Nature and origin of soil; Pedalogical and edaphological concepts - Definition of soil, rocks and minerals-Soil formation – Factors affecting soil formation processes –Weathering - Physical, chemical and biological weathering of soil
Soil texture and textural classes – Soil textural classification - Soil structure and classification – Gradation analysis- Soil consistency- Major types of soils in Tamil Nadu - Major soil types of India
Properties of Soil – Physical physical properties of soil and their significance – soil texture, structure,- Bulk density, particle density and porosity soil particle size distribution, pore space, soil colour, soil temperature, soil water. Soil physical constrains and their management, Soil inorganic colloids – their composition
Soil water - Soil water potentials – Soil moisture constants- Water movement -Infiltration, hydraulic conductivity, percolation, permeability and drainage –Soil Micro organisms -Beneficial and harmful effects.
Soil organic matter – C : N ratio, Carbon cycle – Nitrogen cycle – Humus formation - Soil fertility - Soil nutrients - significance of macro and micro nutrients – Soil pH, Soil EC – Soil testing – Water testing - Soil test and water test report
Reference Book:
1. Hillel D. 1982. Introduction to Soil Physics. Academic Press, London. 2. HLS Tandon, 2006, Methods of Analysis of soils, plants, waters, fertilizers andorganic manures, Fertilizer Development & Consultation Organization, NewDelhi 3. Indian Society of Soil Science, Fundamentals of Soil Science, ISSS Publication, IARI, New Delhi, 2012. 4. T.D. Biswas and S.K. Mukherjee, Text Book of Soil Science, 2nd Edition, Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Co. Ltd., New Delhi, 2001. 5. Daji A.J., (1970) A Text Book of Soil Science - Asia Publishing House, Madras.
Text Book:
1. Brady Nyle C. and Ray R. Well. 2002. Nature and properties of soil. PearsonEducation Inc., New Delhi. 2. Indian Society of Soil Science. 1998.Fundamentals of Soil Science. IARI, New Delhi. 2. Tisdale, S. L., Nelson W. L., Beaton J. D. and Havlin J.L.1995. Soil Fertility andFertilizers. Prentice Hall of India, New Delhi 3. Dilip Kumar Das, Introductory Soil Science, 2004, Kalyani publishers, New Delhi.
