Soil Science Basics Understanding the Essentials1.pptx

Unlock the fundamentals of soil science with this introductory lecture. Dive into the origins of soil science, learning about its founding father and the essential definitions that lay the groundwork for this vital field. Explore the expansive scope of soil science, from its role in agriculture and environmental conservation to its impact on global food security. Understand the importance of soil in our ecosystem and how it influences every aspect of life on Earth. Perfect for beginners, this lecture sets the stage for deeper exploration into the world of soils.

1. Soil Science Basics: Understanding the Essentials LECTURE 01 b y Nasmin Naher

2. CONTENTS Father of soil science Definition of soil Scope of soil science Importance of soil

3. Soil Science is a field that studies the composition, formation and properties of soil. One name that revolutionized the study of soil sciences is Vasily Vasiliyevich Dokuchaev , who is often known as the Father of Soil Science.  Vasily Vasiliyevish Dokuchaev was born on March 1, 1846, in Russia. He is considered the first person to consider that soil is a biological science and is even a living system.  FATHER OF SOIL SCIENCE

4. SOIL DEFINITION Soil , the biologically active, porous medium that has developed in the uppermost layer of Earth’s crust. Soil is one of the principal substrata of life on Earth, serving as a reservoir of water and nutrients, as a medium for the filtration and breakdown of injurious wastes, and as a participant in the cycling of carbon and other elements through the global ecosystem. It has evolved through weathering processes driven by biological, climatic, geologic, and topographic influences.

5. SOIL DEFINITION According to Hilgard (1892 ), “ Soil is more or less a loose & friable material in which plants, by means of their roots find a foothold for nourishment as well as for other conditions of growth .” According to Kellogg (1960 ), “ Soil is the collection of natural bodies occupying portions of the earth’s surface that support plants and that have properties due to the integrated effect of climate and living matter, acting upon parent material, as conditioned by relief, over periods of time.”

6. SCOPE OF SOIL SCIENCE There are six distinct and advanced fields in soil science. These fields represent the breadth of soil science. Soil Science is the study of soil as a natural resource on Earth's surface, encompassing Pedology (the genesis, classification, and mapping of soil) and the physical, chemical, biological, and fertility characteristics of soil as well as these characteristics in connection to managing the soil for crop production . 1. Soil fertility: Nutrient supplying properties of soil 2. Soil chemistry: Chemical constituents, chemical properties and the chemical reactions 3. Soil physics: Involves the study of physical properties

7. SCOPE OF SOIL SCIENCE 4. Soil microbiology: deals with micro organisms, its population, classification, its role in transformations 5. Soil conservation: Dealing with protection of soil against physical loss by erosion or against chemical deterioration i.e. excessive loss of nutrients either natural or artificial means. 6. Pedology : Dealing with the genesis, survey and classification

8. Importance of SOIL Soil provides ecosystem services critical for life: soil acts as a water filter and a growing medium; provides habitat for billions of organisms, contributing to biodiversity; and supplies most of the antibiotics used to fight diseases . Ecosystem services Climate change Environment and human health Food security Source: Why is soil important?, Soil Science Society of America

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