Introduction To Soil Science

Principles of Soil
Science
Prepared by: Engr. Mary Grace N. Semilla
Components of Global System
• Ecosystem - living organisms seem to interact amongst themselves
and with the physical environment.
• Ecology – study of ecosystem
Two Major Components:
1. Biotic – producers, consumers, decomposers (plants, animals, fungi)
2. Abiotic - ecological factors (sunlight, water, soil)
Pedosphere
• greek word pedon "soil" or "earth" and sphaira "sphere“
• is the outermost layer of the Earth that is composed of soil and subject to soil
formation processes
• is the skin of the Earth and only develops when there is a dynamic interaction
between the atmosphere (air in and above the soil), biosphere (living organisms),
lithosphere (unconsolidated regolith and consolidated bedrock) and the
hydrosphere (water in, on and below the soil).
• the foundation of terrestrial life on Earth.
Soil
• The top layer of the earth's surface in which plants can grow, consisting of rock and
mineral particles mixed with decayed organic matter and having the capability of
retaining water.
• A natural body of body of mineral and organic constituents, differentiated into
horizons of variable depth, which differs from the material below in morphology,
physical make –up chemical properties and composition, and biological characteristics
[1].
• A dynamic natural body developed as a result of pedogenic processes during and after
weathering of rocks, consisting of mineral of mineral and organic constituents [1]
Soil
• From Soil Science Society of America

- Unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of the earth
- Unconsolidated mineral or organic matter on the surface of the earth that has
been subjected to and shows the effects of genetic and environmental factors of:
climate (including water and temperature effects) and macro- and micro
organisms, conditioned by relief, acting on parent material over a period of time
Branches of Soil Science
• Soil Physics – deals with the mechanical behavior of the soil mass i.e.
physical properties of soils; measurement and control of physical processes
that take place in and through the soil
• Soil Chemistry – deals with the chemical composition and properties of soil
soil and describes the chemical processes taking place
• Soil Biology - deals with soil ecology; organisms and their role in biological
transformation in the soil
• Soil Mineralogy – deals with the minerals (primary and secondary rock
minerals) present in the soil and their contribution to the chemistry, physics,
biology and fertility of soil
• Soil Genesis and Classification – Pedology; deals with the weathering of
rocks and minerals, factors and processes of soil formation, and
classification of soils in a recognized system
• Soil Survey – systematic examination of soils in the field and laboratories,
their description and classification, the mappings of kinds of an area, and
also the interpretation of soils according to adaptability to various crops and
their productivity under different management systems
• Soil Technology – an applied science and deals with the principles and
practices of soil erosion and conservation, and management of problem
soils i.e. saline, sodic (alkali), acid, waterlogged and other degraded soil
Importance and functions of soil
• Medium in which plants are grown for food and fiber [2]
• Provides anchorage to roots enabling plants to stand erect [1]
• Acts as storehouse of water and nutrients for plant growth [1]
• Acts as an abode of flora and fauna which suitability transform nutrients for
uptake of plant roots [1]
• Provides space for air and aeration which creates a healthy environment for
the biological activity of soil organisms [1]
Importance and functions of soil
• Physically supports structures such as houses, buildings, sidewalks, streets,
and highways
• Selected types of soil containing high calcium is used for mineral supplement
for people (African countries) e.g. termite mounds for pregnant women
Concepts of the study of Soil
Soil Science - is the study of the properties of soil on the Earth’s
surface including classification of soil, soil formation, and mapping
• Soil science has played a significant role in the agricultural development sector
• The study of soil has managed to provide for human needs such as food
production, which solely depends on the soil.
• The ultimate goal of studying soil science is to provide knowledge and sufficient
information on soil formation and management for crop production.
• Another significant importance of soil science is to know the role of soil in the
storage of water.
• Soil science enables one to understand the purposes of micro and macro organisms
in the soil
History
• Probably started in the mid-nineteenth century and was dominated by
geologists, chemists, and plant physiologists
Justus von Liebig (1840) in his publication Chemistry Applied to Agriculture
and Physiology put forward theory that plants assimilate mineral nutrients
from soils which varied in their capacity of nutrient supply
Law of Restitution – whatever is being taken by plants from the soil
needs to be restored to maintain the nutrient supplying capacity of soil
Soil fertility – foundation of an important aspect of soil science
Divisions of Soil Science
• Pedology - the chemistry of soil formation, its classification, and
morphology.
• Edaphology - is the study of soil effects on living organisms, especially
plants.
Professionals associated with the field of soil science includes microbiologists,
archaeologists, chemists, engineers, and physical geographers among others.
Sources:
• [1] TD Biswas and SK Mukherjee. 1994. Textbook of Soil Science. Second Edition.Tata Mc-Graw-Hill Publishing Company
Limited, New Delhi
• [2] NS Eash, CJ Green, A Razvi and W Bennet. 2008. Soil Science Simplified. Fifth Edition. Blackwell Publishing.
• https://www.toppr.com/guides/biology/ecosystem/components-of-ecosystem/
• https://www.globe.gov/do-globe/globe-teachers-guide/soil-pedosphere
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_science
• https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-soil-science.html
Quiz No. 1
1. It is the foundation of life on earth (1 pt). SOIL or PEDOSPHERE
2. The scientist who formulated the Law of Restitution (1 pt). JUSTUS VON LIEBIG
3. What is the law of restitution? (3 pts). WHATEVER IS TAKEN NEEDS TO BE
RESTORED
4. Division of soil science which deals with the chemistry of soil formation and its
classification (1 pt). PEDOLOGY
5. Division of soil science which study the effects of soil on living organisms (1 pt).
EDAPHOLOGY
6. Deals with the mapping of classification of soil (1 pt). SOIL SURVEY
7. Give two importance of soil (3 pts)
8. An important aspect of soil science, as implied in the law of
restitution (1 pt). SOIL FERTILITY
9. What is the schools vision? (1 pt).
TAU AS ONE OF THE TOP 500 AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES
IN ASIA
10. The university mission (2 pts).
TAU is committed to improve the quality of life through the production
of competent graduates and relevant technologies in the service of the
society.
11. Unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of
the earth. SOIL
12. Deals with the mechanical behavior of the soil mass. SOIL PHYSICS
13. An applied science and deals with the principles and practices of soil
erosion and conservation. SOIL TECHNOLOGY
Assignment
1. What is weathering?
2. What are the two types of weathering and their definition?
3. What are the factors of soil formation?

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What are the major components of an ecosystem?

What is pedosphere and what are its characteristics?

Principles of Soil

• From Soil Science Society of America

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