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INTRODUCTION TO SOIL SCIENCE

SES-401

Geology

Geology is, broadly speaking, the study of the earth.

The main aim of Geology is to understand how the Earth works, mountains are built and
the oceans formed. Applications of Geology include the search for oil, gas, water and
minerals; environmental studies; reconstructing the past environments of the Earth, which
helps us with predicting the future.

Disciplines of Geology

Mineralogy: Study of the chemical composition and structure of minerals.

Petrology: Study of the composition and origin of rocks.

Geochemistry: Study of the chemical composition of the earth materials and the
chemical changes that occur within the earth and on its surface.

Geophysics: This deals with the application of the principles and methods of physics to
the study of the Earth.

Mining Geology: Study of the location and extraction of mineral resources

Petroleum Geology: Study of the location and extraction of hydrocarbons

Engineering Geology: Study of the interactions of the earth with human-made structures
such as tunnels, mines, dams, bridges and building foundations etc.

Hydrology: It deals with locating and maintaining ground water resources.

Environmental Geology: It deals with the study and understanding of the interaction of
all biotic and abiotic factors with geological environments.

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Soil Science

Soil is the unconsolidated upper part of the earth’s crust which serves as a natural
medium for the growth of plants. It is dynamic in nature and composed of mineral and
organic materials, water, air and living forms (plants and animals) that supports plant
growth.

In any ecosystem, whether your backyard, a farm, a forest, or a regional watershed, soils
have six key roles to play:

1. Soil supports the growth of higher plants mainly by providing a medium for plant
roots and supplying nutrients.

2. Soil properties are the principal factor controlling the fate of water in hydrological
system

3. Soil functions as nature’s recycling system.

4. Soils provide habitats for living organisms.

5. Soils markedly influence the composition and physical condition of the


atmosphere.

6. In human-built ecosystem, soil plays an important role as an engineering


medium/materials.

Soil Science is a branch of science/agriculture that deals with soils as a natural resource
on the surface of earth. It includes the study of soil formation, classification and the
physical, chemical, biological and fertility properties of soils in relation to their
management for growth of plants and sustaining a clean environment.

Branches/Disciplines of Soil Science

Soil Chemistry: It is the study of chemical composition of a soil and the chemical
reactions occurring in the soil.

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Soil Genesis: It deals with the study of mode of origin of the soil in relation to soil
forming processes and factors.

Soil Classification: It is the study of systematic arrangement of soils into groups or


categories on the basis of their characteristics.

Soil Physics: It deals with the physical properties of a soil and physical processes
occurring in the soil.

Soil Fertility: It deals with the ability of the soil to supply nutrient that are essential for
plant growth.

Soil Microbiology: It is the study of micro-organisms inhabiting the soil, their functions
and activities in relation to plant growth and environmental health.

Soil Mineralogy: It is the study of minerals occurring in the soil.

Soil Salinity: It is the study of salt affected soils, their effects on plant growth, their
management and amelioration/reclamation.

Soil Survey: It is the systematic examination, description, classification and mapping of


soils in a specific area.

Soil Morphology: It is the branch of soil science that deals with the visual observations
of morphological features of a soil.

Environmental Science

Environment is all the external factors that affect an organism or group of organisms
during its lifetime.

Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that integrates physical and


biological sciences to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental
problems.

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Branches of Environmental Science

Atmospheric Sciences: It studies the Earth's gaseous outer layer with relation to other
systems. e.g. greenhouse gas phenomena

Environmental Ecology: It studies the interaction of populations with the environment.

Environmental Chemistry: It is the study of chemical alterations in the soil, water and
air environments and their remediation.

Environmental Microbiology: It is the study of the composition and physiology of


microbial communities and their transformation processes in the environment.

Further Reading: Brady, N.C. and R.R. Weil. 2008. The Nature and Properties of Soils,
14th Ed. Prentice Hall, NJ, USA.

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FOUR SPHERES OF EARTH

The area near the surface of the earth can be divided up into four inter-connected "geo-
spheres:" the lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere. Scientists can classify
life and material on or near the surface of the earth to be in any of these four spheres.

Lithosphere (Geosphere)

The lithosphere is the solid, rocky crust covering


entire planet. This crust is inorganic and is
composed of minerals. It covers the entire surface
of the earth. The lithosphere is also called as
Geosphere.

Hydrosphere

The hydrosphere is composed of all of the water on Figure 1

or near the earth. This includes the oceans, rivers, lakes, and even the moisture in the air.
Ninety-seven percent of the earth's water is in the oceans. The remaining three percent is
fresh water; three-quarters of the fresh water is solid and exists in ice sheets

Biosphere

The biosphere is composed of all living microorganisms. Plants, animals, and


microorganisms are all part of the biosphere.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is the body of air which surrounds our planet. This gaseous envelop is
most dense at sea level and rapidly decreases with increasing altitude. It is an important
geological agent. It acts as a thermal blanket, captures heat and supply snow and rain
water.

