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FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND EDUCATION

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
COURSE UNIT :SOIL SCIENCE , IMPROVEMENT AND WATER MANAGEMENT
COURSE CODE : AGR 1104
LECTURERS NAME : DR. JOHN OKIRROR
YEAR ONE , PRESENTATION ASSIGNMENT

QUESTIONS
1. What is edaphology
2. Write short notes on the following;
a) Soil composition
Soil properties cont…
b) Soil texture and structure
c) Soil flora and fauna
d) Soil organic matter
e) Soil physics
f) Bulk density
g) Soil water
 Meaning of edaphology:
Edaphology is the study of soil in relation to the environment , focusing on how soil affects organisms , particularly plants. It examines soil properties , formation ,
classification , and it role in the ecosystem , agriculture and land management . This field combines aspects of geology , biology and environmental science ton
understand soil’s in fluence on agriculture and ecosystem.
 Soil composition
Soil composition is the elemental make up of the soil.
Phases that soil is compost of ;
Phases of soil . Solid phase : Includes small stones and organic matter.
Liquid phase : consist of soil water.
Gaseous state : consist of air i.e oxygen and carbondioxide
soil is compost of five ingredients;
• Soil minerals [45%]
• Organic matter[4%]
• Living organisms[1%]
• Soil water[25%] and soil air[25%]
 Soil texture
Soil texture refers to the smoothness or roughness of the soil or it is the measure proportion of sand, silt and
clay.
Methods of determining soil texture;
• Sedimentation/Mechanical method
• Finger feel method
• Rolling method
Soil is typically classified into;
• Sand soil : High sand {>70%}
• Clay soil : High clay content {>40%}
• Loam soil : Balanced mixture of sand , silt and clay{40-70%},sand and clay{10-40%}
Textural classes or types of soil types;
There are three main textural classes of soil i.e clay soil , sandy and loam soil. These three give rise to each class depending on the percentage of sand ,
silt and clay present in particular soil e.g sand clay , loam , silty clay loam , sandy clay loam , loamy clay sand and silty clay

Properties of textural classes.

Clay soil
 Has a high water holding capacity
 Has small air spaces
 Has a high nutrient holding capacity
 It is not gritty
 It forms extremely cohesive balls and long threads which bend into rings easily when wetted
Properties of textural classes of soil……

Sand soil
• It is extremely gritty
• It is not smooth
• It is not plastic
• It forms non cohesive balls which collapse easily
• It drains water easily
• Has big soil particles
• Has big air spaces
Properties of textural classes of soil……

Loam soil
• It is moderately gritty
• It is slightly smooth
• It is slightly sticky
• Has moderate water holding capacity
• It contains (5 – 10%) organic matter.
Factors that affect soil texture;
 Water holding capacity; Clay soils retain more water while sandy soils drain quickly.
 Drainage; Sandy soils drain faster , while clay soils are prone to quickly
 Aeration ; Sandy soils have better aeration while clay soil soils are poorly aerated .
 Root growth ; Loamy soils are often ideal for better root growth while clay soil are restrictive to root growth.


Fertility ; soil texture influences nutrient availability and retention .
 Soil texture

Importance of soil texture

 It influences soil aeration
 It influences soil drainage
 It influence the root penetration into the soil
 It affects soil temperature
 It influences the workability of the soil
 It influences the ability of the soil to hold soil nutrients
 It influences the water holding capacity of the soil
 Soil structure
Soil structure is the overall arrangement of soil particles or it is the compactness or looseness of the soil . The individual soil particles are joint together to form
aggregates.
Classes of soil structure
Structureless or single grained soils : These are single separate grained soils that do not stick together.
Massive : This is found in very textured soils where soil particles unite with others.
Aggregated : This is an ideal structure where particles stick together to secondary or large particles.
Types of soil structure
Crumb : It has a lot of organic matter
Granular : particles are inform of granules but grouped together
Columnar : The particles are arranged inform of columnar like structure
Prismatic: Particles are arranged inform of prisms with leveled tops
Platy : Particles are arranged on top of each other to form horizontal plates
Importance of soil structure
 Controls the passage of water in the soil
 Influences the occurance of soil erosion
 Influences the availability of plant nutrients in the soil
 Influences the workability of the soil.
 It controls soil PH by controlling the exchange of gases.
 Soil organic matter
• Soil organic matter refers to the organic component of the soil comprising of decayed and partially dead animal and plant residues.
• Components of organic matter
• Litter : Includes relatively undecomposed dead parts of plants and their wastes that have been deposited on the soil surface.
• Residues : Includes dead parts of plants and animals that are actively decomposing
• Humus : Well decomposed and stable organic matter.
 Properties of organic matter
 Low elasticity
 Dark in colour6=-Spongy
 Contains plenty of mineral ions
 Importance of organic matter in the soil
 Provides food and shelter for soil living macro organisms
 Improves soil structure
 Improves soil aeration
 Buffers soil PH
How organic matter can be increased in the soil;
• Minimum tillage
• Liming to increase the living organisms
• Mulching
• Application of organic matter
• Ploughing back crop residues in the soil
• Proper drainage
• Crop rotation
 Soil flora
Soil flora refers to the diverse range of microorganisms plant species that live in the soil. These organisms play a
crucial role in maintaining soil health , fertility and ecosystem balance;
 Microflora; These are microscopic organisms , primarily bacteria and fungi that play crucial roles in nutrient cycling
, organic matter decomposing and soil structure improvement.
 Macrophytes ; Large plant species , such as grasses and herbs that may root in or around the soil , influencing its
composition and stability
Role in the ecosystem
• Nutrient cycling; Contributes to the breakdown of organic matter , releasing nutrients back into the soil.
• Soil structure ; Root systems help bind soil particles together, improving soil aeration and water retention.
• Symbiotic relationships; Many soil flora engage in symbiotic relationships such as mycorrhizal fungi with plant
roots and enhancing nutrient uptake.
• Influencing factors ; Soil flora composition is affected by factors like soil type , moisture , PH, temperature , and
land use practices.
Soil fauna
Soil fauna refers to the diverse group of animals living in the soil , playing a crucial role in the soil health , nutrient recycling and decomposition . They are broadly
classified into three groups based on their size.
Microfauna( e.g nematodes , protozoa ) . These are tiny organisms , often microscopic , that help in the breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients by
feeding on bacteria and other microorganisms.
Mesofauna( e.g mites , springtails). These creatures are larger than microfauna and assist in decomposing organic matter. They feed on decaying plant material and
other smaller soil organisms contributing to the breakdown process
Macrofauna(e.g earthworms , ants , beetles ). These organisms are visible to the naked eye and play a significant role in the soil structure by aerating the soil , mixing
organic material , and enhancing nutrient availability through their borrowing activities.
Importance of soil fauna
Aid in decomposition, converting organic material into nutrients available for plants.
Improves on soil structure, which enhances on water infiltration and root growth.
Help in nutrient recycling , making essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus more accessible to pants.
Support the food web , serving as food for larger organisms like birds and small mammals.
Soil physics

