SSC 101: Fundamentals of Soil Science and Geology
Credit Hours: 3 (2+1)
Full Marks: 75 (Theory: 50, Practical: 25)
Course Objectives
Upon completion, students will be able to:
- Understand soil properties in relation to crop production.
- Identify soil reactions and manage different soil types.
- Understand ecological perspectives and geology relevant to soils.
I. Syllabus
- Introduction: Definitions, historical development, concepts of soil as a natural body and medium for plant growth.
- Soil Physical Properties: Texture, structure, color, bulk & particle density, porosity, consistency, aeration.
- Soil Chemical Properties: pH, acidic, saline, sodic, saline-sodic soils, buffering capacity, liming.
- Soil Colloids: Properties, types, layer silicates, ion exchange phenomena, cation/anion exchange capacity.
- Geology in Relation to Soils: Earth evolution, composition, soil-forming rocks/minerals, weathering.
- Physiographic Units of Nepal: Terai, Siwalik, Middle Mountain, Higher Mountain.
- Soil Ecology: Ecosystem, producers, consumers, microorganisms, nutrient cycling, environmental quality.
II. Course Outline
A. Lecture Topics
| S.N. | Topic | No. of Lectures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction of Soil: Definitions, concept, uses, historical development, branches of soil science | 1 |
| 2 | Soil as a medium for plant growth and soil as a natural body | 1 |
| 3 | Three-phase system of soil: Solid, liquid, gaseous | 2 |
| 4 | Soil physical properties: texture, structure, color, bulk density, particle density, porosity, consistency, aeration | 2 |
| 5 | Soil chemical properties: pH, acidic, saline, sodic, saline-sodic soils & management | 6 |
| 6 | Buffering capacity of soil and liming | 5 |
| 7 | Soil colloids: properties, types, layer silicates | 4 |
| 8 | Ion exchange phenomena: cation and anion exchange, importance in agriculture | 2 |
| 9 | Geology in relation to soils: earth evolution, composition, soil-forming rocks/minerals, weathering | 4 |
| 10 | Physiographic units of Nepal: Terai, Siwalik, Middle Mountain, Higher Mountain | 1 |
| 11 | Soil ecology: ecosystem, producers, consumers, microorganisms, decomposition | 2 |
| Total | 30 |
B. Practical Topics
| S.N. | Topic | No. of Practicals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identification and function of soil science laboratory equipment | 1 |
| 2 | Collection and preparation of soil samples | 1 |
| 3 | Soil textural determination by field methods | 1 |
| 4 | Soil consistency determination | 1 |
| 5 | Particle size analysis by hydrometer method | 2 |
| 6 | Soil structure determination | 1 |
| 7 | Determination of soil color | 1 |
| 8 | Determination of bulk density of soil | 1 |
| 9 | Determination of particle density of soil | 1 |
| 10 | Determination of soil pH | 1 |
| 11 | Determination of lime requirement in acid soil | 1 |
| 12 | Identification of soil-forming minerals | 1 |
| 13 | Identification of soil-forming rocks | 1 |
| 14 | Study of soil as a natural body | 1 |
| Total | 15 |
References
- Brady, N.C., & Weil, R.R. (2012). The Nature and Properties of Soils (14th Ed.). Prentice Hall of India Ltd.
- Geological Society, London. (2006). Soil, Human Society and the Environment.
- Foth, H.D. (1990). Fundamentals of Soil Science (8th Ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
- White, R.E. (2006). Principles and Practice of Soil Science: The Soil as a Natural Resource. Blackwell Publishing.
- Obruchev, V. (2005). Fundamentals of Geology. Foreign Languages Publishing House.
- Montgomery, C.W., & Griffin, K.F. (1996). Fundamentals of Geology. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
