PROFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANGANA STATE
AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
DA-121
SOIL CHEMISTRY AND FERTILITY
V. Sri Ramya
Asst. Professor (SSAC)
Agricultural Polytechnic, Kampasagar,
Nalgonda dist. - 508 207
, Department of Soil Science and Agril.Chemistry
Course No. : DA-121
Course Title: Soil chemistry and Fertility
Credit Hours : 3 (2+1)
Semester/Year: First Semester/first year
Prepared by: Dr. K. Kalyani, Asst. Professor (SS&AC)
Theory lecture outlines
S.No . Title of the Lecture
1 Introduction to soil science
2 Soil - Definition- Properties- Difference between soil and sub soil
3 Components of soil- Mineral matter- Organic matter, water and air
4 Soil physical properties- soil texture – Importance- Nature and properties of soil
separates- Methods of estimation of soil texture- Soil textural classes
5 Soil structure- Classification- Importance of soil structure and its management
6 Soil density- Bulk density and particle density- Factors affecting soil density
7 Soil pore space- Importance- Calculation of porosity- Soil colour – Its significance
8 Soil water- Importance- Soil moisture constants
9 Soil biology- Classification of soil microbes –Importance- Harmful micro organisms in
soil
10 Role of beneficial micro organisms in various processes of soil- Harmful micro
organisms in soil
11 Soil organic matter-C:N ratio-Its significance
12 Soil organic matter- Various sources - Compounds in plant residues- Their
decomposability
13 Humus- its importance on soil properties- Care and management of soil humus
14 Soil colloids- Properties of soil colloids
15 Ion exchange in soil –CationExchange Capacity (CEC)
16 Factors affecting CEC- Importance
17 Anion Exchange capacity (AEC) - Factors affecting AEC
18 Base saturation - buffering capacity-its importance
19 Soil pH- factors affecting soil pH
20 Effect of pH on nutrient availability
21 Problem soils- Acid soils- Types- Characteristics and reclamation and management of
Acid soils
22 Alkali soil- Types- Characteristics - Reclamation and management of Alkali soils
23 Soils of Telangana- Different types -Characteristics and management
24 Essential Nutrients for plants- Criteria of essentiality of nutrients – Classification of
essential nutrients- Forms of nutrients in soil
25 Importance of essential nutrients to plants
26 Deficiency symptoms and corrective measures
27 Soil fertility - reasons for soil fertility reduction
28 Management practices to improve soil fertility
,29 Soil testing objectives- Importance
30 Site Specific Nutrient Management
31 Environmental pollution- Soil pollution- Soil pollutants and management practices
32 Green house effect – Green house gases- Management Practices to reduce GHG
emissions
S.No Practical class outlines
1 Collection of soil samples- Tools used for soil sampling
2 Preparation of soil samples and preservation
3 Determination of soil bulk density of soil
4 Determination of soil texture – using feel method
5 Determination of soil moisture content
6 Estimation of soil pH and EC of soils
7 Estimation of organic carbon percentage of soils.
8 Estimation of available nitrogen content of soil
9 Estimation of available phosphorous content of soil
10 Estimation of available potassium content of soil
11 Field diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies symptoms
12 Description of soil profile in the filed
13 Visit to different soils
14 Identification of different soils
15 Quick tests for soil analysis
16 Analysis and interpretation of soil testing values and recommendation of fertilizers based on
soil testing values
, Lecture No.1
INTRODUCTION
Soil plays a vital role in earth’s ecosystem. The soil is important to human and all living things
on earth. From the agriculture, cultivators recognized good soils being attracted to the fertile
soils of river valleys. Most great civilizations have depended on good soils. Continuous
replenishment of fertility by natural flooding made possible the stable, organized communities
and even cities, in contrast to the nomadic, shifting societies. Mis- management of fertile soils is
the only contributing factor for the down fall of the society. The careful preservation of the soil
mantle can be the difference between a prosperous society and poverty.
The noun soil is derived through old French from the latin word solum, which means
floor or ground.
Soil may be defined as an accumulation of natural bodies which has been synthesized in
profile form from a diversified mixture of disintegrated and weathered minerals and decaying
organic matter which covers the surface of the earth, and which supplies, when containing the
optimum amounts of air and water, mechanical support and sustenance for plants.
The soil serves not only as a medium for plant growth and for microbiological activity
but also as a sink and recycling factory for numerous waste products which might otherwise
accumulate to poison our environment. Moreover, the soil supports our buildings and provides
material for the construction of earthen structures such as dams and road beds.
AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
DA-121
SOIL CHEMISTRY AND FERTILITY
V. Sri Ramya
Asst. Professor (SSAC)
Agricultural Polytechnic, Kampasagar,
Nalgonda dist. - 508 207
, Department of Soil Science and Agril.Chemistry
Course No. : DA-121
Course Title: Soil chemistry and Fertility
Credit Hours : 3 (2+1)
Semester/Year: First Semester/first year
Prepared by: Dr. K. Kalyani, Asst. Professor (SS&AC)
Theory lecture outlines
S.No . Title of the Lecture
1 Introduction to soil science
2 Soil - Definition- Properties- Difference between soil and sub soil
3 Components of soil- Mineral matter- Organic matter, water and air
4 Soil physical properties- soil texture – Importance- Nature and properties of soil
separates- Methods of estimation of soil texture- Soil textural classes
5 Soil structure- Classification- Importance of soil structure and its management
6 Soil density- Bulk density and particle density- Factors affecting soil density
7 Soil pore space- Importance- Calculation of porosity- Soil colour – Its significance
8 Soil water- Importance- Soil moisture constants
9 Soil biology- Classification of soil microbes –Importance- Harmful micro organisms in
soil
10 Role of beneficial micro organisms in various processes of soil- Harmful micro
organisms in soil
11 Soil organic matter-C:N ratio-Its significance
12 Soil organic matter- Various sources - Compounds in plant residues- Their
decomposability
13 Humus- its importance on soil properties- Care and management of soil humus
14 Soil colloids- Properties of soil colloids
15 Ion exchange in soil –CationExchange Capacity (CEC)
16 Factors affecting CEC- Importance
17 Anion Exchange capacity (AEC) - Factors affecting AEC
18 Base saturation - buffering capacity-its importance
19 Soil pH- factors affecting soil pH
20 Effect of pH on nutrient availability
21 Problem soils- Acid soils- Types- Characteristics and reclamation and management of
Acid soils
22 Alkali soil- Types- Characteristics - Reclamation and management of Alkali soils
23 Soils of Telangana- Different types -Characteristics and management
24 Essential Nutrients for plants- Criteria of essentiality of nutrients – Classification of
essential nutrients- Forms of nutrients in soil
25 Importance of essential nutrients to plants
26 Deficiency symptoms and corrective measures
27 Soil fertility - reasons for soil fertility reduction
28 Management practices to improve soil fertility
,29 Soil testing objectives- Importance
30 Site Specific Nutrient Management
31 Environmental pollution- Soil pollution- Soil pollutants and management practices
32 Green house effect – Green house gases- Management Practices to reduce GHG
emissions
S.No Practical class outlines
1 Collection of soil samples- Tools used for soil sampling
2 Preparation of soil samples and preservation
3 Determination of soil bulk density of soil
4 Determination of soil texture – using feel method
5 Determination of soil moisture content
6 Estimation of soil pH and EC of soils
7 Estimation of organic carbon percentage of soils.
8 Estimation of available nitrogen content of soil
9 Estimation of available phosphorous content of soil
10 Estimation of available potassium content of soil
11 Field diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies symptoms
12 Description of soil profile in the filed
13 Visit to different soils
14 Identification of different soils
15 Quick tests for soil analysis
16 Analysis and interpretation of soil testing values and recommendation of fertilizers based on
soil testing values
, Lecture No.1
INTRODUCTION
Soil plays a vital role in earth’s ecosystem. The soil is important to human and all living things
on earth. From the agriculture, cultivators recognized good soils being attracted to the fertile
soils of river valleys. Most great civilizations have depended on good soils. Continuous
replenishment of fertility by natural flooding made possible the stable, organized communities
and even cities, in contrast to the nomadic, shifting societies. Mis- management of fertile soils is
the only contributing factor for the down fall of the society. The careful preservation of the soil
mantle can be the difference between a prosperous society and poverty.
The noun soil is derived through old French from the latin word solum, which means
floor or ground.
Soil may be defined as an accumulation of natural bodies which has been synthesized in
profile form from a diversified mixture of disintegrated and weathered minerals and decaying
organic matter which covers the surface of the earth, and which supplies, when containing the
optimum amounts of air and water, mechanical support and sustenance for plants.
The soil serves not only as a medium for plant growth and for microbiological activity
but also as a sink and recycling factory for numerous waste products which might otherwise
accumulate to poison our environment. Moreover, the soil supports our buildings and provides
material for the construction of earthen structures such as dams and road beds.
