Soil Technology -I

Pedological and edaphological concepts Components of soils Soil profile Classification of soils and soils of India Earth’s crust Composition of Rocks and minerals Weathering soil formation factors and processes

Soil physical properties and their significance Soil texture and textural classes particle size analysis Soil structure and classification soil aggregates and its significance Soil consistency soil crusting Bulk density and particle density of soils & porosity their significance and manipulation Soil colour – its significance causes and measurement.

Soil moisture constants Methods of determination of soil moisture Influence of soil temperature and air on plant growth Soil water Soil water retention potentials Thermal properties of soil soil temperature Soil air Gaseous exchange Soil Colloids: Inorganic and organic colloids their nature and physico-chemical properties.

Ion exchange phenomena Layer silicate clays their genesis and sources of charges Adsorption of ions ion exchange CEC and AEC factors influencing ion exchange and its significance Soil reaction Buffering capacity and EC Soil organic matter composition decomposition Humus Fractionation of organic matter Carbon cycle C:N ratio Soil biology Biomass Soil Organisms & their beneficial & harmful roles.