Soil Science by Roshan Sir

SOIL SCIENCE
Part 1
Rocks & Its Weathering
Classes of Rocks
Sources of plant nutrients
Chemical composition of earth’s crust
ALL FREE CLASSES
© Roshan Kumar, M Tech IIT Kharagpur

Depending upon the mode of formation rocks are of three
main classes
1. Igneous
A. Plutonic
• Inside earth
• Granite, Diorite, Syenite, Gabbro
B. Volcanic Rocks
• Outside earth
• Basalt, Trachyte, Andesite
2. Sedimentary rocks
• Limestone, Sandstone, Dolomite, Shale, Conglomerate
3. Metamorphic rocks
• Gneiss, Marble, Schists, Slate, Calcite, Quartzite

Rock minerals
Minerals are natural occurring substances with definite, chemical
composition and physical features e.g. quartz, orthoclase
• Rocks are mixture of minerals
1. Quartz:
• Acid rocks give rise to sandier types
• Basic rocks clayey types
2. Feldspar
• Such minerals constitute about 48% of earth’s crust whereas Quartz 36% and
micas 10 %
3. Micas
4. Olivine
5. Tourmaline

Primary and secondary minerals
1. Primary minerals
• dominate the coarser fractions of soil viz sands, gravel, stone
• Quartz, muscovite etc
2. Secondary minerals
• most prominent in the fine materials especially clays
• Geothite, haematite

1. Very slowly weathered
• Quartz(most resistant)
• Muscovite(more resistant)
2. Moderate resistant/slowly weathered
• Feldspar(orthoclase)
• Biotite
3. Easily weathered/ least resistance
• Augite, hornblende, olivine, calcite

Classification of rocks on basis of silica content
1. Acid rocks: 65 -70% silica
2. Basic rocks: 40 – 55% silica
3. Intermediate rocks: 55 -65% silica

Weathering of rocks:
• Rocks containing complex minerals weather more easily
• Basic igneous rocks weather more than acid igneous rocks.
• Sedimentary rocks are more resistant to weathering than igneous and metamorphic rocks.
• Limestone weathers more easily than sandstone.
• The mechanical breakdown of the rocks is referred to as weathering of rocks and the chemical
and biological change taking place may be taken to constitute the formation of soil.
Three types of weathering:
• Physical weathering
• Skeletal soils
• Chemical weathering
• Two phases
• Disappearance of certain minerals
• Formation of secondary products
• Biological weathering
• Physical and chemical weathering by biological agencies

More important topics for exam
• Sources of plant nutrients
• Chemical composition of earth’s crust

SOIL SCIENCE
Part 2
Factors of Soil Formation
Soil Forming Processes
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Soil Forming Processes
• Fundamental processes
• Humification : Decomposition of OM to form humus
• Elluviation : Washing out, from upper layers
• Illluviation : Washing in, deposition, lower layers
• Horizonation
• Special pedogenic processes
• Zonal pedogenic processes
• Calcification And Gypsifiaction
• Decalcification
• Podozolization
• Laterization
• Intrazonal process
• Gleization
• Salination
• Solonization
• Solodization
• Pedoturbation
Factors of Soil Formation
• Parent material
• Texture determines the depth of soil profile
• Topography/ Relief
• The soils of upper slope are less clayey, lower in pH, soluble salts and
organic matter contents, Lighter in colour and well drained in comparison
to the soils at lower slope. Soil of the valley is generally deep and clayey
• Climate
• Organism(biosphere)
• Time and age of land
SOIL SCIENCE
Part 3
• Soil and Its Physical Properties
• Soil Profile