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The air of our planet is about 78% nitrogen and about 21% oxygen; the small amount
remaining is composed of carbon dioxide (0.03%) and other gasses such as neon, helium,
krypton, xenon, water vapours, dust particles and hydrocarbons etc.

Earth’s cycles and spheres are


interconnected (Figure 1). All four spheres
can be and often are present in a single
location. The importance of soil as a
natural body derives in large part from its
role as an interface between the above
four spheres of earth. This interface where
the worlds of rock (lithosphere), air
(atmosphere), water (the hydrosphere),
and life (biosphere) all meet, is termed as
pedosphere or soil. For example, a piece
Figure 2
of soil will of course have mineral material
from the lithosphere. Additionally, there will be elements of the hydrosphere present as
moisture within the soil, the biosphere as insects and plants, and even the atmosphere as
pockets of air between soil pieces (Figure 2).

Further reading: Brady, N.C. and R.R. Weil. 2008. The Nature and Properties of Soils,
14th Ed. Prentice Hall, NJ, USA.

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MINERALS AND ROCKS

Minerals and rocks are the most common material of the earth. This section briefly
describes the definition of mineral and rock, and types of minerals and rocks.

Mineral

Mineral is a natural inorganic substance of definite chemical composition and generally


with a definite crystal form. All minerals except water and mercury are solids at normal
temperature.

Types of Minerals

1. Primary minerals: Minerals that have not been altered chemically since deposition
and crystallization from molten lava.

Examples: Quartz, feldspar, mica etc.

2. Secondary minerals: Minerals resulting from the decomposition of a primary mineral


or from the re-precipitation of the products of decomposition of primary minerals.

Examples: Calcite, gypsum, dolomite etc.

Rocks

Rock is defined as a natural aggregate of one or more minerals to form an appreciable


part of the solid portion of the earth.

Types of Rocks

The rocks are classified into three types according to their origin

1. Igneous rocks
2. Metamorphic rocks
3. Sedimentary rocks

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1. Igneous rocks

Rocks formed by the cooling and solidification of extremely hot molten material (lava)
are called igneous rocks.

Geologists consider that igneous rocks were the first rocks formed on the earth whereas
sedimentary and metamorphic rocks originated from igneous rocks.

The word igneous is derived from a Latin word meaning fire, which provides a clue to
the origin of the rocks. Many areas of the earth contain points of weakness in the crust,
and sometimes the molten material within the earth forces its way through these points of
weakness and appears on the surface. Once the molten material has escaped from the
conditions of high temperature and pressure which exist under the surface, it begins to
cool down. Eventually the flowing material slows down, comes to a stop and solidifies
and becomes a solid igneous rock.

The characteristics of igneous rocks are determined by the composition of the original
material from which it was formed.

EXAMPLES: Granite, Gabbro and Basalt.

2. Sedimentary rocks

Sedimentary rocks are formed from the layers of accumulated sediments.

Pre-existing rocks of any group (igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary) are broken
down by the continuous process of weathering to form debris known as sediments. The
process continues over millions of years and the early sediments are gradually buried and
more sediment accumulate. The accumulated sediment is finally compacted through the
weight of the sediment layers one above the other, the water squeezes off and the
minerals become cemented.

In the process of sedimentary rocks formation, layers of sediments are built up layer by
layer. Layering is therefore a fundamental characteristic of these rocks. Each layer is
separated from the one above and the one below by a line of demarkation known as

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bedding plane. This generally represents the sudden change in the grain size or in the
composition of the sediment being laid down.

EXAMPLES: Shale, mudstone and limestone.

3. Metamorphic rocks

Meta means change and Morph means shape or form. Therefore, metamorphic rocks are
those rocks which are formed due to change in shape of pre-existing igneous or
sedimentary rocks under very high temperature and pressure. The process of change is
called metamorphism. Under extremes of heat and pressure, physical and chemical
changes occur in pre-existing rocks and this process of metamorphism generally occurs
deep within the earth’s outer layers. Because of this, most metamorphic rocks are
revealed after a considerable amount of erosion has taken place.

Both sedimentary and igneous rocks can be changed into new rock types by the process
of metamorphism.

FOR EXAMPLE: The metamorphic rock slate is derived from sedimentary shales and
mudstone whereas sedimentary limestone can be metamorphosed into marble.

Sedimentary rock changes into Metamorphic rock

Shale Slate

Mudstone Slate

Limestone Marble

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WEATHERING

Weathering is a process in which different physical and chemical changes are produced
in rocks at or near the earth’s surface by atmospheric agents. There are two basic
weathering processes.

1. Mechanical/Physical weathering (disintegration): It causes decrease in size of


rocks and minerals without appreciably affecting their chemical composition.
2. Chemical weathering (decomposition): It is a process in which chemical
changes take place in rocks and minerals. In this process soluble materials are
released, new minerals are synthesized and some resistant products remain as
such.

