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SOS201Agricultural Sciences2 Unitsintermediate

Principles Of Soil Science

This course provides essential information about soils and their use and management. It familiarizes students with soils as natural units, emphasizing fundamental soil properties and relationships between soils and plants. The course covers soil formation, physical and chemical properties, soil-plant interactions, and sustainable soil management. It also includes soil habitat, processes in the soil environment, and soil-plant nutrients interactions. Students will learn soil and plant analysis and management to maintain soil productivity.

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120h
Study Time
13
Weeks
9h
Per Week
basic
Math Level
Course Keywords
Soil ScienceSoil PropertiesSoil ManagementSoil FertilityPlant Nutrition

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
➕
Math Level
Basic Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Soil Formation

2

Soil Physical Properties

3

Soil Chemical Properties

4

Soil Biology

5

Plant Nutrition

6

Fertilizer Management

7

Soil and Water Conservation

Total Topics7 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Agronomist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Soil Scientist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Farm Manager

Apply your skills in this growing field

Environmental Consultant

Apply your skills in this growing field

Agricultural Extension Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

AgricultureEnvironmental ManagementLand ReclamationFertilizer ProductionSoil Conservation

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: The Soil Habitat

2h

Unit 1: Some Basic Concepts of Soil

2 study hours
  • •Define soil and soil science.
  • •Explain the importance of soil to human life.
  • •List and explain basic soil science terminologies.
  • •Describe the interplay of soil components.
Week
2

Module 1: The Soil Habitat

2h

Unit 2: Origin and Development of Soil (Soil Genesis)

2 study hours
  • •Describe the importance of knowledge of soil origin.
  • •Describe the roles of soil forming factors and their relationships.
  • •Outline the physical and chemical processes in soil formation.
  • •Define soil characteristics with examples.
Week
3

Module 1: The Soil Habitat

2h

Unit 3: Fundamental Concepts of Soil Physics

2 study hours
  • •Describe soil texture and its importance.
  • •Identify the textural class of a soil sample.
  • •Describe soil permeability and related properties.
  • •Explain soil structure, its formation, and importance.
  • •Discuss soil compaction and porosity.
Week
4

Module 1: The Soil Habitat

2h

Unit 4: Soil Classification and Survey

2 study hours
  • •Explain soil classification concepts.
  • •Describe soil classification systems.
  • •Explain how soil surveys are prepared and used.
  • •Describe different types of soil surveys.
Week
5

Module 1: The Soil Habitat

2h

Unit 5: Plant Growth Requirements

2 study hours
  • •Define plant growth.
  • •Describe growth factors and their functions.
  • •Explain how nutrients reach the root surface.
  • •Describe nutrient uptake pathways into root cells.
Week
6

Module 2: Processes in the Soil Environment

2h

Unit 1: Water in the Soil-Plant System

2 study hours
  • •Identify the role of water in plant growth.
  • •Define forces acting on soil water.
  • •Classify types of soil water.
  • •Explain how plants absorb water and nutrients.
  • •Describe how to measure soil water content.
Week
7

Module 2: Processes in the Soil Environment

2h

Unit 2: Soil Aeration and Temperature

2 study hours
  • •Define soil aeration and redox potential.
  • •Distinguish conditions affecting soil air composition.
  • •Describe nutrient transformations in aerobic and anaerobic soils.
  • •Discuss practical applications of redox reactions in agriculture.
  • •Explain effects of soil temperature on plant growth.
Week
8

Module 2: Processes in the Soil Environment

2h

Unit 3: Soil Organic Matter and Soil Organisms

2 study hours
  • •Explain soil organic matter and its formation.
  • •Enumerate the importance of soil organic matter in Nigerian agriculture.
  • •Describe the role of microorganisms in organic matter decomposition.
  • •List ways to maintain soil organic matter.
  • •Describe constraints to maintaining organic matter in Nigerian soils.
Week
9

Module 2: Processes in the Soil Environment

2h

Unit 4: Soil Reaction: Acidity and Alkalinity

2 study hours
  • •Define soil pH and its development.
  • •Describe farm practices affecting soil acidity.
  • •Describe how soil pH affects plant growth.
  • •Explain how to lime or acidify soil.
  • •Describe soil buffering capacity.
  • •Explain methods of determining soil acidity.
Week
10

Module 2: Processes in the Soil Environment

2h

Unit 5: Soil Colloids and Ion Exchange in Soils

2 study hours
  • •Describe colloidal material, ion exchange, and cation exchange capacity.
  • •Outline characteristics of cation exchange reactions.
  • •Calculate exchangeable cations in soils.
  • •Explain laboratory determination of cation exchange capacity.
  • •Enumerate the significance of ion exchange in soil and crop management.
Week
11

Module 3: Soil-Plant Nutrients Interaction

4h

Unit 1: Fertilizers as Agricultural Input

2 study hours
  • •Explain general principles of fertilizer use.
  • •List different types of fertilizers.
  • •Enumerate fertilizer application methods.
  • •Explain important fertilizer calculations.
  • •Identify fertilizer sources and compounds for each nutrient element.

Unit 2: Nitrogen as Plant Nutrient

2 study hours
  • •Describe specific functions of nitrogen as a plant nutrient.
  • •Describe forms of nitrogen compounds in soil.
  • •List ways nitrogen is added to and lost from the soil-plant system.
  • •Describe how nitrogen transformation processes are affected by other factors.
  • •Describe the nitrogen cycle.
Week
12

Module 3: Soil-Plant Nutrients Interaction

4h

Unit 3: Phosphorus Nutrition in Plants

2 study hours
  • •Describe the amount and functions of phosphorus in plants.
  • •Discuss symptoms of phosphorus deficiency and toxicity.
  • •Describe various forms of phosphorus in soil.
  • •Explain phosphorus availability and fixation and factors affecting these processes.
  • •Have knowledge about P-fertilizer carriers.

Unit 4: Potassium Nutrition in Plants

2 study hours
  • •Describe the amount and functions of potassium in plants.
  • •Discuss symptoms of potassium deficiency and toxicity.
  • •Describe various forms of potassium in soil.
  • •Explain potassium availability and fixation and factors affecting these processes.
  • •Have knowledge about K-fertilizer carriers.
Week
13

Module 3: Soil-Plant Nutrients Interaction

2h

Unit 5: Sulphur, Calcium and Magnesium

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the forms and functions of sulphur, calcium, and magnesium in plants.
  • •Explain the forms and reactions of sulphur, calcium, and magnesium in soils.
  • •Identify deficiency symptoms of sulphur, calcium, and magnesium.
  • •Describe analytical methods for available potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
  • •Enumerate major fertilizer materials supplying sulphur, calcium, and magnesium.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review the definitions of key soil science terms and concepts from Unit 1.

2

Create diagrams illustrating the nitrogen cycle and phosphorus cycle.

3

Practice calculating fertilizer application rates based on soil test results.

4

Study the deficiency symptoms of essential plant nutrients and their corresponding corrective measures.

5

Focus on understanding the factors affecting soil erosion and conservation techniques.

6

Create concept maps linking Units 3-5 on nutrient interactions and soil fertility evaluation.

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