KRM 300: SOIL FERTILITY
AND PLANT NUTRITION
Erick O. Otieno
KENYATTA UNIVERSITY,
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
EMAIL:
i|Page
, Course description
Basic soil-plant relationships; ion exchange in soils, movement of ions from soils to roots, ion
absorption by plants; macro- and micro-nutrients and their deficiency symptoms; manufacture of
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers; the manufacture and properties of mixed fertilizers;
fundamentals of fertilizer application; cropping systems and soil management; economics of lime
and fertilizer use; fertilizers and efficient use of water.
Course Purpose
The overall objective is to present comprehensive information on soil characteristics, fertility, and
management for improving crop production and reducing environmental pollution. Thus course is
designed to introduce the concept and importance of soil science for agriculture students at under-
graduate level.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course students should be able to:
i) Describe basic soil plant relations
ii) Characterize various nutrient uptake by plants
iii) Explain essential plant nutrients
iv) Demonstrate knowledge nitrogen and phosphorous plant nutrients
v) Understand the underlying principles of integrated nutrient management practices p
vi) Demonstrate efficient and effective use of water for agricultural production
Reference Books
Brady NC (1990). The nature and properties of soils. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York.
Tenth Edition
Donahue RL, Schickluna JC, Na Robertson LS (1971) An introduction to soils and plant growth
Fitzpatrick EA (1986) An introduction to soil Science. Longman, Hong Kong
Gichuru et al (2003) Soil fertility management in Africa: A regional perspective. TSBF-CIAT.
African Academy of Sciences
Loomis RS and Connor DJ (1992). Crop Ecology: Productivity and Management in Agricultural
Systems. Cambridge University Press
Mugendi DN, Mucheru-Muna MW and Mugwe JN (Eds.) (2006). Soil Fertility: Enhancing
Community Extension. Manilla Publishers, Nairobi, Kenya
Tisdale SL, Nelson WL, Beaton JD and Havlin JL 1993. Soil fertility and fertilizers. Prentice Hall,
New Jersey. USA
Vanlauwe B, Diels J, Sanginga N and Merckx R (Eds.) (2002). Integrated Plant nutrient
Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: From Concept to Practice. CAB International
Wallingford, Oxon, UK.
Young A (1989). Agroforestry for soil conservation. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK.
Mode of delivery: Lecture
ii | P a g e
,Assessment: Sit-in CATs: 30%
Main Exam: 70%
Course Instructor: Otieno Erick O.
Email: /
iii | P a g e
, Table of Contents
Course description ....................................................................................................................... ii
Course Purpose ............................................................................................................................ ii
Learning Outcomes...................................................................................................................... ii
Reference Books ........................................................................................................................... ii
CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................... 1
1.0 BASIC SOIL-PLANT RELATIONSHIPS ............................................................................ 1
1.1 Definitions ........................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Functions of soil ................................................................................................................. 1
1.3 Soil Horizon ........................................................................................................................ 1
1.4 Soil composition ................................................................................................................. 2
1.5 Soil fertility .......................................................................................................................... 2
1.6 Soil characteristics influencing Soil fertility ................................................................... 3
1.6.1 Soil Texture.................................................................................................................... 3
1.6.2 Soil structure .................................................................................................................. 3
1.6.3 Soil Nutrient Content ..................................................................................................... 4
1.6.4 Soil Moisture:................................................................................................................. 4
1.6.5 Soil Aeration .................................................................................................................. 4
1.6.6 Soil pH ........................................................................................................................... 4
1.6.7 Soil Depth ...................................................................................................................... 5
1.6.8 Soil Organic Matter........................................................................................................ 5
1.6.9 Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) ................................................................................. 5
1.7 Plant Nutrition.................................................................................................................... 5
1.7.1 Nutrient demand and supply .......................................................................................... 5
1.7.2 The law of the minimum and its implications ............................................................... 6
CHAPTER 2: ................................................................................................................................. 8
2.0 NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY PLANTS ..................................................................................... 8
2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 8
2.2 Mechanism in which Ions Move from Soils to Roots ................................................... 8
2.3 Movement of ions from soils to roots, .............................................................................. 9
2.3.1 Root interception ............................................................................................................ 9
iv | P a g e
AND PLANT NUTRITION
Erick O. Otieno
KENYATTA UNIVERSITY,
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
EMAIL:
i|Page
, Course description
Basic soil-plant relationships; ion exchange in soils, movement of ions from soils to roots, ion
absorption by plants; macro- and micro-nutrients and their deficiency symptoms; manufacture of
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers; the manufacture and properties of mixed fertilizers;
fundamentals of fertilizer application; cropping systems and soil management; economics of lime
and fertilizer use; fertilizers and efficient use of water.