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Soil and Its Physical Properties
There are two basic concepts of soil
1) Pedology
• Study of origin , classification, description of soil
• A/t pedology, soil is a natural body
2) Edaphology
• Study of soil from the standpoint of higher plants
• A/T Edaphology Soil Is Natural habitat
Organic Soil
• 20% organic matter in low clay content
• 30% in high clay content soil
Mineral soil
• < 20% OM
• Organic surface layer upto 30 cm
Law of Minimum
• Von Liebig
SOIL PROFILE
• Soil Profile - Vertical section of the soil
• Solum - Horizons above the parent material are
collectively referred to as the solum
• Horizons - Individual Layers
1. O - Organic horizon above mineral soil
2. A - Topmost mineral horizon
3. E/ A2 - Horizon of maximum eluviation
4. AB/EB nearly like those of A(or E)
5. B Maximum accumulation (Illuviation)
6. C
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL
• Soil texture
• Soil Structure
• Particle density of mineral soil
• Bulk density (BD)
• Pore space solid space
• Soil consistency
• Soil colour
• Soil air
• Soil temperature
• Soil water
SOIL TEXTURE
• Relative proportion of sand silt and clay
• Mechanical analysis hydrometric method
1. Stone > 20mm
2. Gravel 2 – 20 mm
3. Fine Earth < 2 mm
1. Coarse Sand 0.2 - 2 mm
2. Fine Sand 0.02 – 0.2 mm
3. Silt 0.002- 0.02
4. Clay <0.002
Textural CLASSES
• The proportions of predominant size of
fractions of sand silt and clay is the basis
for classification of soil texture
Soil Structure
➢Arrangement of soil particles
➢Individual aggregates are known as peds or
secondary units
➢Two forms of structureless conditions are
recognized
• Single grain
• Massive
Shapes of soil structure
1. Platy - In recently deposited clay soil
2. Prism – In B horizon, vertically oriented
• When the tops are flat , these vertical aggregates are called
prismatic and when rounded they are known as columnar
3. Block like - In humid regions and upper part
of B horizon
4. Spheroidal <= 2 cm diameter, A horizon,
called granules and crumb (when porous)
• Particle density of mineral soil
• Dp = 2.65 (avg arable mineral soil)
• Dp of OM 1.1 to1.4 g/cm3
• Bulk density (BD)
• BD = 1.33 g/cm3
• Pore space/ Solid space
• %cent solid space = BD/PD X100
Soil type % pore space
• Clay 50 – 60 %
• Loamy 30 – 50 %
• Sandy 20 – 30 %
• Pores less than 0.06 mm in diameter
micropores and macropores> 0.06 mm
• Soil consistency
- Resistance of soil material to deformation or rupture
• Soil colour
- Due to either mineral matter or OM and mostly to both
- OM black
- Iron red, brown yellow
- Silica white , grey
• Soil air
O2 CO2 N2
• Soil air 20.60 0.25 – 1.0 79.2
• Atmosphere 20.96 .03 79.2
• Field Air Capacity - Fractional volume of air in a soil at field
capacity
• Soil temperature
SOIL WATER
1. Physical classification
of soil water
1. Hygroscopic
2. Capillary
3. Gravitational
2. Biological
classification
1. Superfluous
(gravitational )
2. Available
3. Unavialable
• Field Capacity
• Permanent Wilting Point
• Hygroscopic Coefficient
SOIL SCIENCE
Part 4
• Soil Colloids and
• Silicate Clay Minerals
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Soil Colloids and Silicate Clay Minerals
Composition of clay
• Micelles (micro cells): -ve charges
• Gunny layer
• Stern layer
Acid nature of clay
• Order of strength of adsorption or ability
to flocculate soil colloids
Sesquioxide clays
Silica sesquioxide ratio
• Black soils 3.0 4.3
• Ashy grey and black soils > 2.5
• Red or brown soils 2.0 2.5
• Laterilte soils <1.33
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Silicate clay minerals
• Phyllosilicate, most important
• One type of sheet is dominated by silicon
(Si) and other by Al and /or Mg
• Si dominated sheet – Tetrahedral
• Al/Mg dominated sheet – octahedral
• Al dominated sheet – Dioctahedral
• Mg dominated sheet – Trioctahedral
• Classification of silicate clays
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Classification of Silicate Clays
1. 1:1 type – one tetrahedral, one octahedral (Al)
• Kaolinite
• Halloysite, nacrite & Dickite
2. 2:1 Type
I. Expanding minerals
• Smectite groups
• Montmorrilonite, Beidellite, Nontrornite
• Vermiculite- limited expansion clay
II. Non expanding minerals
• Micas muscovite
• Biotite, illite
3. 2:1:1 Type (2:2) Type minerals
• Chlorites
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SOIL SCIENCE
Part 5
• Soil Taxonomy
• Soils of India
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Soil Taxonomy and Soils of India
• Every soil is classified in six hierarchical categories. From highest rank to lowest (i.e., in order of
increasing differentiating characteristics), these categories are order, suborder, great group,
subgroup, family, and series.
Six categories adopted
1. Order
2. Suborder
3. Great group
4. Sub group
5. Family
6. Series
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There are 12 soil orders (on the basis of soil forming processes)
1. Inceptisols: (L), Beginning
2. Entisols: Recently formed
3. Histosols: (Gr), tissues
4. Spodosols: (Gr), Wood Ash
5. Oxisols: (fr), Oxide
6. Vertisols: (L), Turn
7. Aridisols: (L), Dry
8. Ultisols: (L), Last
9. Mollisols: (L), Soft
10.Alfisols
11.Endisols
12.Gedisols
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Soils of India
• 8 major groups
1. Alluvial soils
2. Black soils
3. Red soils
4. Laterite soils
5. Desert soils
6. Forest and Mountain Soils
7. Saline and Alkaline soils
8. Peaty and Marshy Soils
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1. Alluvial soils
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2. Black soils
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3. Red soils
4. Laterite soils
5. Desert soils
6. Forest and Mountain Soils
7. Saline and Alkaline soils
8. Peaty and Marshy Soils
SOIL ORGANIC MATTER
1. Humic substances & Non humic substances
2. Humus
3. Significance of C:N ratio
4. Mineralization and immobilization
5. Aminization, Ammonification & Nitrification
6. Voltalisation & Microbial denitrification
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Nature of Soil organic matter
• Undecayed Plants and animals + Humus
• Composition of humus
1. C – 50 %
2. O – 35 %
3. N – 5 %
4. H – 5%
Soil organic matter
• Humic Substance
• Yellow/ Brown to Black, acidic, high molecular weight
• Three types (based on solubility)
1. Fulvic acid : m1, AB,
2. Humic acid : m2, B-
3. Humin : m3, --,
• Non Humic Substance
• Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, waxes, resins, pigments
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Humus
• Complex, amorphous, colloidal
• Fulvic acid, humic acid, humin all come under humus
• Humus is in dynamic condition
• 40-45% lignin, 30 – 33 % protiens, also called Ligno Protein
• C:N RATIO 10:1
Nature and characteristics of humus
• High surface area
• Particles composed of C, H, O
• Negatively Charged
• CEC – 150 -300 C mol/kg soil
• High water holding capacity
• Black colour
Factors affecting O M decomposition
1. Moisture
2. Temperature : most active at 24 – 35 OC
3. Aeration
4. C:N ratio: Low N content / wide C:N ratio slows down Decaying Process
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Significance of C:N ratio
• Keen competition among microorganisms for
available N results when residues having a high C:N
ratio are added to soils
• Because this ratio is relatively constant in soil, the
maintenance of C and hence OM in soil depends
largely on the soil Nitrogen level
Muck and Peat soils

