Course Content
Concept, scope and importance of soil physics in agriculture
0/4
Introduction
Importance of soil physics
Structure of Water
Physical Properties of Water
Soil Water Energy Concept and soil moisture characteristics curve
0/15
Introduction
Factors affecting the potential energy of water
Soil Water Potential (SWP)
Water Movement Based on Soil Moisture Levels
Gravitational Potential (yg)
Matric Potential (ym)
Osmotic Potential (yo)
Submergence Potential (ys)
Soil Moisture Content
Soil Moisture Measurement
Soil moisture characteristics curve (SMCC), moisture extraction/retention curves or Soil water potential curve
Factors Affecting Soil Moisture Characteristic Curve
Hysteresis
Quantitative Description of Soil Wetness or Classification of Soil Water
Plant Water Availability
Soil water movement under saturated and unsaturated conditions
0/7
Introduction
Poiseuille’s Law
Darcy’s Law
Saturated Water Flow in Vertical Column of Soil
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity and  Unsaturated Water Flow in Soil
Key differences between saturated and unsaturated water flow in soil
Relationship between k and ym
Air and heat movement in soil and infiltration characteristics in soil
0/7
Water Vapor Movement in Soils
Heat movement in soil
Factors affecting soil thermal regime
Modes of thermal energy transfer
Conduction of heat in soil
Latent heat transfer (LHT)
Soil temperature management
Surface sealing, its effect on soil and crop growth and its management
0/4
Surface sealing
Soil crusting
Renewal of soil air
Impact of poor aeration
Structural management of arable soil
0/4
Introduction
Soil management
Factors involved in genesis and stability of soil aggregate
Aggregate stability
Soil profile development
0/2
Soil Profile
Horizon boundaries and horizon continuity in pedon
Surface and subsurface soil horizons
0/3
Introduction
Diagnostic surface horizons (Epipedons)
Diagnostic Subsurface Horizons
Soil moisture and temperature regimes
0/2
Soil Moisture Regime
Soil Temperature Regime
Soil classification on the basis of USDA soil taxonomy
0/8
Introduction
Soil taxonomy (USDA Soil Taxonomy)
Bases for Soil Classification in Soil Taxonomy
Major Soil orders of Nepal according to USDA taxonomy
Baldwin and Associate’s Genetic Approach
Orders of Genetic Approach
Limitations in Genetic Systems of Soil Classification
New Comprehensive System of Soil Classification (USDA Soil Taxonomy)
The FAO-UNESCO soil classification system
0/1
Introduction
Concept and development of land capability classification
0/2
Introduction
The USDA Land Capability Classification System
Learn Soil Physics, Genesis and Classification with Rahul

Importance of soil physics

a. Agriculture sustainability:

  • Soil physical properties important to agricultural sustainability are texture, structure, water retention and transmission, heat capacity and thermal conductivity, soil strength, etc. These properties affect plant growth and Vigor directly and indirectly.
  • Soil structure, water retention and transmission properties, and aeration play crucial roles in soil quality.
  • Applications of soil physics can play a crucial role in sustainable management of natural resources. Fertilizer, amendments, and pesticides can be leached out, washed away, volatilized, miss the target, and pollute the environment under adverse soil physical conditions. Efficient use of water and nutrient resources depends on an optimum level of soil physical properties and processes.

 

b. Environment quality:

  • Soil physical properties and processes influence the greenhouse effect through their control on emission of radiatively-active gases (e.g., CO2, CH4, N2O, and NOx). Soil physical properties and processes determine the rate and magnitude of these gaseous emissions.
  • Formation and stabilization of soil structure (i.e., development of secondary particles through formation of organomineral complexes), is a prominent consequence of C sequestration in soil.
  • Air quality is also influenced by soil particles and chemicals (salt) airborne by wind currents. Management of soil structure, control of soil erosion, and restoration of depleted soils are important strategies of mitigating the global climate change caused by atmospheric enrichment of CO2.

 

c. In Graduate curricula:

Understanding soil physical properties and processes are necessary for

  • Sustainable management of soil and water resources for achieving world food security.
  • Reducing non-point source pollution/contaminant.
  • Developing strong foundation for stable engineering structures.
  • Mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration.

Therefore, study of soil physics is essential in curricula of soil science, horticulture/agronomy, Agri-engineering, climatology, hydrology and environmental sciences.

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