Problematic Soils and their Management (B.Sc Agriculture)

Saline, sodic, acid and waterlogged soils, their reclamation and use of poor quality water.

6 MonthsDuration 6Chapters31Topics

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Syllabus · पाठ्यक्रम

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01Unit 1: Problem Soils - Concept and Distribution 5 topics

Soil quality and soil health
Wastelands and problem soils of India and Uttar Pradesh
Categories of problem soils
Causes of soil degradation
Institutes working on problem soils (CSSRI Karnal and others)

02Unit 2: Saline and Sodic Soils 6 topics

Formation of salt-affected soils
USSL classification: saline, saline-sodic and sodic soils
Effect of salts and sodium on soil and plants
Reclamation: leaching, drainage and amendments
Gypsum requirement and other amendments (pyrite, press mud, sulphur)
Salt-tolerant crops and varieties

03Unit 3: Acid Soils 5 topics

Formation and distribution of acid soils
Soil acidity: active and reserve acidity
Aluminium, iron and manganese toxicity and nutrient problems
Lime requirement and liming materials
Management of acid sulphate soils

04Unit 4: Physically Degraded and Waterlogged Soils 5 topics

Waterlogging: causes and effects
Surface and sub-surface drainage, bio-drainage
Soil crusting, compaction and hard pans
Highly permeable and eroded soils
Management practices for physically degraded soils

05Unit 5: Quality of Irrigation Water 5 topics

Criteria of irrigation water quality
Salinity hazard (EC) and sodicity hazard (SAR)
Residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and boron
Classification of irrigation water
Management of saline and sodic water for irrigation

06Unit 6: Bio-remediation, Land Capability and Remote Sensing 5 topics

Multipurpose tree species for problem soils
Bio-remediation and phytoremediation of polluted soils
Land capability classification
Land suitability for crops
Remote sensing and GIS in mapping problem soils

About

You will be able to

Identify saline, sodic, acid, waterlogged and physically degraded soils from field signs and lab values (pH, EC, ESP)
Calculate gypsum requirement for sodic soils and choose a suitable lime source for acid soils
Plan reclamation of salt-affected soils with leaching, drainage, amendments and tolerant crops
Judge the quality of irrigation water using EC, SAR and RSC and suggest safe use of poor quality water
Explain bio-remediation, land capability classification and the use of remote sensing to map problem soils
Answer semester examination questions on problematic soils with correct classification limits and calculations

Who it is for

B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture students of Semester 4 (ICAR 5th Deans' Committee syllabus)
Students of agriculture colleges affiliated to UP state universities and agricultural universities
Students preparing for ICAR-JRF, agriculture officer and soil science competitive exams

What you need

Fundamentals of Soil Science (Semester 1) - soil pH, CEC and soil physical properties
Basic chemistry of cations, milliequivalents and solutions

Questions

Which syllabus does this course follow?

The course follows the ICAR 5th Deans' Committee B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture syllabus used by UP agricultural universities (CSAUAT Kanpur, ANDUAT Ayodhya, SVPUAT Meerut, BUAT Banda) and agriculture colleges of UP state universities. Where your own university syllabus differs, the centre follows your university syllabus.

Are calculations asked in the exam?

Yes. Gypsum requirement, SAR and RSC numericals are common and are practised step by step in class.

Is this useful after graduation?

It helps in ICAR-JRF, agriculture officer and soil testing laboratory jobs, and in advising farmers of usar (sodic) areas of UP.

Do you give notes and tests?

Yes. Unit-wise notes, a question bank and chapter tests are given.