Syllabus

Syllabus
    Theory: Composition of earth’s crust. Soil as a natural body-major components. Eluviation and illuviation, formation of various soils. Problem soils: salt soils, permeable, flooded, sandy soil. Soil properties-Physical parameters; texture- definition, methods of textural analysis. Stock’s law-assumption and limitations, textural classes, use of textural triangle; absolute specific gravity –definition, apparent specific gravity/bulkdensity- factors influencing, field bulk density. Relation between BD (bulk density) AD. –practical problems. Pore space - definition, significance. Colour variable - value,hue and chroma.Munsell colour chart,factors influencing-parent material, soil mosture, organic matter. Soil structure-definition, classification, clay prism like structure, factors influencing genesis of soil structure. Soil consistency, plasticity, Attenberg’s constant. Soil air, air capacity, composition, factors influencing amount of air space, soil air renewal. Soil temperature-sources and distribution of heat, factors influencing measurement.Chemical properties- soil colloids; organic - humus ; inorganic- secondary silicate clay, hydrous oxide. Ion exchange – cation and anion importance. Soil organic matter decomposition; pH and nutrient availability, soil buffering capacity. Soil water - forms-hygroscopic, capillary and gravitational, soil moisture constants, hygroscopic coefficient, wilting point, field capacity, moisture equivalent, maximum water holding capacity, energy concepts, pF scale, measurment, gravimetric- electric and tensiometer methods, pressure plate and pressure membrane appratus-Neutron probe- soil water movement. Classification- aerial photography- satellite of soil features-their interpretation. Soil orders; land capability classification; soils of different eco-system and their properties. Management of problem soils- envionmental quality. Irrigation water quality, determination of quality parameters, empirical equation, management of irrigation water.

    Practicals: Collection and preparation of soil samples. Study of soil profile. Determenation of soil colour. Estimation of moisture, EC, pH and bulk density. Textural analysis of soil by Robinson’s pipette method. Chemical analysis of soil- Fe2O3,P,K,Ca, Mg and S. Total N. Organic carbon and cation exchange capacity.

Last modified: Friday, 27 July 2012, 5:56 AM