Advanced Soil Fertility

1. Define soil fertility and its importance for plant growth.
2. Classify soil types and identify their characteristics.
3. Explain the roles of essential nutrients in plant development.
4. Evaluate soil fertility using various methods.
5. Apply appropriate soil management practices to maintain soil fertility.
6. Understand the impact of soil acidity and alkalinity on plant growth.

13 weeks, about 50 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: Soils and Soil Fertility

   • Unit 1: What is Soil? · 2 hours

     Read the unit content to understand the definition of soil.. Identify the major components of soil: air, water, mineral matter, and organic matter.. Explain the five important functions of soil in soil fertility..

   • Unit 2: Types of Soil in the Nigerian Savanna · 2 hours

     Study the four major soil types in the Nigerian savanna region: Entisols/Inceptisols, Alfisols/Luvisols, Ultisols/Acrisols, and Vertisols.. Differentiate the soil types based on their features and characteristics.. Understand the soil management practices for efficient use of each soil type..

2. Week 2Module 1: Soils and Soil Fertility

   • Unit 3: What is Soil Fertility? · 2 hours

     Define soil fertility and understand its importance in plant growth.. Discuss the benefits of soil fertility for food quality and overall health.. Explain the factors that affect the fertility of soil, including pH, climate, and soil organic matter..

   • Unit 4: Relationship between Soil and Soil Fertility · 2 hours

     Explain the relationship between soil and soil fertility.. Understand the role of soil as a natural nutrient medium for crop growth.. Discuss how soil fertility enhances good crop quality and production..

3. Week 3Module 1: Soils and Soil Fertility

   • Unit 5: Importance of Soil Fertility in Agriculture · 2 hours

     Explain the importance of soil fertility in agricultural production.. Discuss the role of soil organic matter in soil fertility.. Explain how to maintain soil organic matter levels for sustainable production..

   • Unit 6: What is Soil Productivity? · 2 hours

     Define soil productivity and differentiate it from soil fertility.. Describe the factors that affect soil productivity, including climate, vegetation, and management activities.. Understand the relationship between soil fertility, environmental factors, and management practices in achieving soil productivity..

4. Week 4Module 2: Essential Soil Nutrient Elements in Soil Fertility

   • Unit 1: Essentiality of Nutrient Elements, Classification and their Forms in Soil · 2 hours

     Define nutrient element and classify them based on source, usage, and physiological and biochemical behavior.. State the criteria for considering a nutrient element as essential.. Discuss the various forms of nutrient elements in soil..

   • Unit 2: Roles, Deficiency Symptoms, Toxicity and Correction of Nutrient Elements in Plants · 2 hours

     Explain macronutrients and their roles in plant growth.. Discuss the role, deficiency symptoms, toxicity, and corrective measures of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P).. Explain micronutrients and their roles in plant growth..

5. Week 5Module 2: Essential Soil Nutrient Elements in Soil Fertility

   • Unit 3: Movement of Nutrient Elements in Soil · 2 hours

     State how nutrient elements move to the root surface through root interception, mass flow, and diffusion.. Understand the process of nutrient transport from the root to the plant through xylem and phloem tissues..

   • Unit 4: Factors Affecting Essential Nutrient Elements Availability in Soil · 2 hours

     Identify various factors affecting nutrient element availability in the soil, including soil temperature, moisture, pH, and root density.. Discuss how these factors influence the uptake of nutrients by plants..

6. Week 6Module 3: Soil Acidity and Basicity in Soil Fertility

   • Unit 1: Soil Acidity · 2 hours

     Define soil acidity and list the sources of soil acidity.. Explain the causes and factors affecting soil acidity.. Discuss the effects of soil acidity on crops and soils, and explain ways to correct soil acidity..

   • Unit 2: Liming and Liming Materials · 2 hours

     Explain lime and liming, and list the various liming materials.. Discuss the benefits of lime in improving soil fertility.. Describe factors determining liming programs and how to determine liming requirements..