Mechanical/Physical Weathering (Disintegration)

Temperature

Rocks heat up during the day and cool down at night, causing alternate expansion and
contraction of their constituent minerals. As some minerals expand more than others,
temperature changes set up differential stresses that eventually cause the rock to crack
apart. Further the outer surface of a rock is often warmer or colder than the inner
resulting in the peeling away of outer layers. This process is called exfoliation.

Abrasion by Water, Wind, and Ice

When flowing water is loaded with sediments, it has tremendous cutting power. These
sediments colloid with each other and breakdown into smaller particles. The rounding of
riverbed rocks and beach sand grains is an evidence of the abrasion that accompanies
water movement.

Wind-blown dust and sand can break down rocks by abrasion in certain arid regions. In
glacial areas, huge moving ice masses carrying soil and rock fragments, grind down rocks
in their path and carry away large volumes of material.

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Action of Microorganisms, Plants and Animals

Lower plants like mosses, lichens grow on exposed rocks, catch dust particles,
accumulate organic matter and encourage further plant growth. Pressure by roots of
higher plants assist disintegration by opening up spaces for the penetration of water
which may freeze and expand later.

Burrowing animals such as earthworms, ants and rodents and also hoofed animals
through their action contribute slowly to the disintegration of rocks. Humans accelerate
the slow process of physical weathering by ploughing and cultivating.

Chemical Weathering (Decomposition)

Hydration: It is the addition of water molecule in chemical combination with a mineral


to form hydrated compounds. Hydrated minerals are more prone to decomposition due to
their increased volume which makes it softer and more stressed.

Hydrolysis: In hydrolysis reactions, water molecules split into their hydrogen and
hydroxyl components and the hydrogen often replaces a cation from the mineral
structure.

Dissolution: Water dissolves many minerals by hydrating the cations and anions until
they become dissociated and surrounded by water molecules. These dissolved minerals
are converted into solution form which permits greater chemical changes than could
occur in an unionized (generally solid) state.

Acid reactions: Weathering is accelerated by the presence of acids, which increase the
activity of hydrogen ions in water. Soils contain stronger acids, such as nitric acid
(HNO3), sulfuric and (H2SO4), and many organic acids like carbonic acid. Hydrogen ions
are also associated with soil clays. Each of these sources of acidity is available for
reaction with soil minerals resulting in enhanced weathering.

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Oxidation-reduction: Minerals that contain iron, manganese, or sulfur are especially
susceptible to oxidation-reduction reactions. The variation in oxidation-reduction ability
cause weathering.

The various chemical weathering processes occur simultaneously and are interdependent.

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PARENT MATERIALS

Unconsolidated product of weathering from which soil develops is called parent material.

Generally there are two groups of parent materials, i.e. sedentary and transported. The
transported materials are further subdivided according to transporting agency and place
of deposition.

A. Sedentary or Residual: The parent material formed in place and still at the
original site.

B. Transported: The parent material carried and deposited by various transporting


agencies.

1. By gravity- Colluvial
2. By water- Alluvial
3. By ice- Glacial
4. By wind- Eolian

The nature and properties of parent material together with climate are the most important
factors affecting the kind and quality of soils. So to understand soils we must know the
sources of parent material, mechanisms of weathering and transporting agencies.

A. Sedentary or Residual Parent Material

This material develops in place from the rocks, generally by long and intense weathering.
In warm humid climate, it is well oxidized and leached of basic cations (Na, K, and Ca).
It has red and yellow colors due to oxidation of iron. In cooler and drier climates,
weathering is less intense; leaching of basic cations does not take place. In Pakistan
pothohar plateau is covered with such materials. The nature of these materials depends
upon the nature of rocks from which these materials have formed.

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B. Transported Materials

1. Colluvial deposits:

A material transported by gravity that has been deposited at the base of foothills or
mountains. These deposits are extremely variable in composition. Soils developed from
these parent materials may be coarse and stony because physical rather than chemical
weathering is dominant. This material has good drainage.

2. Alluvial deposits:

The material which has been transported/deposited by river and streams is termed as
alluvium.

Alluvial soils are finely layered to great depths, which shows marked changes
horizontally. This is somewhat sandy near river bank to clayey away form river bank.
These soils are generally level, fertile and highly productive, however if clayey there may
be drainage problem.

3. Glacial deposits

This refers to all the materials of glacial origin, whether deposited directly by the ice or
by associated water. It consists of heterogeneous mixture of debris, varying in size from
coarse fragments to clay particles.

4. Eolian deposits

These are materials carried and deposited by wind. Such wind blown materials are
differentiated into loess, sand dunes, adobe and volcanic ash depending upon the type of
original material that was subjected to such actions.

a. Loess

It is generally silty in nature with some sand and clay. Mostly Pakistani soils are alluvial
in nature, however some soils are formed from loess. Loess generally forms productive
soils and these soils are quite open and porous.
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b. Sand dunes

This is the sandy materials carried and deposited by wind. The coarse particles deposit
near the source and accumulate in the form of sand dunes.

c. Adobe

It is similar to loess but calcareous in nature.

