Principles Of Soil Science

1. Explain the processes of soil formation and development.
2. Describe the physical and chemical properties of soils and their importance for plant growth.
3. Identify essential plant nutrients and their roles in plant physiology.
4. Evaluate soil fertility and make appropriate fertilizer recommendations.
5. Apply soil and water conservation practices to prevent soil degradation.
6. Analyze soil and plant samples to assess nutrient status.

13 weeks, about 30 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: The Soil Habitat

   • Unit 1: Some Basic Concepts of Soil · 2 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..

2. Week 2Module 1: The Soil Habitat

   • Unit 2: Origin and Development of Soil (Soil Genesis) · 2 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..

3. Week 3Module 1: The Soil Habitat

   • Unit 3: Fundamental Concepts of Soil Physics · 2 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..

4. Week 4Module 1: The Soil Habitat

   • Unit 4: Soil Classification and Survey · 2 hours

     Explain soil classification concepts.. Describe soil classification systems.. Explain how soil surveys are prepared and used.. Describe different types of soil surveys..

5. Week 5Module 1: The Soil Habitat

   • Unit 5: Plant Growth Requirements · 2 hours

     Define plant growth.. Describe growth factors and their functions.. Explain how nutrients reach the root surface.. Describe nutrient uptake pathways into root cells..

6. Week 6Module 2: Processes in the Soil Environment

   • Unit 1: Water in the Soil-Plant System · 2 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..

7. Week 7Module 2: Processes in the Soil Environment

   • Unit 2: Soil Aeration and Temperature · 2 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..

8. Week 8Module 2: Processes in the Soil Environment

   • Unit 3: Soil Organic Matter and Soil Organisms · 2 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..

9. Week 9Module 2: Processes in the Soil Environment

   • Unit 4: Soil Reaction: Acidity and Alkalinity · 2 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..

10. Week 10Module 2: Processes in the Soil Environment

    • Unit 5: Soil Colloids and Ion Exchange in Soils · 2 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..

11. Week 11Module 3: Soil-Plant Nutrients Interaction

    • Unit 1: Fertilizers as Agricultural Input · 2 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 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..

12. Week 12Module 3: Soil-Plant Nutrients Interaction

    • Unit 3: Phosphorus Nutrition in Plants · 2 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 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..

13. Week 13Module 3: Soil-Plant Nutrients Interaction

    • Unit 5: Sulphur, Calcium and Magnesium · 2 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..