• Muck soils highly decomposed
• Peat soils partially decomposed
Role of OM
• Sources of plant nutrients
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Mineralization and Immobilization
• Mineralisation
• Mineralisation is conversion of an element from an
immobilized form to an available form as a result of
micobial decomposition
• Immobilisation
• Immobilisation is the reverse of mineralization
• Available form of an element is fixed as immobile form
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Nitrogen
• 20-40% - In form of bound amino acids
• 5 – 10 % As combined hexose amines
• 1 – 3 % is Mineralized
• C:N > 30 Immobilization
• C:N < 20 Mineralization
CLASSIFICATION OF AVAILABLE NITROGEN
• Low status < 250 kg N/ ha
• Medium 250 -500 kg N/ ha
• High > 500 kg N/ ha
Phosphorus
• 25 – 80 % present in organic form
• 40 -80 % in form of phytin or derivatives
• 0 – 10 % Nucleic acid
• C:N:P = 100:10:1
• C:P >100 Immobilisation
Sulphur
• C:S < 200 Released
• C:S >400 Tie Up
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MINERALISATION OF ORGANIC NITROGEN
• 3 Steps
1. AMINIZATION
OM-----Hydrolysis------>Polypeptides
Polypeptides/Proteins->RNH2 +CO2+ ENERGY
2. AMMONIFICATION
RNH2+HOH---------→NH3 + R-OH +ENERGY
3. NITRIFICATION
NH3--------→NO2-
NO2-------→NO3-
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NITROGEN LOSSES
• 3 Ways
1. VOLTALISATION
• N2 is lost in the form of NH3
2. CHEMICAL DECOMPOSITION
1. Decomposition of NH4NO2
2. Van Slyke Reaction
3. Spontaneous Decomposition of Nitrous Acid
3. MICROBIAL DENITRIFICATION
• Formation and loss of gaseous form of N by biological
reduction of NO3- and NO2-
MICROBIAL DENITRIFICATION
• Formation and loss of gaseous form of N by biological
reduction of NO3- and NO2-
2HNO3 2HNO2 2NO N2O N2

MANURES & FERTILIZERS
1. Rocks and its weathering
2. Soil formation 1. MANURES
3. Soil and its physical
properties 2. Fertilizers
4. Soil colloids and silicate clay
minerals 3. Bio fertilizers
5. Soil taxonomy and soils of
India
6. Soil organic matter
7. Manures, fertilizers and
biofertilizers
8. Soil fertility and productivity /LoginAgri
9. Mineral nutrition /Agricultural Field Officer IBPS
10. Saline, alkali and acid soils
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MANURES
• Plant and animal wastes which are used as sources of plant nutrients
• Materials like cattle manure and other bulky natural substances those are applied to
land to increase the production of crops
Advantages of manuring
• Supply plant nutrients
• Improve soil physical properties
Two types (on the basis of concentration of nutrients)