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SOIL GENESIS / SOIL FORMATION

It is mode of origin of soil. Soil formation means both the production of parent material
and soil profile development. The process of weathering and soil profile development
occur simultaneously.

The formation of soil happens over a very long period of time. It may take thousands of
years. Soil is formed as results of weathering of rocks and minerals. The surface rocks
break down into smaller pieces through a process of weathering and is then mixed with
organic matter. Over time this creates a thin layer of soil and then lower plants grow and
soil development is enhanced. Later on higher plants grow and attract animals. When the
plants and animals die, their bodies decay/decompose. Decaying matter makes the soil
thick and rich. This continues until soil is fully developed.

Factors of Soil Formation

1. Parent material

Parent material is the unconsolidated initial material from which soils develop. The
nature of parent material greatly influences soil characteristic. Parent material influence
soil formation by its following properties/characteristics:

a. rate of weathering
b. the nutrients
c. the particle size

For example sandstones give rise to sandy and shale’s to clayey soils. The less the soil
developed the grater will be the effect of parent material on the soil properties.

Parent material also influences the quantity and type of clay minerals present in soil
profile. Soil developed from potassium rich parent material may have illite as the
dominant clay mineral.

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2. Climate

Climate is the average weather conditions at a particular place over a period of time as
determined by temperature, precipitation, wind velocity and other morphological factors.

Climate is the dominant factor of soil formation because of the effects of:

 temperature
 rainfall
 wind

These sub-factors affect the rate of chemical, physical and biological processes that are
responsible of soil development. The biochemical changes are sensitive to temperature.
These changes are favored by temperature range of 20-30oC. Temperature also influences
the organic matter content of the soil. Decomposition of organic matter is more at higher
temperatures. That is why organic matter is generally low in soils of dry regions like
Pakistan.

Moisture is another important factor in soil formation. Rainfall is the major source of
moisture. In areas receiving low rainfall, there is shallow accumulation of carbonates in
the soil, in humid areas, acid soils are developed under conditions of intense weathering
and leaching. Erosion caused by water may remove upper fertile portion of soils and may
deposit it at some other places. A soil is said to be developed when it has detectable
layers (horizons), such as accumulated clays, organic colloids, or soluble salts that have
been moved by water.

Wind can affect soil development through erosion as it may decrease the depth of soil
developed and may damage the vegetation. In sandy areas like Cholistan the destructive
effects of winds are more pronounced.

Climate also influences the natural vegetation. In humid regions, high rainfall provides an
environment favorable for the growth of trees. In contrast, grasslands are dominant with
native vegetation in semi arid regions and shrubs of various kinds in arid areas. In these
areas the vegetation is not dense enough to protect soil from wind and water erosion.

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3. Living organisms

The activities of living plants, animals and the decomposition of their wastes and residues
have marked influence on soil development. Soil organisms play a major role in soil
profile differentiation through

 Organic matter accumulation


 Profile mixing
 Nutrient cycling
 Soil structure stability

Burrowing animals such as moles, earthworms, ants, and termites are highly important
when they exist in large numbers. Soils having large numbers of these animals have
fewer but deeper horizons because of the constant mixing within the soil profile.
Microorganisms present in the soil attack plant and animal residues producing organic
materials. These microorganisms along with an abundance of plant roots help to bind soil
particles into stable aggregates. Similarly, certain microorganisms can fix atmospheric
nitrogen into compounds useable by plants.

4. Topography

Topography is the difference in elevation or slope between the uplands and low lands of a
valley or it is the earth’s surface contour.

Topography of a land can hasten or delay the work of climatic forces. In smooth and flat
surfaces excess water is removed less rapidly than in areas of steep slopes. Soils having
steep slopes encourage natural erosion of the soil surface which reduces the possibilities
of the development of a deep soil. On the other hand, if water remains available for part
or all of the year on gentle slopes there will be more vegetation and organic matter
accumulation resulting in the development of a deep soil profile.

Topography also determines the type and amount of vegetation. e.g. in northern
hemisphere, higher plants and more vegetation is present on north facing slopes but
scarce and small shrubs are present on the south facing slopes.

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5. Time

The time required for a soil to develop the distinct layers (horizons) depends upon all
other factors of soil formation (climate, nature of parent material, living organisms and
topography). Horizons tend to develop more rapidly under warm, humid and forested
conditions where there is enough water to move clay, humus and other colloids
downward. Under ideal conditions, recognizable soil profile may develop within 200
years, under less favorable conditions, the time may extend to several thousand years.

