsorption/Desorption · 4 hours
Explain the processes of adsorption and desorption.. Discuss the forces of adsorption..
Unit 13: Nutrient Uptake by Plant Roots · 4 hours
Describe the mechanisms of nutrient uptake by plant roots, including root interception, mass flow, and diffusion..
- Week 13Module 4: Soil Organic Matter
Unit 1: Soil Organisms · 6 hours
Classify soil microorganisms based on physiology, respiration, and origin.. Discuss the roles of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, and algae in soil processes..
Unit 2: The Role of Organic Matter in Tropical Soils · 6 hours
Explain the reactions of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil.. Discuss the importance of soil organic matter in tropical soils..
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking soil pH to nutrient availability (Units 3-7).
- Practice calculating cation exchange capacity (CEC) using example soil data (Unit 9).
- Review the roles of key soil microorganisms in nutrient cycling (Module 3).
- Summarize the different types of soil organic matter and their benefits (Module 4).
- Focus on understanding the key soil reactions affecting nitrogen and phosphorus (Unit 5 in Module 3).
Questions students ask about this course
What is SLM305 about?
This course introduces the basic concepts of soil chemistry, fertility, and microbiology. It covers soil phases, cation exchange capacity, soil acidity, nutrient movement, and uptake mechanisms. Students will learn about essential nutrient availability, microorganisms in soil, and their roles in plant growth. The course also explores nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics, and the importance of organic matter in soil.
How many units does SLM305 have?
SLM305, Introduction To Soil Chemistry, Fertility And Microbiology, has 35 units across 4 modules, over 96 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is SLM305?
SLM305 carries 3 credit units, at 300 level in Agricultural Sciences.
Is SLM305 hard?
SLM305 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical work.
How long does SLM305 take to study?
About 150 hours of study, spread across its 35 units.
How is SLM305 assessed?
SLM305 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What do I need before starting SLM305?
SLM 201 (Principles of Soil Science)
What can I do with SLM305?
Agronomist, Soil Scientist, Environmental Consultant, Agricultural Extension Officer and Farm Manager.