1. Bulky organic manures
• Contains small percentage of nutrients and they are applied in large quantities
• Farm yard manure(FYM), Compost, Night soil (or poudrette), Sewage and
sludge, Sheep and goat manure, Poultry manure, Green manure
2. Concentrated organic manures
• Have higher nutrients than bulky organic manures
• Bird guano, Fish guano, Fish manure, Raw bonemeal, Steamed bonemeal
Blood meal, meat meal/meat guano/tankage, Calcined bone, oilcakes
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I. Farm yard manure(FYM)
II. Compost
III. Night soil (or poudrette)
IV. Sewage and sludge
V. Sheep and goat manure
VI. Poultry manure
VII. Green manure
I. Bird guano
II. Fish guano
III. Fish manure
IV. Raw bonemeal
V. Steamed bonemeal
VI. Blood meal meat meal/meat guano/tankage
VII. Calcined bone
VIII.oilcakes
I. Farm yard manure(FYM):
• Decomposed mixture of dung and urine of farm animals along with litter and
left over material from roughages or fodder fed to the cattle.
• N - 0.5%, P2O5 – 0.2 % and K2O – 0.5%
• FYM is the most commonly used organic manure in India.
• Hot and cold manure – manure obtained from the excreta of horses and
sheep is called hot manure, pig and cattle manure is called cold manure
• Short and long manure – decomposed manure is short manure, fresh manure
is long manure
• Fire fanging – fungal growth on the surface of moist manure
II. Compost
VI. Poultry manure
VII. Green manure
I. Bird guano
II. Fish guano
III. Fish manure
IV. Raw bonemeal
V. Steamed bonemeal
VII. Calcined bone
VIII. oilcakes
II. Compost
• Decomposed material of Vegetable and animal refuse except dung
• Supercompost – superphosphate is used during composting
• Azocompost – compost by N – fixing bacteria, cheapest source of N among all
organic manures
• Farm compost – from farm waste sugarcane trash, paddy straw, weeds, other
plants,
• Town compost – from town refuses like night soil, street sweepings and dustbin
refuse
• Farm compost – 0.5% N, 0.15% P2O5, 0.5%K2O
• Town compost – 1.4 % N, 1% P2O5, K2O – 1.4 %
VI. Poultry manure
VII. Green manure
I. Bird guano
II. Fish guano
III. Fish manure
IV. Raw bonemeal
V. Steamed bonemeal
VII. Calcined bone
VIII. oilcakes
II. Compost

• Human excreta
• N – 5%, P2O5 – 2.0 %, K2O – 2 %
• Solid portion in sewage is sludge and liquid portion is sewage water
• Activated sludge – N – 3 – 6%, P2O5 – 2 %, K2O – 1 %
VI. Poultry manure
VII. Green manure
I. Bird guano
II. Fish guano
III. Fish manure
IV. Raw bonemeal
V. Steamed bonemeal
VII. Calcined bone
VIII. oilcakes
II. Compost
IV.Sewage and sludge

• Solid portion in sewage is sludge and liquid portion is sewage
water
• Activated sludge – N – 3 – 6%, P2O5 – 2 %, K2O – 1 %
VI. Poultry manure
VII. Green manure
I. Bird guano
II. Fish guano
III. Fish manure
IV. Raw bonemeal
V. Steamed bonemeal
VII. Calcined bone
VIII. oilcakes
II. Compost
• N – 3 %, P2O5 – 1 %, K2O – 2 %
VI.Poultry manure
• N – 3.03 %, P2O5 – 2.63 %, K2O – 1.4 %
VII. Green manure
I. Bird guano
II. Fish guano
III. Fish manure
IV. Raw bonemeal
V. Steamed bonemeal
VII. Calcined bone
VIII. oilcakes
II. Compost
VI. Poultry manure
VII.Green manure
• Green undecomposed plant materials used as manure
• Green manuring – sunhemp, dhaincha, sesbaniya rostrata
• Green leaf manuring – neem, mahua, subabul
I. Bird guano
• Excreta and dead remains of the birds
• N – 7 – 8 %, P2O5 – 11 – 14 %, K2O – 2 – 3 %
II. Fish guano
III. Fish manure
IV. Raw bonemeal
V. Steamed bonemeal
VII. Calcined bone
VIII. oilcakes
II. Compost
VI. Poultry manure
VII. Green manure
• Green undecomposed plant materials used as manure
• Green manuring – sunhemp, dhaincha, sesbaniya rostrata
• Green leaf manuring – neem, mahua, subabul
I. Bird guano
• Excreta and dead remains of the birds
• N – 7 – 8 %, P2O5 – 11 – 14 %, K2O – 2 – 3 %
II. Fish guano
III. Fish manure
IV. Raw bonemeal
V. Steamed bonemeal
VII. Calcined bone
VIII. oilcakes
II. Compost
VI. Poultry manure
VII. Green manure
I. Bird guano
II. Fish guano

• 7 % N, 8% P2O5
III.Fish manure
• 4 – 10 % N, 3 – 9 % P2O5, 0.3 – 1.5% K2O
IV.Raw bonemeal
• 3 – 4 %, N, 20 – 25 % P2O5
V. Steamed bonemeal
• 1- 2 % N, 25 – 30 % P2O5
VII. Calcined bone
VIII. oilcakes
II. Compost
VI. Poultry manure
VII. Green manure
I. Bird guano
II. Fish guano
III. Fish manure
IV. Raw bonemeal
V. Steamed bonemeal
VI.Blood meal
• 13 -20 % N,
VII. Meat meal/meat guano/tankage
VIII. Calcined bone
IX. oilcakes
II. Compost
VI. Poultry manure
VII. Green manure
I. Bird guano
II. Fish guano
III. Fish manure
IV. Raw bonemeal
V. Steamed bonemeal
VI. Blood meal
VII.Meat meal/meat guano/tankage
• 8 -9 % N, 7 % P2O5
VIII.Calcined bone
• 37 % P2O5
IX. Oilcakes
• Sunflower cake : 7.8 % N
• Groudnut cake : 7.2 % N
Fertilizers
• Fertilizer is the chemical substances which can be added to the soil to
increase its nutrient content.
• On the other hand, Manure refers to the natural substance that is obtained
from the decomposition of the waste of plant and animals such as cow dung,
etc.
• Amendments – substances added to soils for improvement of their condition.
eg gypsum, lime
Classification of Fertilizers
• Straight fertilizers
• eg. Urea, ammonium sulphate
• Binary fertilizer
• eg. Potassium nitrate
• Ternary fertilizer
• eg. Ammonium potassium phosphate
• Compound/ complex fertilizer
• Mixed fertilizer
• Complete fertilizer
• Incomplete fertilizer
• Low analysis fertilizer
• High analysis fertilizer
• Nitro phosphate, amm-phosphate
Fertilizer grade
Minimum guarantee of the plant nutrient contents in the terms of N,
available P2O5 and K2O eg 6:24:24
Fertilizer ratio
Relative percentage of N, P2O5 and K2O eg 1:4:4
Acidity and Basicity of fertilizer