Basic Processes of Soil Formation

During soil formation, the unconsolidated weathered material under goes many changes.
These changes are brought about by variations in the four basic soil forming processes.
These four basic processes often referred as soil forming or Pedogenic processes. They
are responsible of soil formation under all kind of environments. These processes are

1. Addition

Inputs of materials to the developing soil profile from outside sources are considered
additions. For example, fallen plant leaves, twigs, dust, animal dung, salts or silica
dissolved in groundwater and deposited near or at the soil surface when rising water
evaporates.

2. Losses

Materials are lost from soil profile by leaching to groundwater, erosion of surface
material, or other forms of removal. Leaching causes the loss of water and dissolved
substances such as salts or silica, weathered from parent materials. Grazing of animals or
harvest by people can remove large amounts of both organic matter and nutrient element.

3. Transformation

It involves the physical or chemical modification of soil constituents i.e some materials
are broken down and others are synthesized. For example, weathering of primary
minerals results in disintegration and alteration of various kinds of silicate clays. As

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primary minerals decompose, the decomposition products recombine to form new
minerals which include additional type of silicate clays and hydroxides of iron and
aluminum. The decomposition of organic residues gives rise to organic acids, humus and
other products

4. Translocation

It involves the movement of inorganic and organic material laterally within a horizon or
vertically from one horizon up or down to another. Water, either percolating down with
gravity or rising up by capillary action is the most common translocation agent. The
material moved within the profile includes dispersed clay particles, dissolved salts and
dissolved organic substances.

Soil organisms also play a major role in translocation of soil material e.g. Incorporation
of surface organic matter into A and B horizons by certain earth worms, transport of B
and C horizon to the surface by termites and rodents.

Fig. 1: Sketch of a typical soil profile showing different master horizon.

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SOIL MORPHOLOGY

Soil morphology is the visual observation of morphological features of soil i.e. soil color,
texture and structure of horizons and arrangement of these horizons in the soil profile.
This can be studied in the field by the naked eye (macromorphology), with the aid of
hand lens and binocular stereoscope (mesomorphology), with the electron microscope
(micromorphology).

Soil Profile

A vertical section of the soil showing different layers (horizons) and extending into the
C-horizon or parent material (R layer).

Horizon

A layer of soil, approximately parallel to the soil surface, having different properties and
characteristics from adjacent layers below or above it.

Description of a Typical Soil Profile

A common sequence of horizons within a profile comprises of five master soil horizons,
i.e., O, A, E, B and C. Distinctions within these master horizons are designated by the
subscripts to indicate subordinate distinction within the master horizons and layers e.g.,
Ap, Bt, etc.

Different master horizons or layers that might occur in a soil profile are described briefly
in the form of a diagram.

O Horizon (Organic): The O horizon is comprised of organic material that forms above
the mineral horizon. This results from litter derived from dead plants and animals. O
horizon usually occurs in forested areas and are generally absent in grassland regions.

A Horizon: Mineral horizon that forms at the surface or below an O layer. A horizon
shows one or more of the followings:

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1. An accumulation of humified organic matter intimately mixed with the mineral
fraction results darker in color than that of the lower horizons
2. Not dominated by characteristics/properties of the E or B horizons.
3. Have properties resulting from cultivation, pasturing or other similar kinds of
disturbance.

E Horizon:

1. Mineral horizon from which silicate clay, iron, aluminum or some combination of
these have been eluviated (leached).
2. Sand and/or silt sized quartz or other resistant minerals remain there and become
concentrated.
3. An E horizon is generally lighter in color than the A horizon and is found below
the A horizon.

Eluviation: It is the movement of materials out of a portion/layer of soil profile as in E


horizon.

B Horizon:

1. Horizon that forms below an O, A or E horizon and shows illuviation


(accumulation) of material from above E horizon.
2. In humid regions, B horizon shows the accumulation of Fe/Al oxides, silicate
clays and humus.
3. In arid and semiarid regions, calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate and other
salts may accumulate in B horizon.

Illuviation: It is the movement of materials into a portion/layer of soil profile as in B


horizon.

C Horizon:

1. Unconsolidated material underlying the solum (A, E & B horizons).


2. Mineral horizon or layer (not bedrock) relatively unaffected by pedogenic
processes, and lacking the properties of O, A, E, or B horizons.

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3. May be like or unlike the parent material from which solum of soil develops.

R Layer (Bedrock): It is of hard bedrock, not practically diggable with a spade and
shows no or little evidence of weathering.

Transitional Horizons

Transitional horizons are layers of the soil between two master horizons. These exhibit
properties of both the master horizons e.g. AB and BA.

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION/TAXONOMY

Some sort of grouping is necessary to study any heterogeneous mass in nature. It is


especially true for soils as they vary greatly from place to place. SOIL
CLASSIFICATION is the systematic grouping of soils into various categories based on
mainly morphological, mineralogical and some chemical characteristics. WHILE SOIL
TAXONOMY is the science that deals with laws and principles of soil classification.

Categories of Soil Classification

There are six categories of classification.

These are 1) order 2) suborder 3) great group 4) subgroup 5) family 6) series.