Soil physics is the study of physical properties and processes of the soil , including its structure , tex5ture , water movement and air circulation . It focuses on how
these physical aspects influence soil behavior and plant growth. Key aspects include;
• Soil texture
• Soil structure
• Water retention and movement Soil compaction
• Soil temperature
Importance of soil physics
1. Erosion control; understanding soil mechanics aids in developing techniques to prevent soil erosion and maintains health
2. Climate change mitigation: Studying soil carbon dynamics can inform strategies for carbon sequestration , helping to combat climate change.
3. Environmental protection ; Soil physics helps in assessing soil contamination and the effectiveness of remediation strategies , promoting sustainable land use.
4. Water management ; knowledge of soil moisture retention and drainage informs irrigation practices and helps prevent waterlooging and erosion.
5. Agricultural productivity ;Understanding soul properties helps in managing water , nutrients and air circulation which are vital for plant growth.
Bulk density
Bulk density is the mass the mass of the dry soil per unit volume or refers to the ratio of the weight of the soil to the volume of the soil . Bulk density=weight of oven
dry soil(g)/The volume of the oven dry soil (cm)
Factors that influence soil bulk density
• Particle size ; Smaller particles tend to pack more closely together , increasing bulk density.
• Organic matter content; In the soils, higher organic matter can lower bulk density due to its light weight compared to mineral components.
• Cultivation; Tillage can compact soil reducing pore spaces and increasing the bulk density while reduced tillage or conservation tillage can help maintain lower bulk
density by preserving soil structure.
• Soil structure ; Well –aggregted soils can have lower bulk density due to increased porosity.
• Particle sizes; Different textures affect the amount and size of pore spaces ; finer soils generally have higher bulk density due to smaller pore spaces.
• Cropping; Deep rooted crops can create channels in the soil , increasing pore space and potentially lowering bulk density.
Soil water
Soil water is the medium from which all plant nutrients are assimilated by plants
Types of soil water;
• Gravitational water : This is excess water that can easily flow from the soil . It is not available to crop plants.
• Hygroscopic water: This is the kind of water that is held so tightly on the soil particles that they are not absorbed by crop plants.
• Capillary water : This is the kind of water that is held in the spaces between soil particles and it is easily absorbed by plants.
Importance of soil water
 It is necessary for seed germination
 It is an essential solvent
 It dissolves plant nutrients for plant absorption
 It cools the temperature of the soil through transpiration
 It controls the amount of soil air present in the soil
 Keeps the soil soft for easy cultivation
 Important in chemical weathering of rocks
 Removes toxic substances from the soil.
 It prevents dessication of plant roots and microorganisms
 It dissolves plant nutrients for plant absorption
REFERANCE

• Jury , W.A and Horton , R.[2004] Soil physics

• Kevan , D.K.[1965] Page 33-51 Soil flora and fauna
• Pal , D.K.[2019] , Springer international publishing.
• Vocational agriculture by Kizito Gerald
GROUP 2 MEMBERS
S/N NAME REG. NO.

1 KATO ANTHONY BU/UP/2024/1274

2 YEKO AZIZ BU/UP/2024/1313
3 AMOIT SHARON BU/UP/2024/4391
4 CHEBET ABRAHAM BU/UP/2024/1252
5 BONGOMIN AMBROSE BU/UP/2024/1250
6 ACEN NORAH BU/UP/2024/1241
7 CHEPTOEK EZEKIEL BU/UP/2024/1236
8 OTEBA ARON BU/UP/2024/1299
9 WASSWA DENISON BU/UP/2024/1306
10 NAMWABIRA JANE MARTHA BU/UP/2024/1291

11 CHEPTOEK MOLLY BU/UP/2024/1259

12 BUTEME WINNIE BU/UP/2024/3508

13 MUWANGUZI CYRUS BU/P/2024/1237

14 MUKIMBA GLADYS BU/UP/2024/1285

15 WAGALUKA ZUBAIRI BU/UP/2024/1305

16 AMUGE ISABELLA BU/UP/2024/1246

17 AUMA MONICA BU/UP/2024/1247

18 AKELLO JOAN BU/UP/2024/1243

19 DRATERU TEDDY BU/UP/2024/1263