Equivalent acidity
Amount of CaCO3 required to neutralize the acid residue caused by
application of acidic fertilizer
Equivalent basicity
Residual basicity caused by application of basic fertilizers, expressed
in terms of CaCO3 equivalent of basic residue left by a fertilizer
material (kg/100 Kg of fertilizer salt)
Average Nutrient content of common fertilizers
• Nitrogenous fertilizers
• Phosphatic fertilizers
• Potassic fertilizers
Nitrogenous fertilizers
1. Nitrate form
1. Sodium nitrate
2. Calcium nitrate
2. Ammonical form
1. Ammonium phosphate
2. Ammonium chloride
3. Ammonium sulphate
4. Anhydrous ammonia
3. Ammonical nitrate form
1. Ammonium nitrate
2. Ammonium sulphate nitrate
3. Calcium ammonium nitrate
4. Amide Form
1. Urea
2. Cyanamide/ nitrolim/ cal. Cyanamide
Phosphatic fertilizers
• 3 types
1. Water soluble
1. Super phosphate
1. Single super phosphate
2. Double super phosphate
3. Triple super phosphate
2. Monoammonium phosphate
3. Diammonium phosphate
2. Citrate soluble
1. Dicalcium phosphate
2. Thomas/ basic slag
3. Rhemania phosphate
3. Citrate and water insoluble
1. Rock phosphate
2. Raw bone meal
3. Steamed bonemeal
• 3 types
1. Water soluble
1. Super phosphate
1. Single super phosphate
2. Double super phosphate
3. Triple super phosphate
2. Citrate soluble
• 33 – 40 % P2O5
• 14 - 18 % P2O5
• 23- 26 % P2O5
1. Rock phosphate
2. Raw bone meal
3. Steamed bonemeal
• 3 types
1. Water soluble
1. Super phosphate
2. Citrate soluble
1. Rock phosphate
• 23 – 30 % P2O5
2. Raw bone meal
• 3 – 4 % N + 20 – 25 % P2O5
3. Steamed bonemeal
• 1 – 2 % N+20 – 30 % P2O5
Potassic fertilizers
1. Muriate of potash(MOP)
• MOP
• KCl
• 60 % K2O
2. Potassium sulphate or sulphate of potash (SOP)
• K2SO4
• 48% K2O, 17.5% S
3. Nitrate of potash (NOP)/ Potassium nitrate (KNO3)
• Salt Petre/Nitre
• 44% K2O, 13% N
Micronutrient fertilizers
• Micronutrients are essential for plant growth and play an important role in
balanced crop nutrition. They include boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe),
manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni) and chloride (Cl).
• Organic compounds like EDTA, DTPA, CDTA have the ability to chelate or loosely hold metallic
ions in their cyclic structure and these metal organic complexes are called metal chelates
• Nitrification inhibitors and slow release fertilizers

• Nitrification inhibitors
• Decrease the activity of nitrifying bacteria
For lowland
• Oxamide
• Dicyandiamide (DD)
• Thiourea (TU)
• Urea pyrolyzate
For upland
• AM
• N – Serve
Others
• ASU
• Nitrapyrin
• Neem Cake
• Slow release fertilizers
Micronutrient fertilizers
• Micronutrients are essential for plant growth and play an important role
in balanced crop nutrition. They include boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe),
manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni) and chloride
(Cl).
• Organic compounds like EDTA, DTPA, CDTA have the ability to chelate or loosely hold
metallic ions in their cyclic structure and these metal organic complexes are called metal
chelates
• Nitrification inhibitors and slow release fertilizers