Order is the most generalized category. All soils in the world fit into one of the twelve
orders. The names of orders and there significant features are given below.

1. Aridisols: Soils of dry regions


2. Entisols: Recently formed soils
3. Inceptisols: Moderately weathered soils
4. Alfisols: High base status soils
5. Mollisols: Dark organic soils
6. Vertisols: Shrinking and swelling dark clay soils
7. Ultisols: Low base status soils (Acid soils)
8. Oxisols: Highly weathered soils
9. Spodosols: Soils, with subsoil accumulations of humus and sesquioxides
10. Andisols: Generally soils of volcanic origin
11. Histosols: Organic soils
12. Gelisols: Frozen soils

The extent of six orders which occur in Pakistan is as under:

Aridisols > Entisols > Inceptisols > Alfisols > Vertisols.

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

The soil properties that we can see or feel, which are relatively more permanent than
chemical properties are called physical properties of soil. Such properties are difficult to
change. Soil physical properties include texture, structure, particle and bulk density,
porosity, air and water content, consistency (strength), color and temperature.

Soil Texture

It refers to the relative proportions of the three primary soil separates (sand, silt, and
clay).

Soil separates and their diameter ranges


International Society of Soil Science (ISSS)
Soil separate name Diameter range (mm)
Coarse sand 2.0-0.2
Fine sand 0.2-0.02
Silt 0.02-0.002
Clay Less than 0.002

Significance of soil texture

Texture is important because it will, in part determine the ease of tilling the soil, the
amount of aeration (necessary for root growth), water intake rates (absorption) and water
storage in the soil. It also influences soil fertility. For example, a fine textured clayey soil
is difficult to till, has poor aeration for good root growth, difficult to wet and difficult to
drain but it can retain more nutrients and water. A coarse sandy soil is easy to wet, easy
to drain and easy to till, has good aeration but loses more plant nutrients by leaching.

Soil Structure

The term structure relates to the clustering (grouping) or arrangement of primary soil
particles into secondary particles or units called peds or aggregates e.g. Plate like, Block
like and Granular.

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Importance of soil structure

Soils with good physical condition (tilth) are important to good yield. The formation and
maintenance of stable aggregates is the essential feature of soil tilth. The rate of water
infiltration, water-holding capacity, heat transfer, aeration, porosity and root development
are greatly influenced by soil structure. For instance, both granular and single-grain
(structure less) soils have rapid infiltration rates, prismatic and blocky soils had medium
rates and platy and massive soil conditions have slow infiltration rates.

Aggregated soil is generally the most desirable condition for plant growth, particularly in
the critical early stages of germination and seedling establishment. The continued
existence of large pores in the sol depends on the stability of the aggregates.

Particle Density

Particle density of soils refers to the ratio of total mass of the solid particles to their total
volume excluding pore spaces (between particles). In technical work, its units are mega-
grams per cubic meter (Mg/m3) or grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3) or kilogram per
cubic meter (kg/m3).

Particle density for most mineral soils usually varies between 2.60 and 2.70 Mg/m3.
However, the standard value used in calculations is 2.65 Mg/m3 if actual particle density
is not known.

Bulk Density

It is defined as the mass of dry soil solids per unit bulk volume. Bulk volume means the
volume of the soil particles plus pore space. So the density for a volume of soil as it
exists naturally is called bulk density. The value is expressed in Mg/m3 or g/cm3 or kg/m3
(1 g/cm3 = Mg/m3).

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Significance of bulk density

1. The bulk density of soil is used for estimating the mass of a volume of a soil too
large to weigh. For example, the average weight of soil for a hectare or acre area
per unit depth is calculated by multiplying the soil volume by its bulk density.
2. It is needed for converting water percentage by weight to content by volume.
3. It is also used for calculating porosity when the particle density is known.
4. It can indicate the differences in compaction of a given soil resulting from heavy
tillage equipment on wet clayey soil.
5. Plant roots of field crops are hindered by soils high in bulk density but to varying
degrees.

Pore Space

The pore space of a soil is the portion of soil bulk volume occupied by soil pores (or by
air and water). So it consists of that portion of the soil volume not occupied by solids,
either mineral or organic).

Importance

The micro pores are generally filled with water in a moist soil and there is slow
movement of air and water into or out of the soil. On the other hand, the macro pores
allow the ready movement of water and air, thus, the movement of water and air through
a sandy soil is rapid due to the dominance of the macro pores, even though total porosity
is relatively lower. Clayey soils, particularly those without good structure allow relatively
slow air and water movement despite having large total pore space. In these soils, the
dominating micro-pores generally remain full of water. However, improvement in
structure can promote aeration by increasing the proportion of macro-pores. Therefore,
the pore size distribution is more important rather than the volume of total pore space.

27
Soil Aeration

It is the process by which air in the soil is replaced by air from the atmosphere (gaseous
exchange). The rate of aeration depends mainly on the volume and continuity of air-filled
pores within the soil.

