SOIL FERTILITY

About this Course

  • 30 students enrolled
  • 6 instructors

Course Description

This course is designed to provide an overview of the fundamental concepts of soil fertility and plant nutrition. Different areas of soil science that play important role in influencing the soil properties which will directly or indirectly affect soil fertility will be examined. This course will complement the students existing knowledge of soil science and help the student understand soil conditions affecting the availability of different plant nutrients; function and movement of different nutrients in plants and methods of determining nutrient levels in plants and in soils. Upon completion, students should understand and know the principles of managing plant nutrient for crop production, fertilizer materials, techniques of crop fertilization, soil fertility maintenance and management practices for optimizing fertilizer use and understand the process of carrying out soil and plant tissue testing as diagnostic tools in nutrient management. The knowledge gained will provide students with the basic knowledge of soil fertility management and fertilizer requirement for plantation and agricultural crops.

Course Learning Outcomes

1 ) Represent and relate the concept of soil fertility, plant nutrition and nutrient management.
2 ) State and discuss the influence of soil chemical, biological and physical properties on nutrient availability to plants.
3 ) Communicate to peers verbally on maximizing soil productivity while maintaining or enhancing environmental quality.
4 ) Differentiate and interpret data on soil fertility and plant nutrition problems and recommend proper correction measures.

Course Details

STATUS : Open
DURATION : FLEXIBLE
EFFORT : 2 hours per week
MODE : 100% Online
COURSE LEVEL : Beginner
LANGUAGE : English
CLUSTER : Science & Technology ( ST )

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 Syllabus

1. Soil productivity, fertility and fertilizer consumption
2. World population and food production
3. Essential and micronutrients
4. Yield limiting factors

1. Soil solution and ion exchange
2. Role of clay minerals and organic matter
3. Cation exchange capacity and base saturation

1. Movement of ions from soil to root

1. Acid and base concepts
2. Active acidity and potential
3. Soil pH for crop production
4. Soil liming

1. The nitrogen cycle
2. Nitrogen additions and fixation from the atmosphere
3. Nitrogen transformation and losses in soil
4. Nitrogen sources for crop production
5. Forms and functions of N in plants
6. Deficiency and toxicity symptoms

1. The phosphorus cycle
2. Forms of P in soil and factors affecting phosphorus fixation
3. Phosphorus sources for crop production
4. Phosphorus transport and forms of phosphorus in plants
5. Functions of phosphorus in plants
6. Deficiency and toxicity symptoms of phosphorus


1. The potassium cycle and forms in soil
2. Leaching of potassium
3. Factors affecting potassium availability
4. Potassium transport in plants
5. Functions of potassium in plants
6. Deficiency and toxicity symptoms of potassium

1. The sulfur cycle in soil
2. Forms of sulfur in soil and sulfur mineralization/immobilization
3. Sulfur volatilization
4. Sources of sulfur for crop production
5. Forms of sulfur in plants
6. Sulfur transport and functions in plants
7. Sulfur deficiency and toxicity symptoms



1. The calcium cycle and forms of calcium in soil
2. Sources of calcium for crop production
3. The magnesium cycle and forms of magnesium in soil
4. Sources of magnesium for crop production
5. Forms calcium and magnesium in plants
6. Calcium and magnesium transport and functions in plants
7. Calcium and magnesium deficiency and toxicity symptoms

1. Forms and reactions of micronutrients in soil
2. Micronutrients requirement by plants

1. Nutrient deficiency symptoms of plants
2. Plant analysis
3. Soil testing
4. Field and lab tests


1. Crop and soil characteristics
2. Nutrient placement
3. Specific recommendations
4. Fertilization with manure sludge and wastes

1. Sustainable agriculture
2. Soil and crop productivity
3. Environmental quality

Our Instructor

DR. NUR QURSYNA BINTI BOLL KASSIM

 Course Instructor
UiTM Kampus Jasin

TS. DR. NUR MAIZATUL IDAYU BINTI OTHMAN

 Course Instructor
UiTM Kampus Jasin

MUHAMMAD NURUDDIN BIN MOHD NOR

 Course Instructor
UiTM Kampus Jasin

NORAZLINA BINTI ABU SARI

 Course Instructor
UiTM Kampus Jasin

SALWA BINTI ADAM

 Course Instructor
UiTM Kampus Jasin

NURUL WAHIDA BINTI HANI

 Course Instructor
UiTM Kampus Jasin

 Frequently Asked Questions

A1 : Soil science provides general introduction to soils such as soil and their physical, chemical, biological and fertility properties; soil formation, classification, mapping and these properties in relation to the use and management of the soils. On the other hand, soil fertility addresses soil chemistry, plant nutrition and nutrient management in depth. It focuses on forms, flows, transformations and availability of plant nutrients in soils, soil testing and plant tissue analysis method and nutrient management as well as sustainable management practices in maintaining soil fertility especially in problematic soils.