Angrau Soil Science

The Department of Soil Science & Agril Chemistry of Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University was established in which year and also tells me the last date of Submission of Expression of Interest to the ANGRAU?

Can you provide me the Course Curriculum - First Semester -SSAC- 121 Introduction to Soil Science under B.Sc (Ag) program offered by ANGRAU (Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University)?

[pooja]

The Course Curriculum - First Semester -SSAC- 121 Introduction to Soil Science under B.Sc (Ag) program offered by ANGRAU (Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University) is as follows:

SSAC 121 INTRODUCTIONS TO SOIL SCIENCE

THEORY

Sl. No Topic / Lesson
1 Microscopy
2 Rocks- Classification of rocks based on mode of origin - igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks. Classification of rocks based on silica content. Weather ability of rocks.
3 Minerals - Primary, secondary, essential and accessory minerals. Primary minerals-quartz, feldspar, micas, pyroxenes, amphiboles and olivines. Weather ability of primary minerals.
4 Non silicate minerals- P, Ca, Mg, S and micronutrient containing minerals. Secondary silicate minerals Basic structural units.
5&6. Weathering- Types of weathering. Physical weathering of rocks, agents of physical weathering and their role. Chemical weathering solution, hydration, hydrolysis, carbonation, oxidation and reduction. Biological weathering role of flora and fauna in weathering process
7&8. Parent material-. Classification of parent materials based on their mode of transport by different agents. Soil formation. Soil forming factors - classification and their role in soil formation. Catena.
9 Pedogenic processes- Eluviations, illuviation, humification, calcification, laterization, podzolisation, melanisation, salinization and alkalization
10 Soil profile Detailed description of a theoretical soil profile. Differences between surface soil and subsoil.
11 Soil physical properties-Soil texture-Definition. Various inorganic components in soil and their properties Particle size analysis Methods. Various textural classes in soil and their properties.
12 Stokes law-Derivation. Assumptions and limitations. Significance of soil texture.
13 Soil consistence-. Consistence of wet and dry soils. Soil crusting. Soil plasticity-Atterbergs plastic limits-factors affecting plastic limits. Significance of soil consistence.

14 Soil structure- Classification-types, classes and grades of soil structure. Genesis of soil structure. Factors affecting formation of aggregates-physical, chemical and biological factors. Synthetic organic amendments. Importance of soil structure and its management.

15 Density of soil - Bulk density and particle density. Factors affecting density parameters. Importance of bulk density of soil. Soil compaction-its importance. Pore space-importance-Calculation of porosity.
16 Soil strength and its importance. Soil color- components. Significance of soil colour.
17 Soil water- Properties of soil water-structure, density, change of state, solvent action, heat capacity and heat of wetting, viscosity, surface tension. Forces of soil water retention. pF concept. Soil moisture characteristic curves. Importance of soil water
18 Soil water potential-Components of water potentials. Soil moisture constants - field capacity, wilting co-efficient, hygroscopic water and saturation. Available water and methods for determining soil moisture constants pressure plate and pressure membrane apparatus
19 Soil water content -Methods for determination of soil moisture-gravimetric method, tensiometer and neutron moisture meter.
20 Soil water movement-Darcys law. Saturated, unsaturated and vapour flows. Infiltration, percolation and permeability. Distribution of water in profile in different soils. Soil drainage and its importance.
21 Soil temperature- Sources of heat. Heat capacity and conductivity. Factors influencing soil temperature. Modification of soil thermal regimes. Measurement of soil temperature. Importance of soil temperature on crop growth. Management of soil temperature and importance.

22 Soil air Compositions of atmospheric air and soil air. Gaseous exchange. Influence of soil air on plant growth, soil properties and nutrient availability-Measurement of ODR-Measures to improve soil aeration.
23 Soil air Compositions of atmospheric air and soil air. Gaseous exchange. Influence of soil air on plant growth, soil properties and nutrient availability-Measurement of ODR-Measures to improve soil aeration.
24 Secondary silicate clay minerals of different types - kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite and chlorite; their structures and properties. Allophanes. Genesis of silicate clays
25 Origin of charge in organic and inorganic colloids- negative and positive charges. Differences between organic and inorganic soil colloids
26 Adsorption of ions. Types of ion exchange - cation and anion exchange. Cation and anion exchange capacities of soil. Base saturation. Factors effecting ion exchange capacity of soils. Importance of CEC of soils. Calculation of base exchange capacity and exchangeable acidity
27& 28 Soil organic matter- Various sources. Composition compounds in plant residues, their decomposability. Humus- Definition, synthesis of humus. Importance of soil organic matter and humus. Fractions of soil humus. Carbon cycle. Carbon: nitrogen (C: N) ratio of commonly available organic residues. Significance of C:N ratio in soil fertility
29&30 Soil biology Biomass - Flora and fauna; their important characteristics. Roles of beneficial organisms - organic matter decomposition, mineralization, immobilization, nitrogen fixation, denitrification, solubilization of phosphorus and sulphur and micronutrients. Harmful activities of soil organisms. 1&2
31 Soil classification-Early system of soil classification. Diagnostic horizons. Soil Taxonomy -Order, Sub order, great group, subgroup, family and series. Nomenclature according to Soil Taxonomy
32 Important soil groups of India-Alluvial soils, black soils, red soils, laterite soils and coastal sands.BB,OHP,3

PRACTICALS

Sl. No Practical
1 Identification of rocks and minerals
2 Methods of chemical analysis, principles, techniques and calculations
3 Collection of soil samples & preparation of soil water extract
4 Description of soil profile in the field
5 Determination of mechanical composition of soil using Bouyoucos Hydrometer
6 .Determination of bulk density & particle density
7 Determination of maximum water holding capacity of soil using Keen - Razkowski cups.
8 Determination of soil moisture content by gravimetric method and soil color using Munsell color chart
9 Determination of infiltration rate
10 Determination of soils strength by cone penetrometer and aggregate analysis by wet sieving method
11 Determination of pH and electrical conductivity of soil
12 Determination of carbonates and bicarbonates in soil water extract
13 Determination of chlorides in soil water extract
14 Estimation of Ca and Mg in soil water extract by volumetric method
15 Estimation of K and Na by flame photometry
16 Estimation of organic carbon content in soil

REFERENCES

1 Text book of Soil Science Biswas T D and Mukherjee S K 1987. Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Co. Ltd., New Delhi
2 The Nature and Properties of Soils Brady Nyle C and Ray R Well 2002. pearson Education Inc.,New Delhi
3 Soil Pedology Sehgal J L 1996 . Kalyani Publications, Ludhiana
4 Fundamentals of Soil Science Indian Society of Soil Science 1998. IARI, New Delhi
5 Soil Physics Baver L D Gardener W H and Gardener W R 1972. Wiley Eastern Ltd, New Delhi
6 Soil Physics Ghildyal B P and Tripathi R P 1987. Wiley Eastern Ltd., New Delhi
7 Environmental Soil Physics Daniel Hillel 1998. Academic Press, New York
8 Introductory Soil Science Dilip Kumar Das, 2004. Kalyani Publishers, Ludhiana.
9 A Text Book of Soil Analysis Baruah T C and Barthakur H P 1998. Vikas Publishing House Pvt Ltd, New Delhi.
10 Methods of Analysis of Soils, Plants, Waters and Fertilisers Fertilisers Development & Cosultation Organisation 1993. C10 Greater Kailash I New Delhi.