Course Purpose
The overall objective is to present comprehensive information on soil characteristics, fertility, and
management for improving crop production and reducing environmental pollution. Thus course is
designed to introduce the concept and importance of soil science for agriculture students at under-
graduate level.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course students should be able to:
i) Describe basic soil plant relations
ii) Characterize various nutrient uptake by plants
iii) Explain essential plant nutrients
iv) Demonstrate knowledge nitrogen and phosphorous plant nutrients
v) Understand the underlying principles of integrated nutrient management practices p
vi) Demonstrate efficient and effective use of water for agricultural production
Reference Books
Brady NC (1990). The nature and properties of soils. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York.
Tenth Edition
Donahue RL, Schickluna JC, Na Robertson LS (1971) An introduction to soils and plant growth
Fitzpatrick EA (1986) An introduction to soil Science. Longman, Hong Kong
Gichuru et al (2003) Soil fertility management in Africa: A regional perspective. TSBF-CIAT.
African Academy of Sciences
Loomis RS and Connor DJ (1992). Crop Ecology: Productivity and Management in Agricultural
Systems. Cambridge University Press
Mugendi DN, Mucheru-Muna MW and Mugwe JN (Eds.) (2006). Soil Fertility: Enhancing
Community Extension. Manilla Publishers, Nairobi, Kenya
Tisdale SL, Nelson WL, Beaton JD and Havlin JL 1993. Soil fertility and fertilizers. Prentice Hall,
New Jersey. USA
Vanlauwe B, Diels J, Sanginga N and Merckx R (Eds.) (2002). Integrated Plant nutrient
Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: From Concept to Practice. CAB International
Wallingford, Oxon, UK.
Young A (1989). Agroforestry for soil conservation. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK.
Mode of delivery: Lecture
ii | P a g e
,Assessment: Sit-in CATs: 30%
Main Exam: 70%
Course Instructor: Otieno Erick O.
Email: /
iii | P a g e
, Table of Contents
Course description ....................................................................................................................... ii
Course Purpose ............................................................................................................................ ii
Learning Outcomes...................................................................................................................... ii
Reference Books ........................................................................................................................... ii
CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................... 1
1.0 BASIC SOIL-PLANT RELATIONSHIPS ............................................................................ 1
1.1 Definitions ........................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Functions of soil ................................................................................................................. 1
1.3 Soil Horizon ........................................................................................................................ 1
1.4 Soil composition ................................................................................................................. 2
1.5 Soil fertility .......................................................................................................................... 2
1.6 Soil characteristics influencing Soil fertility ................................................................... 3
1.6.1 Soil Texture.................................................................................................................... 3
1.6.2 Soil structure .................................................................................................................. 3
1.6.3 Soil Nutrient Content ..................................................................................................... 4
1.6.4 Soil Moisture:................................................................................................................. 4
1.6.5 Soil Aeration .................................................................................................................. 4
1.6.6 Soil pH ........................................................................................................................... 4
1.6.7 Soil Depth ...................................................................................................................... 5
1.6.8 Soil Organic Matter........................................................................................................ 5
1.6.9 Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) ................................................................................. 5
1.7 Plant Nutrition.................................................................................................................... 5
1.7.1 Nutrient demand and supply .......................................................................................... 5
1.7.2 The law of the minimum and its implications ............................................................... 6
CHAPTER 2: ................................................................................................................................. 8
2.0 NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY PLANTS ..................................................................................... 8
2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 8
2.2 Mechanism in which Ions Move from Soils to Roots ................................................... 8
2.3 Movement of ions from soils to roots, .............................................................................. 9
2.3.1 Root interception ............................................................................................................ 9
iv | P a g e