• Nitrification inhibitors
• Slow release fertilizers
To overcome the problem of leaching, the solubility of nitrogen fertilizers are reduced by
1. SYNTHESIZING COMPOUNDS WHICH ARE INHERENTLY LESS SOLUBLE
1. IBDU
2. CDU
3. GUS
4. UREA FORMALDEHYDE (UF)
5. OXAMIDE
2. COATING BARRIERS
3. FORMATION OF SUPER GRANULES
Bio Fertilizers/ Microbial Inoculants
• Preparation containing live or latent cells of efficient strains of N – Fixing,
PO43-solubilizing or cellulolytic micro organisms used for application of seed ,
soil or composting areas with the objective of increasing the number of such
micro – organisms and accelerate certain microbial process to augment the
extent of the availability of nutrients in a form which can be assimilated by
plants.
Application
• Seed inoculant
• Rhizobium culture
• Soil inoculant
• Azotobactor, Azospirillum
• Biological nitrogen fixation
• Avg fixation of N2 by legumes
• Alfalfa (Lucern) 194 Kg N/Ha
• Common legumes and the Rhizobium strains by which they are inoculated
• R. Leguminosarum – Pea (Pisum)
Fixation of atmospheric Nitrogen
A. Symbiotic nitrogen
a) Nodule forming
I. With legumes
II. With non legumes
b) Without nodule
B. Non symbiotic N fixation
a) Fixation by heterotrophs
• Aerobic bacteria
• Azotobactor chrocuum and azotobactor vinefandi
• Beijernckia
• Anaerobic bacteria : chlostridium
b) Fixation by autotrophs
• Azotobacter
• Azospirillum
• Saprophytes
• Biological nitrogen fixation
• Avg fixation of N2 by legumes
• Alfalfa (Lucern) 194 Kg N/Ha
• Common legumes and the Rhizobium strains by which they are inoculated
• R. Leguminosarum – Pea (Pisum)
Fixation of atmospheric Nitrogen
A. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation
a) Nodule forming
I. With legumes
II. With non legumes
b) Without nodule
B. Non symbiotic N fixation
a) Fixation by heterotrophs
• Aerobic bacteria
• Azotobactor chrocuum and azotobactor vinefandi
• Beijernckia
• Anaerobic bacteria : chlostridium
b) Fixation by autotrophs
• Azotobacter
• Azospirillum
• Saprophytes
1. Rocks and its
weathering
2. Soil formation
3. Soil and its
physical
SOIL FERTILITY
properties
4. Soil colloids and
&
PRODUCTIVITY
silicate clay
minerals
5. Soil taxonomy
and soils of
India
6. Soil organic 1. Available nutrient analysis of soil
matter 2. Soil fertility and productivity
7. Manures,
fertilizers and 3. Crop logging
biofertilizers
8. Soil fertility and /LoginAgri
productivity
9. Mineral /Agricultural Field Officer IBPS
nutrition
10. Saline, alkali 8237783981
and acid soils © Roshan Kumar, M Tech IIT Kharagpur
Available nutrient analysis of soil
• For analyzing available nutrients, first available nutrients
are extracted by using reagent known as extracting reagent
• For available N, 0.25% KMnO4 (Potassium

Permanganate) is used
• For Phosphorus, 0.5 M Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) pH
8.5 is used
• For Potash, 1 N neutral Ammonium Acetate
(CH3COONH4) is used.
After extracting the nutrients, actual amount of

available nutrient is determined by colorimetric
method
25-Dec-18 76
On the basis of analysis of available nutrient, soil fertility is
classified broadly into 3 groups
N
• Low status
<250 Kg /ha
• Medium
250 -500 Kg / ha
• High
>500 Kg /ha
P
• Low
<20 kg /ha
• Medium
20 – 50 Kg / ha
• High
>50 Kg/ha
25-Dec-18 77
K
• Low
<125 Kg/ha
• Medium
125 – 300 Kg/ha
• High
>300 Kg/ha
Zn & Cu
• Low
<0.5 ppm
• Medium
0.5 – 1.0 ppm
• High
>1 ppm
25-Dec-18 78
Mn
• Low
<1ppm
• Medium
1-3 ppm
• High
>3 ppm
B
• Low
<0.33 ppm
• Medium
.33 - .67 ppm
• High
>0.67 ppm
25-Dec-18 79
Organic Carbon
• Low
<0.5 %
• Medium
.5 0-.75 %
• High
>0.75 %
25-Dec-18 80
25-Dec-18 81
Crop Logging
• Graphic record of the progress of the crop, contains a series of chemical
and physical measurements
• Record of composition of crop, wrt NPK, moisture, sugar etc
• First time used for sugarcane in Hawai
25-Dec-18 82
Soil Fertility and Productivity
• Soil fertility is the inherent capacity of the soil to supply
nutrients to plants in adequate amounts and in suitable
proportions
• Soil productivity is the capacity of the soil to produce crops with
specific system of management and is expressed in terms of
yields
• All productive soils are fertile, but all fertile soils need not be
productive
25-Dec-18 83
25-Dec-18 84
MINERAL NUTRITION
1. Rocks and its weathering
2. Soil formation 1. Essential elements
3. Soil and its physical
properties 2. Role of essential plant nutrients
4. Soil colloids and silicate clay
minerals 3. Deficiency symptoms
5. Soil taxonomy and soils of
India
biofertilizers
8. Soil fertility and productivity /LoginAgri
9. Mineral nutrition /Agricultural Field Officer IBPS
8237783981
Mineral nutrition
• Mineral nutrient - Inorganic ion obtained from soil and required for plant
growth
• The process of absorption, translocation and assimilation of nutrients by the
plants is known as mineral nutrition
Criteria of essentiality
1. The deficiency of the element makes it impossible for the plants to complete
the vegetative or reproductive stages of its life cycle
2. The deficiency is specific to element in question and as such can be prevented
or corrected only by supplying that particular nutrient element to the plant
3. The element must have a direct influence on the plant and must be directly
involved in nutrition and metabolism of the plant
• At Arnon’s time only 16 elements were considered as essential
25-Dec-18 86
Mineral nutrition
• Mineral nutrient - Inorganic ion obtained from soil and required for plant
growth
• The process of absorption, translocation and assimilation of nutrients by the
plants is known as mineral nutrition
Criteria of essentiality
1. The deficiency of the element makes it impossible for the plants to complete
the vegetative or reproductive stages of its life cycle
2. The deficiency is specific to element in question and as such can be prevented
or corrected only by supplying that particular nutrient element to the plant
3. The element must have a direct influence on the plant and must be directly
involved in nutrition and metabolism of the plant
• At Arnon’s time only 16 elements were considered as essential
25-Dec-18 87
Functional nutrient
Any mineral element that functions in plant metabolism
• Essential nutrients = C, H, O, P, K, N, S, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Cu, B, Zn, Mo, Cl