Composition of soil and atmospheric air

In a well-aerated soil, the soil air is very similar in composition to the atmospheric air
above the soil. However, poorly aerated soils generally contain a much higher percentage
of CO2 and a correspondingly lower percentage of O2 than the atmospheric air above the
soil. Atmospheric air has about the following composition of the important gases in soils:

Dinitrogen (N2) = 79.0%, oxygen (O2) = 20.95%

Carbon dioxide (CO2) = 0.03%

Water vapor or relative humidity = 20-90%. Soil air is different from atmospheric air as it
has lower oxygen content (14-20%) and relative humidity (95-99%). Plant roots and
micro-organisms take oxygen from soil air and release carbon dioxide into it.

Significance

The oxygen contents are the most important for plant growth as are needed for respiration

(necessary for life and growth). Except rice, most plants need oxygen to be present in the
pores where roots are growing. So the rate at which soil oxygen exchanges with
atmospheric oxygen ODR (oxygen diffusion rate) is important.

Organic matter decomposition by soil micro organisms also uses oxygen in soils, when
there is little oxygen in soil anaerobes start working and anaerobic micro organisms
produce gases (other than CO2) such as Nitrous oxide (N2O), methane CH4) and H2S.
Theses gases are harmful and are source of pollution.

28
SOIL WATER

The availability of water in soil is essential for plant growth. It is also essential to
microorganisms that grow in soil and decompose organic matter. It is important in the
weathering process which involves the breakdown of rocks and mineral to form soil and
release plant nutrients. Water is the solvent that together with the dissolved nutrients
make up the solution from which plants absorb nutrients (mainly through the roots). Soil
water can provide control over both soil air and soil temperature (other two factors
essential for plant growth). Water is generally held in the soil by micro pores. The force
of gravity causes water to move downward through the soil, particularly in the larger
pores.

Soil Water Potential

The difference between the free energy of soil water and that of pure, free water in a
standard reference state is known as soil water potential. The soil water potential can be
expressed in bars, atmospheres or kilopascals (kPa).

Soil Water Classification

The most useful classification of water content in soil is the biological classification as it
relates water to plant growth. There is a definite relationship between water retention and
its use by plants. These water contents are classified as gravitational (drainage) water,
field capacity, permanent wilting point and plant-available water.

a. Gravitational water

Water present in excess of field capacity or water held at a potential greater than -33 kPa
(-10 to -33 kPa and upward depending upon soil texture) is called gravitational water. It
is available as it moves through the plant roots if adequate aeration is maintained. It is of
limited use to plants as it is present in the soil only for short periods of time. It can affect
plant growth due to poor aeration.

29
b. Field capacity

The contents of water remaining in a soil two to three days after having been saturated
with water and after the free water (gravitational water) has been allowed to drain away is
called field capacity. It is the percentage of soil water that is held at -10 to -33 kPa water
potential and is a measure of the greatest amount of water that a soil can store (or hold).

c. Permanent wilting point

It is the amount of water at which plants growing in that soil will wilt and not recover
when placed in a humid chamber. It is estimated at about -1500 kPa water potential or
less (more negative). Water is held so strongly that plants are not able to absorb it fast
enough for their, needs.

d. Plant available water

Plant-available water is defined as the weight percentage of total soil water held with a
water potential between -10 to -33 and -1500 kPa and is said to be usable by plants. It is
estimated by subtracting the percentage of water held at the permanent wilting point from
the percentage held at field capacity.

Soil Temperature

The temperature of a soil influences plant growth and crop yields as it generally
influences date of planting, germination and number of days for a crop to mature. The
sub-soil temperature is less variable than the air and surface soil temperatures. The
average annual soil temperature can be approximated by adding about 2oF to the mean
annual air temperature (except in arid sunny regions). Factors influencing heat absorption
include soil color, water contents, mulches, vegetative cover and soil slope as well as its
direction.

30
SOIL COLLOIDS AND CLAYS

Soil Colloid (Soil Colloidal Particles)

A soil colloid may be organic or inorganic in nature which has following characteristics:
i. Very small particle size (≤ 1 µm)
ii. Large surface area per unit mass
iii. Too small to be seen with ordinary light microscope
iv. And has positive or negative charge on its surface

Types of soil colloids

There are two types of soil colloids;


1. Inorganic colloid (Clay)
2. Organic colloid (Humus)

Inorganic/mineral colloids

Inorganic colloid can be further classified into following classes


a) Layer silicate clays (Phyllosilicates)
b) Iron and aluminum oxide and hydroxide clays
c) Allophanes and associated amorphous clays
Only the layer silicate will be included in this course.

a) Layer silicate clays (Phyllosilocates; Greek phyllon, leaf)


These have crystalline, layer like structures with an orderly internal arrangement. Each
particle is made up of a series of layers much like the pages of a book. The layers are
made up of sheets of silicon, aluminum, magnesium, and/or iron atoms surrounded by
oxygen and hydroxy1 groups. These are made up of two types of sheets.

