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14 views

Module 1

Uploaded by

Dhel Baluyut
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Soil Science 1

Principles of Soil Science

MODULE 1. DEFINITION AND COMPOSITION OF SOIL


Importance of Soil:

- food
- clothing
- shelter
- recreation
- medicine

* they comes from the soil directly or indirectly


Soil vs Land
• Dokuchaev is commonly regarded as the father of soil science,
the study of soils in its natural setting. He developed soil
science in Russia, and was, perhaps the first person to make
wide geographical investigations of different soil types. His
great contribution to science was, figuratively, to "put soils on
the map".
• He introduced the idea that geographical variations in soil
type could be explained in relation not only to geological factors
(parent material), but also to climatic and topographic factors,
and the time available for pedogenesis (soil formation) to
operate. Using these ideas as a basis, he created the first soil
classification. His ideas were quickly taken up by a number of
soil scientists, including Hans Jenny.
Dokuchaev (1900) –
Soil is a natural body composed of mineral and organic
constituents, having a definite genesis and a distinct nature of its own.

Jenny (1941) –
Soil is a naturally occurring body that has been formed due to
combined influence of climate and living organisms acting on parent
material as a conditioned by relief over a period of time
Views on Soil Science

• Term Soil derived from latin word “solum” – floor

• Layman – dirt or debris


• Agriculturist – habitat for plant growth
• Mining Engineer – debris covering the rocks
• Civil Engineer – material on which road bed or house bed is formed
• Home Owner – mellow or loamy or hard material
Soil – a natural & dynamic body synthesized in
a profile form, arising from various mixtures of
broken and weathered minerals & decaying
organic matter, which covers the earth in a
thin layer, which supplies when containing the
proper amounts of air & water, mechanical
support and in part sustenance for the growth
of plants.
1. Land unsuitable for people – 7%
2. Land unsuitable for food production
but suitable for people – 13%
3. Soil used for food production – 5%
4. Oceans – 75%
Basic Sciences that are of importance to the soil:

- Chemistry
- Physics
- Biology
- Math
Soil Science - study of physical, chemical,
biochemical properties of soil it used
management and culture.
We Study Soil Because It’s A(n)

Great integrator
Medium of crop Snapshot of
production geologic, climatic,
biological, and
human history
Producer and
absorber of
gases Waste decomposer

Medium for
plant growth
Source material for
construction,
medicine, art, etc.
Home to organisms
(plants, animals and
others) Filter of water
and wastes
Essential natural resource
Soil Science

2 Approaches in the study of Soil Science


Pedological Approach Edaphological Approach

pedon + logus edaphos + logus


study study

soil itself relationship bet soil & plant


Pedologist – Highway Engineers Edaphologist - Farmers

Division of Soil Science

Soil Chemistry/ Soil Physics Soil Microbiology Soil Fertility Soil Ge nesis & Soil Survey and
Soil Mineralogy Conservation & Morphology Classification
Management
Soil Components

Solid Phase Liquid Phase


1. Mineral Matter. The minerals are extremely variable in size. Some are large as the smaller rock
fragments; others. Such as colloidal clay particles, are so small that they cannot be seen without the
aid of an electron microscope.

2. Organic Matter. Soil organic matter represents partially decayed and partially synthesized plant and
animal residues. Such material is continually being broken down by the action of soil microorganism.
Consequently, organic matter is transitory soil constituent and renewed constantly.

3. Soil water. Soil water is the major component of the soil in relation to the plant growth. The water is
held within the soil pores. If the moisture content of the soil is optimum for plant growth, plants can
readily absorb the soil water. Not all the water, soils can hold is available to plants. Much of water
remains in the soil as thin film.

4. Solid Air A part of the soil volume is not occupied by soil particles known as pore space, is filled
partly with soil water and partly with soil air. As the pore space is occupied by both water and air,
volume of air inversely with that of water. As the moisture content of the soil increases, the air content
decreases and vice versa.
Thank you very much !!!

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