• Functional nutrients = Na, Co, V, Si + 16 essential nutrients
• Macro elements/ Macro nutrients = C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S
• Micro nutrients = Remaining (16 Essential Nutrients – Macro Nutrients)
• Primary Nutrients = N, P, K
• Secondary nutrients = Ca, Mg, S
• Presently Ni is considered as essential hence total essential nutrients are

17
25-Dec-18 88
Functional nutrient
Any mineral element that functions in plant metabolism
• Essential nutrients = C, H, O, P, K, N, S, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Cu, B, Zn, Mo, Cl

• Functional nutrients = Na, Co, V, Si + 16 essential nutrients
• Macro elements/ Macro nutrients = C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S
• Micro nutrients = Remaining (16 Essential Nutrients – Macro Nutrients)
• Primary Nutrients = N, P, K
• Secondary nutrients = Ca, Mg, S
• Presently Ni is considered as essential hence total essential nutrients are

17
25-Dec-18 89
Forms of elements absorbed by plants
Elements and its major role
25-Dec-18 90
Mobility of nutrients
1. Mobility in soil
1. Mobile nutrients
• NO3-, SO42-, BO33- Mn2+, Cl-
2. Less mobile
• NH4+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+
3. Immobile
• H2PO4-, HPO2-, Zn2+
2. Mobility in plants
1. Highly mobile
• N, P, K
2. Moderately mobile
• Zn
3. Less mobile
• S, Fe, Cu, Mn, Mo, Cl
4. Immobile
• Ca, B
25-Dec-18 91
Classification of essential nutrients
Basis – quantity of nutrients present in plants
1. Basic nutrient : C, H, O
2. Macro/Major Nutrients : Requirement >1 ppm, N, P, K, Ca
Mg, S
3. Micronutrients/ Trace Elements/ Oligo Elements/ Spurne
Elements : Requirement = 0.01 – 1000 ppm, generally <1
ppm
4. Ultra Micronutrients : Requirement <1 ppb
• Beneficial Nutrients/ Potential micronutrients : Se, AL, Rb,

