SOIL SCIENCE

TOPICS /POINTERS TO REVIEW

AGRICULTURIST LICENSURE
EXAMINATION
 TOPICS
1. Introduction to Soil Science
2. Soil Genesis and Development
3. Soil Profile
4. Physical properties of the soil
5. Chemical properties of the soil
6. Soil Acidity (pH)
7. Biological properties
8. Soil Survey & Classification
9. Soil Fertility Management
10. Soil Conservation and Management
INTRODUCTION TO SOIL SCIENCE

• Approaches in the study of Soil Sci.

• Definition

• Composition

• Importance
2 APPROACHES IN THE
STUDY OF SOIL SCI.

 Pedological
 considers soil as natural entity, a biochemically
weathered and synthesized product of nature.
Certain aspects, such as the origin of the soil,
classification, and its description.

 Edaphological
 conceives of the soil as natural habitat of plant.
Edaphology is the study of the soil from the stand
point of higher plants. It considers the various
properties of soils as they relate to plant growth and
production.
 QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
1. A research proposal was 2. A research proposal was
submitted to the DOST to submitted to the DOST to
evaluate and assess the soil. evaluate and assess the
The protocol include the fertility of the soil for corn
history of the soil as well as production. The protocol
its physical property, include the history of the soil
mineralogy and nutrient as well as its physical
content. What approach in property, mineralogy and
soil science is the most nutrient content. What
appropriate for the approach in soil science is the
researcher to engage in his most appropriate for the
study. researcher to engage in his
 A. Pedological study.
 B. Edapological  A. Pedological
 C. Both A & C  B. Edapological
 D. None of the above  C. Both A & B
 D. None of the above
DIFFERENT FIELDS IN SOIL SCIENCE
1. Soil physics is the branch
of soil science that deals with
the physical properties of
soils. Included in this area
are the measurement,
prediction and control of
these physical properties, as
well as the ways in which
such knowledge facilitates
various applications, e.g.,
irrigation scheduling,
timing of fertilizer
application due to its
specific soil texture
DIFFERENT FIELDS IN SOIL SCIENCE

2. Soil chemistry is the

branch of soil science that
deals with the chemical
composition, chemical
properties, and
chemical reactions of
soils.
Soils are heterogeneous
mixtures of air, water,
inorganic and organic
solids, and
microorganisms (both
plant and animal in
nature). No two soils are
exactly alike.
3. Soil fertility is the ability of soil to sustain plant
growth and optimize crop yield. This can be enhanced
through organic and inorganic fertilizers to the soil.
or the ability of soil to provide proper amount and
proper proportion of nutrients to plants.
- focus on the nutrient management for the improvement
of crop production.
4. Soil taxonomy is a
hierarchical soil
classification system
with six categories, or
levels: order, suborder,
great group, subgroup,
family, and series.
Soil taxonomy is a
morphogenetic soil
classification system using
diagnostic horizons and
features to infer pathways
of soil genesis and
formation.
5. Geological agriculture is the study of
growing plants in rocks without the use of soils
and fertilizers.
All that is publicly known and can be found in the book River Stones Grow Plants by Richard Campbell. In
summary, rocks were never inert; previous experiments were not properly conducted.
6. SOIL SURVEY AND CLASSIFICATION
 Soil is the systematic Soil Classification
examination, concerns the grouping of
description, soils with a similar
classification, range of properties
mapping, and (chemical, physical
characterization of and biological) into
soils in an area and units that can be geo-
evaluation of its referenced and mapped.
agronomic potential.
7. SOIL MICROBIOLOGY
 is
the study of organisms in soil, their
functions and how they affect
properties of soil or environmental
microbiology.
8. SOIL MINERALOGY

 Soil mineralogy aims to study and understand

the soil mineral phase, which makes up
about 90% of the solid volume of mineral soils.
9. LAND USE

- the characterization of land based on what can

be built on it and what the land can be used for.
It’s determining what sort of community,
environment or settlement can be used on a
specific type of land.
 10. SOIL CONSERVATION AND
MANAGEMENT

Soil conservation practices are those farming

operations and management strategies
conducted with the goal to control soil erosion
by preventing or limiting soil particle
detachment and transport in water or air.
WHAT IS
SOIL?
 DEFINITION: SOIL (BUCKMAN & BRADY)
Soil is a natural body, synthesized in a
profile form from various mixture of
broken & weathered rocks & minerals &
decayed organic materials that covers the
earth in a thin layer and which supplies,
when containing proper amount of air,
water, mechanical support and, in part,
sustenance for plants.
 IN DEFINING SOIL, REMEMBER P-I-S-O-N

 Natural Body Nature

 Mixture of broken & weathered rocks & minerals, & decayed

OM Origin

 Synthesized in a “profile form” Structure

 Covers the Earth in thin layer (crust) Importance
 Supplies air, water, mechanical support & nutrients for crops
Purpose/Function
 Which among the definition of soil below is the
most appropriate?
A. Soil is the outer covering of the earth which is a
product of natural processes from earthen
materials that serves a medium for plants.
B. Soil is a natural product of weathering of rocks and
its components that developed in a sequence of
distinct layering that envelops the earth and
provide nutrients for plant growth and
development.
C. Soil is the thin covering of the earth’s surface from
the natural processes of decomposition of organic
and inorganic components that produces a profile
and serves as an anchorage of plants for their
survival.
D. Both A & B
E. Both B & C
F. Both A, B & C
Soil Components / Composition
(Oven Dried Soil)
  OM
OM decayed plant materials
Air (5%)

and animal manures.
(25%)
 Mineral
 Rock
Sand
Mineral


Water  Silt

(45%)  Clay
(25%)
SOIL COMPOSIGRAM
SOIL

SOLID WATER AIR LIVING MATTER

Macro organism

Organic matter Inorganic matter Micro organism

Sand Silt Clay

Soil Texture
QUESTION TO ANSWER

 Soil texture will improve upon the addition of OM?

