Course

Syllabus

Theory

History of soil fertility and plant nutrition. Criteria of essentiality. Role, deficiency and toxicity symptoms of essential plant nutrients, Mechanisms of nutrient transport to plants, factors affecting nutrient availability to plants. Chemistry of macro and micronutrients. Soil fertility evaluation, Soil testing. Critical levels of different nutrients in soil. Forms of nutrients in soil, plant analysis, rapid plant tissue tests. Indicator plants. Introduction and importance of manures and fertilizers.

Fertilizer recommendation approaches. Integrated nutrient management. Chemical fertilizers: classification, composition and properties of major fertilizers, secondary and micronutrient fertilizers, Complex fertilizers, Customised fertilisers, water soluble fertilizers, nano fertilizers Soil amendments, Fertilizer Storage, Fertilizer Control Order. Methods of fertilizer recommendations to crops. Factor influencing nutrient use efficiency (NUE), methods of application under rainfed and irrigated conditions. STCR/RTNM/ IPNS, Carbon sequestration and Carbon Trading, Preparation and properties of major manures (FYM, Compost, Vermicompost, Green manuring, Oilcakes).

Practical

Introduction of analytical instruments and their principles, calibration and applications of Coloremetry and flame photometry; Estimation of alkaline hydrolysable N in soils; Estimation of soil extractable P in soils; Estimation of exchangeable K in soils; Estimation of exchangeable Ca and Mg in soils; Estimation of soil extractable S in soils; Estimation of DTPA extractable Zn in soils; Estimation of N in plants; Estimation of P in plants; Estimation of K in plants; Estimation of S in plants.

Objectives

• To expose the basic concepts of soil fertility and different manures and fertilizers.

• In-depth understanding of the essential plant nutrients and the role, functions, and deficiency of nutrients in plants.

• Understanding the importance of plant/soil/nutrient interactions and how these components dynamically interact to influence soil fertility and nutrient management through various approaches.

• Acquire practical knowledge on nutrient analysis in soil, plants, and manures.

Course Outcome:

Any student who has undergone the course shall be able to:

Suggested Readings

1. Buckman Harry O and Brady Nyle C. 2018. The Nature and Properties of Soils. Franklin Classics.

2. Das Dilip Kumar. 2022. Introductory Soil Science. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.

3. Singh S S. 2011. Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi

4. Tisdale Samuel L, Nelson Werner L and Beaton James D. 2016. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers. (8th Edn.). Pearson Education India.