7. Week 7Module 3: Soil Acidity and Basicity in Soil Fertility

   • Unit 3: Soil Alkalinity (Basicity) · 2 hours

     Explain alkalinity and alkaline soil, and discuss the causes of soil alkalinity.. Explain the sources of soil alkalinity and state the factors affecting alkalinity of soils.. Describe the characteristics of an alkaline soil and explain the problems associated with soil alkalinity..

   • Unit 4: Salinity and Sodicity · 2 hours

     Define soil salinity and soil sodicity.. Describe how to measure salinity and sodicity of a soil.. Explain the effect of salt-affected soils on plants.. Discuss how to reclaim a Saline, Saline-Sodic and Sodic soil..

8. Week 8Module 4: Soil Fertility Evaluation

   • Unit 1: What is Soil Fertility Evaluation? · 2 hours

     Explain soil fertility evaluation and its importance.. State the difference between soil fertility and soil fertility evaluation.. Discuss how to determine if a soil is fertile based on soil parameters..

   • Unit 2: Approaches / Ways to Soil Fertility Evaluation · 2 hours

     State the various approaches in fertility evaluation, including soil testing, plant analysis, and missing element technique.. Explain the steps involved in each approach and their benefits and limitations..

9. Week 9Module 4: Soil Fertility Evaluation

   • Unit 3: Factors Affecting Soil Fertility Evaluation · 2 hours

     Identify the various factors that affect soil fertility evaluation, such as lack of experience, time of analysis, and variability in soil samples.. List the factors affecting soil fertility evaluation and their impact on interpretation and recommendations..

   • Unit 4: Maintenance of Soil Fertility · 2 hours

     Discuss the characteristics of tropical soils and how to manage them.. Explain the benefits of soil organic matter in soil fertility improvement and maintenance.. Describe the role of microorganisms in soil fertility maintenance..

10. Week 10Module 5: Soil Fertility Management Practices

    • Unit 1: Soil and Crop Productivity · 2 hours

      Explain how crops and soil productivity can be sustained, maintained, or enhanced.. Understand the importance of soil conservation and good soil management practices.. Discuss the adoption of agronomic technologies to increase crop productivity..

    • Unit 2: Irrigation · 2 hours

      Define irrigation and explain its importance in agriculture.. State the various types of irrigation systems and discuss the advantages of using irrigation.. Understand the problems associated with irrigation and how to address them..

11. Week 11Module 5: Soil Fertility Management Practices

    • Unit 3: Soil Tillage · 2 hours

      Define soil tillage and discuss its advantages and disadvantages.. Explain and differentiate the types of tillage, including clean tillage, conservation tillage, and zero tillage.. Understand the effects of tillage on surface residues, soil loss, temperature, moisture, and microbial activity..

    • Unit 4: Organic Matter in Soil · 2 hours

      Define soil organic matter and justify its importance in productivity.. Explain the rate of decomposition of soil organic matter under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.. Discuss how to maintain soil organic matter for sustainable farming..

12. Week 12Module 5: Soil Fertility Management Practices

    • Unit 5: Rotation and Continuous Cropping · 2 hours

      Differentiate between rotation and continuous cropping.. Discuss the effects of both rotation and continuous cropping on soil fertility and crop productivity.. Understand the benefits of crop rotation in improving nutrient cycling and protecting soils from erosion..

    • Unit 6: Animal Manure · 2 hours

      Explain what animal manure is and identify their sources.. Discuss the benefits, management, and storage of animal manure in improving soil fertility.. Understand the importance of proper handling and disposal of animal manures to prevent environmental contamination..

13. Week 13Module 5: Soil Fertility Management Practices

    • Unit 7: Green Manure / Cover Cropping · 2 hours

      Explain what green manure and cover crops are.. Discuss their importance to crop production, including increasing available nitrogen, moisture retention, and soil organic matter.. Understand the role of green manure and cover crops in sustainable cropping systems..