Course Syllabus
Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
1. Soil productivity, fertility and fertilizer consumption
2. World population and food production
3. Essential and micronutrients
4. Yield limiting factors
Basic Soil-Plant Relationship
1. Soil solution and ion exchange
2. Role of clay minerals and organic matter
3. Cation exchange capacity and base saturation
Nutrients Transport in Plants
1. Movement of ions from soil to root
Soil Acidity and Alkalinity
1. Acid and base concepts
2. Active acidity and potential
3. Soil pH for crop production
4. Soil liming
Nitrogen in Soil and Plant
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
Phosphorus in Soil and Plant
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
Potassium in Soil and Plant
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
Sulfur in Soil and Plant
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
Calcium and Magnesium in Soil and Plant
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
Micronutrients in Soil and Plants
1. Forms and reactions of micronutrients in soil
2. Micronutrients requirement by plants
Evaluation of Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
1. Nutrient deficiency symptoms of plants
2. Plant analysis
3. Soil testing
4. Field and lab tests
Nutrient Management
1. Crop and soil characteristics
2. Nutrient placement
3. Specific recommendations
4. Fertilization with manure sludge and wastes
Agricultural Productivity and Environmental Quality
1. Sustainable agriculture
2. Soil and crop productivity
3. Environmental quality
1. Soil productivity, fertility and fertilizer consumption
2. World population and food production
3. Essential and micronutrients
4. Yield limiting factors
Basic Soil-Plant Relationship
1. Soil solution and ion exchange
2. Role of clay minerals and organic matter
3. Cation exchange capacity and base saturation
Nutrients Transport in Plants
1. Movement of ions from soil to root
Soil Acidity and Alkalinity
1. Acid and base concepts
2. Active acidity and potential
3. Soil pH for crop production
4. Soil liming
Nitrogen in Soil and Plant
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
Phosphorus in Soil and Plant
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
Potassium in Soil and Plant
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
Sulfur in Soil and Plant
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
Calcium and Magnesium in Soil and Plant
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
Micronutrients in Soil and Plants
1. Forms and reactions of micronutrients in soil
2. Micronutrients requirement by plants
Evaluation of Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition
1. Nutrient deficiency symptoms of plants
2. Plant analysis
3. Soil testing
4. Field and lab tests
Nutrient Management
1. Crop and soil characteristics
2. Nutrient placement
3. Specific recommendations
4. Fertilization with manure sludge and wastes
Agricultural Productivity and Environmental Quality
1. Sustainable agriculture
2. Soil and crop productivity
3. Environmental quality
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1 : What is the difference between soil science and soil fertility?
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.
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.