Concepts of Soil Science

Contents: 1. Soil- Definitions, Origin of Earth and Composition of Earth Crust. 2. Rocks. 3. Minerals. 4. Weathering of Rocks and Minerals. 5. Soil Forming Factors. 6. Soil Forming Processes. 7. Soil Profile. 8. Soil Texture - Textural Classes- Particle Size Distribution. 9. Soil Structure : Classification. 10. Soil Aggregates, Soil Consistency, Soil Crusting, Soil Density and Porosity. 11. Soil Plasticity and Atterberg Limits. 12. Soil Water. 13. Soil Air. 14. Soil Temperature & Soil Colour. 15. Soil Survey and Land Capability Classification. 16. Soil Chemical Properties- pH, CEC, Base Saturation and Buffering Capacity. 17. Soil Colloids – Properties and Classification. 18. Silicate Clay Minerals. 19. Soil Organic Matter. 20. Acid Soils. 21. Salt Affected Soils. 22. Quality of Irrigation Water. 23. Soil Taxonomy - 7th Approximation.