Soil Fertility and Nutrient management (1+1)

Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management SAC 302(1+1)

 Course syllabus

Introduction to soil fertility and productivity- factors affecting. Essential plant nutrient elements- functions, deficiency systems, transformations and availability. Acid, calcareous and salt affected soils –characteristics and management. Role of microorganisms in organic matter- decomposition – humus formation. Importance of C:N ratio and pH in plant nutrition. Integrated plant nutrient management. Soil fertility evaluation methods, critical limits of plant nutrient elements and hunger signs. NPK fertilizers: composition and application methodology, luxury consumption, nutrient interactions, deficiency symptoms, visual diagnosis.

Practical:
Analysis of soil for organic matter, available N,P,K and Micronutrients and interpretations. Gypsum requirement of saline and alkali soils. Lime requirement of acid soils.

SOIL FERTILITY AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT –SAC 302 (1+1)
DETAILED COURSE OUTLINE

Lecture/s	Detailed syllabus/topic
1 & 2	Introduction to soil fertility and productivity- History of soil fertility, definition of soil fertility and productivity. Factors affecting soil fertility and productivity
3 & 4	Essential plant nutrients- Definition, classification of nutrients based on utilization and biochemical functions in plants. Definition of macro and micro nutrients, primary and secondary nutrients.  Beneficial elements. Criteria of essentiality of elements.
5	Functions and deficiency symptoms of essential nutrient elements- N, P, K, in plants,
6	Functions and deficiency symptoms of essential nutrient elements- Ca, Mg, S, and micronutrients in plants.
7	Luxury consumption of nutrients and nutrient interactions in plants and soils
8 & 9	Transformations and availability of Nitrogen, Phosphorus Potassium, Ca, Mg, S and micronutrients in soil.
10	Acid soil & Calcareous soil-Definition, their Formation and characteristics. Management of acid & calcareous soils
11	Salt affected soils- Definition, their formation and Classification- saline, alkaline, saline-alkali soils, their characteristics and management.
12 & 14	Soil fertility evaluation-Definition, methods of soil fertility evaluation- A. Visual deficiency symptoms, B. Plant analysis- total analysis, rapid tissue test, enzyme test, DRIS method and critical levels of nutrients in plants. C. Biological methods- field experimentation tests, use of indicator plants, microbiological tests and laboratory and green house tests. D. Soil testing– importance and objectives and critical levels of different nutrients in soil.
15 & 16	Role of microorganisms in organic matter decomposition – humus formation. Importance of C:N ratio and pH in plant nutrition.
17	N P K fertilizers- definition of fertilizer, their classification, types of fertilizers and composition of nutrients in fertilizers.
18	Methods of fertilizer application- solid and liquid forms of fertilizer application and their advantage and disadvantages.
19	Integrated plant nutrient management (IPNM) - definition, component of IPNM and their management.

Practical

1. Determination of organic matter (Organic carbon) in soil and interpretations
2. Determination of available Nitrogen in soil and interpretations.
3. Determination of available P in soil and interpretations.
4. Determination of available K in soil and interpretations
5. Determination of available S in soil and interpretations
 6. Determination of exchangeable Ca and Mg in soil and interpretations
7. Determination of available Micronutrients in soil and interpretations.
8. Determination of Gypsum requirement of saline and alkali soils.
9. Determination of Lime requirement of acid soils.
10. Visit to soil testing laboratories.
11. Practical examination