A. Bulk application of OM will do.

B. It depends upon the OM.
C. Soil texture will not be affected by OM application.
D. Both A & B
 IMPORTANCE OF SOIL

1. Supports the growth of the plants.

➢ It is the medium for plant roots and supplies nutrient
elements essential for the entire plant.
➢ Supply plants with inorganic nutrients in the form of dissolved ions.
➢ Provides physical support anchoring the root system, besides
roots should be allowed a proper ventilation because of the
respiration process, which produces CO2 and uses O2.
➢ Roots respire thru the soil pores, thus it is important to
maintain a good soil structure.
➢ Moderates fluctuation of temperature and the insulating
property of the soil protects the deeper portion of the
rooting system from extremely hot and cold environment of
the soil surface.
Nutrient Source Category Ionic Form

C Atmosphere CO2
H Atmosphere H2O
O Atmosphere H2O
N Soil Primary Macro NH4+ / NO3-
P Soil Primary Macro HPO4= / H2PO4-
K Soil Primary Macro K+
Ca Soil Secondary Macro Ca++
Mg Soil Secondary Macro Mg++
S Soil Secondary Macro SO4=
Zn Soil Micro-Nut. Zn ++

Cu Soil Micro-Nut Cu+ / Cu++

Fe Soil Micro-Nut Fe++ / Fe +++

B Soil Micro-Nut BO3-3

Mo Soil Micro-Nut MoO4=
Mn Soil Micro-Nut Mn++ / Mn+++
Cl Soil Micro-Nut Cl-
Ni Soil Micro-Nut Ni++
2. Controls the fate of water in the hydrologic
system.

➢ Every drop of water on earth would either flow over the

surface or through the soil system.
➢ Infiltration
➢ Percolation

➢ Capillarity

➢ Run-off
➢ If the rainwater is allowed to soak into the soil
some of it will be stored and used by the trees
or other plants, some will be percolated slowly
into the soil layers and into the groundwater
and eventually to the rivers.
➢ WHC
3. Functions as nature’s recycling system

➢ Without recycling then all debris will be piled up.

➢ Decomposition process

➢ Great capacity to assimilate large quantities of organic

wastes and convert them to humus
GEOCHEMICAL RECYCLING

Carbon-Oxygen Cycle
The continuous flow of O2 & CO2 on EARTH
• Biological processes (photosynthesis, Respiration, &
Decomposition)
• Geochemical Processes (Volcanoes)
• Human activity (burning of fossil fuels & Deforestation)
4. Provides a habitat for the soil organisms,
both macro or micro organisms.

➢ One cupful of soil would mean a billions of living

organisms are present, specially in a forest
ecosystem.
5. An engineering medium which provides
foundation for roads, airport, building or
houses.
BEARING CAPACITY

 the capacity of the soil

to support the loads
applied to the ground.
 maximum average
contact pressure
between the
foundation and the
soil which should not
produce shear failure
in the soil.
SHEAR STRENGTH

 the resistance to deformation by the action of

tangential (shear) stress. Soil shear strength
is made up of cohesion between particles and
resistance of particles sliding over each other
due to friction or interlocking.
COMPRESSIBILITY

Compaction Consolidation
 the capability of a soil to decrease in volume
when subjected to a mechanical load.
 The process that describes the decrease in soil
volume (soil densification) under an
externally applied load is called compression.
STABILITY
 to the condition that an inclined slope can withstand its
own weight and external forces without experiencing
displacement.
 Slope stability uses principles of soil/rock mechanics,
geotechnical engineering and engineering geology.
END OF THE
INTRODUCTION
TOPIC

Short Break
SOIL GENESIS & DEVELOPMENT

Agriculturist Licensure Examination

Review
 TOPICS
 Soil Origin
 Rocks
 Minerals
 Organic Matter
 Weathering Process
 Physical / Chemical
 Stages of weathering

 Factors of Soil Formation

 Parent Material
 Climate
 Organisms
 Topography
 Time
 PRE-TEST QUESTIONS
1. Soil is derived from weathered and decayed...
a) Rocks b) Minerals c) OM d) A & B e) all
2. A study of rock is known as ...
a) mineralogy b) petrology c) rockology d) lithology
3. The most abundant group of minerals in the soil is...
a) silicates b) carbonates d) oxides e) halides
4 Which among the set of answers below corresponds to a
true soil profile?
a) AB b) AC c) ABC d) Both A & C e) Both B & C
5. The product of the weathering of rocks & minerals is
known as...
a) monolith b) regolith c) pedon d) none
 CONT...

6. Soil-P is derived from what particular mineral?

a) feldspar b) apatite c) talc d) pyrite e) none
7. Soil-K is derived from what particular mineral?
a) feldspar b) apatite c) talc d) pyrite e) none
8. Soil-N is also derived from a mineral.
a) true b) false d) some e) mostly
9. The movement of materials out of a portion of a soil
profile...
a) eluviation b) illuviation c) both a&b d) erosion
10. A terminology use to describe the removal of materials or
nutrients from the upper soil horizon to the lower portion
through downward movement of water?
a) percolation b) leaching c) infiltration d) none
GOD
BLESS
YOU
ALL