Sr, Ni, Cr, As
25-Dec-18 92
Hidden Hunger
25-Dec-18 93
Role of Essential Plant Nutrients:
N:1–5%
• Imparts dark green colour to plants
• Essential constituent of protein
• Improves quality and succulence of leafy vegetables and fodder crops
• Encourages vegetative growth
P : 0.1 – 0.4 %
• Increases disease resistance
• Functions as energy storage
• Governs the root growth
• Essential of reproductive functions
• Counteracts the excess N
• Enhances the activity of Rhizobia and root nodules
• Increases the ratio of grain/ bhusa
• Strengthen straw and decreases lodging tendency
25-Dec-18 94
Role of Essential Plant Nutrients:
K : 0.1 – 0.5%
• Regulates stomatal movement
• Reduces transpiration rate and increases photosynthetic rate
• Imparts diseases resistance
• Regulates water balance
• Essential in the formation and transfer of starches and sugars
25-Dec-18 95
Ca : 0.2 – 0.1 %
• Structural component, constituent of cell wall
• Highly required in Telophase for cell plate formation
• Neutralizes organic acids
• Essential in activating the growing point especially root tips
Mg
• Constituent of chlorophyll, chromosomes, polyribosomes
• Carrier of P
• Promotes formation of oils &fats, translocation of starches
S
• Creates a type of fragrance, aroma & smell
• Helps in chlorophyll formation, promotes nodule formation
25-Dec-18 96
B : 10 – 200 mg B/kg dry matter
• Involved in the reproduction of plants and germination of pollen grains
• Essential for translocation of sugar
• Acts as regulator of K/Ca ratio
• Constituent of cell membrane and essential for cell division
• Needed to maintain the apical growing point
• Concerned with buffer action
• Helps in active salt absorption
Fe : 100 – 500 mg / kg dry matter
• Acts as catalysts in nitrate reductase
• Activator in the synthesis of chlorophyll
• Acts as oxygen carrier
Mn : 25 – 500 mg/kg
• Role in respiration and structure of chloroplast
• Essential for hill reaction
25-Dec-18 97
Zn : 20 – 150 mg/kg dry matter
• Essential for water uptake
• Required for biosynthesis of hormones
Cu
• Takes part in electron transfer
• Required in the flowering and development of grain
Mo
• Role in nitrogen fixation
Cl
• Required for primary photosynthetic reactions
Ni
• Essential for hydrogenase, methyl reductase and urease activities
• Regulates N metabolism
• Needed for grain filling & seed vitality
25-Dec-18 98
Co
• Structural component of vit B12
• Essential for the growth and metabolism of micro organisms
Na
• Influences water relations in sugarbeet and increases their resistance to drought
V
• In symbiotic N2 - fixation
Si
• Increase the top length, no of stems
Selenium
• Can be replaced with S in the production of Methionine
Al
• Activator of glandular system
25-Dec-18 99
Deficiency Symptoms
25-Dec-18 100
Deficiency Symptoms
Deficiency symptoms on old leaves
Without deadspots
N
• Uniform chlorosis of leaves including veins
P
• Small erect usually dark green leaves
• Rearside develops bronzy appearance
Mg
• Yellowing in between the veins and veins
remain green
• Upward curling of leaves
25-Dec-18 101
With deadspots
K
• Yellowing starts from tips or margins of leaves extending to the centre of leaf base
• Necrosis
• Tip burn
• Margin scorching
• Brown spots near margin
• Barley most susceptible
Mo
• Translucent spots in between the veins of leaves
• Brassica sp. Most susceptible
• Yellow spot of citrus
• Whiptail of cauliflower
25-Dec-18 102
Symptoms on new leaves
Veins remaining green: Interveinal chlorosis
Fe
• Principal veins remain green other portions of the leaf turn yellow tending towards whiteness
Mn
• Complete interveinal chlorosis
• Oat and soybean most affected
• Grey speck of oat,
• Pahala blight of sugarcane
Veins not remaining green
S
• Leaves small and veins are paler than interveinal portion
Cu
• Leaf yellowish tending towards whiteness
• Development of several auxillary buds when shoot apex dies
• Wheat very susceptible
• Resetting and excess gumming
25-Dec-18 103
Deficiency symptoms on both old and new leaves
Zn
• Lamina becomes chloratic and veins remain green
• dead spots
• structural aberances in root tips
• dwarfing of vegetative growth
• new leaves emerge white in colour
• white bud of maize
• khaira disease of rice
25-Dec-18 104
THANK YOU
1. Rocks and its weathering Like & Share 1. Monthly agricultural
2. Soil formation Be a Part of the Family current affairs
3. Soil and its physical 2. Topic wise syllabus
properties 3. General agriculture
4. Soil colloids and silicate clay awareness
minerals 45Thousand Subscribers 4. Question sessions with
5. Soil taxonomy and soils of doubt clearing sessions
India 8.5 Thousand Likes
biofertilizers
8. Soil fertility and productivity
9. Mineral nutrition
25-Dec-18 105

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SOIL SCIENCE

© Roshan Kumar, M Tech IIT Kharagpur

© Roshan Kumar, M Tech IIT Kharagpur

© Roshan Kumar, M Tech IIT Kharagpur

© Roshan Kumar, M Tech IIT Kharagpur

© Roshan Kumar, M Tech IIT Kharagpur

© Roshan Kumar, M Tech IIT Kharagpur

© Roshan Kumar, M Tech IIT Kharagpur

© Roshan Kumar, M Tech IIT Kharagpur

/Agricultural Field Officer IBPS

/Agricultural Field Officer IBPS

• Classification of silicate clays

Muck and Peat soils

Polypeptides/Proteins->RNH2 +CO2+ ENERGY

RNH2+HOH---------→NH3 + R-OH +ENERGY

2HNO3 2HNO2 2NO N2O N2

Two types (on the basis of concentration of nutrients)

III. Night soil (or poudrette)

IV.Sewage and sludge

II. Fish guano

Acidity and Basicity of fertilizer

• Nitrification inhibitors and slow release fertilizers

• Nitrification inhibitors and slow release fertilizers

• For available N, 0.25% KMnO4 (Potassium

After extracting the nutrients, actual amount of

• At Arnon’s time only 16 elements were considered as essential

• At Arnon’s time only 16 elements were considered as essential

• Essential nutrients = C, H, O, P, K, N, S, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Cu, B, Zn, Mo, Cl

• Presently Ni is considered as essential hence total essential nutrients are

• Essential nutrients = C, H, O, P, K, N, S, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Cu, B, Zn, Mo, Cl

• Presently Ni is considered as essential hence total essential nutrients are

Elements and its major role

• Beneficial Nutrients/ Potential micronutrients : Se, AL, Rb,

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