1. Tetrahedral Sheets: Tetrahedral sheets consist of tetrahedron (Basic Structural Unit).


Tetrahedron consists of Si4+ surrounded by 4 equidistant oxygen atoms forming a
structure having four sides. Many tetrahedral units are linked together horizontally to
form a tetrahedral sheet (also known as silica tetrahedral sheet).

31
2. Octahedral Sheets: Octahedral sheets consist of octahedron (Basic Structural Unit).
Octahedron consists of Al3+ surrounded by six equidistant oxygen or hydroxyls forming a
structure having eight sides.

Tetrahedron Octahedron

Many octahedral units link together horizontally to from an octahedral sheet. The
tetrahedral and octahedral sheets are the fundamental structural units of silicate clays.
These sheets are bound together within the crystals by shared oxygen atoms into different
layers. The specific nature and combination of sheets in these layers vary from one type
of clay to another and largely control the physical and chemical properties of each clay.

Layer

Adsorbed cations and water Inter layer space

Layer

Fig. The basic molecular and structural components of layer silicate clays.

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Types of silicate clays
On the basis of number and arrangement of tetrahedral and octahedral sheets, silicate
clays are classified into three different groups.
Two of these groups will be discussed here:
a) 1:1 type silicate clay: A single silica sheet (Tetrahedral sheet) attached to a single
alumina sheet (Octahedral sheet). e.g. Kaolinite
b) 2:1 type silicate clay: An alumina sheet (Octahedral Sheet) is sandwiched between
two silica sheets (Tetrahedral Sheets).
e.g. Vermiculite, smectite and mica
Structures of silicate clays follow the sequence as under:
Tetrahedron Tetrahedral sheet
Both combine to form layer
Octahedron Octahedral sheet

Organic soil colloids (Humus)

Like clay, microscopic humus particles carry negative charges to which cations are
attracted. The humus is composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen rather than aluminum
silicon and oxygen like the silicate clays. The organic colloidal particles vary in size but
they may be at least as small as the silicate clay particles. The humus colloids are
amorphous and are not stable like inorganic soil colloids.

Sources of negative charges

There are two sources of negative charges on soil colloids.


a. The charge produced due to isomorphic substitution and broken edges of clays. This
type of charge is known as permanent charge.
b. Hydroxyl ions or other functional groups are present on the surfaces of colloidal
particles (clay and humus). These functional groups can release or accept hydrogen
ions (H+) and thus produce charge. This type of charge is known as pH-dependent or
variable charge.

a. Permanent Charge:
Permanent charge is originated due to isomorphic substitution. Isomorphic substitution
is the replacement of one cation by the other cation having similar size but different

33
charge in structure of silicate clay mineral. A net negative charge arises when a lower-
charged cation (lower valent) replaces a higher-charged cation (higher valent). For
example Mg2+, Fe2+ , Zn2+ replace higher charged cation (e.g., Al3+) during the
crystallization of the silicate clay. In some clays, aluminum ion substitutes for a silicon
ion in the outer layers, while magnesium may substitute for aluminum ion in other clays.
This decreases the positive charges which results in an excess of negative charges.
OH- Al3+ O2- OH- Mg2+ O-
No charge one excessive negative charge
(No substitution) (Mg2+ substituted for Al3+)

These types of charge may occur in 1:1 type clay minerals but are the main source of
charge in the 2:1 type minerals. These are also called permanent charges or constant
charges.
The permanent charge may also be produced due to broken edge of the clay structure.

b. Variable charge:

Depending on the activity of H+ in the soil solution, either hydrogen ion (H+) is added to
the structure (protonation) or released from the structure (deprotonation). Addition or loss
of H+ from silicate structure results in the decrease or increase of charge on the structure.
So this charge is called a pH- dependent charge or a variable charge. It is the main source
of charge in 1:1 type layer silicates and humus. At the exposed crystal edges and flat
external surfaces of minerals, the covalently bonded hydrogen’s of hydroxyls dissociate
at pH level of more than 7 leaving negative charges carried by oxygen. The loosely
bonded hydrogen is readily exchangeable.

> Al-OH + OH- Al-O- + H2O


Soil solid Soil Soil solid Soil Solution.
(No charge) Solution (One -ve charge)

In some cases, the inorganic soil colloid may be responsible for -ve charge (high pH), no
charge (intermediate pH) or +ve charge (low pH) due to fluctuation in pH as
demonstrated below.

> Al-O- + H+ AlOH + H+ AlOH2+

34
Negative charge Neutral Positive charge
(High pH) (Intermediate pH) (Very low pH)

So the primary source of variable charge is due to loss or gain of H+ from functional
groups on the surfaces of soil solids. These functional groups include hydroxyl (-OH) in
inorganic colloid (clay) and carboxyl (-COOH), phenolic (-C6H4OH) and amine –(NH2)
in organic colloid (humus).
The humus colloid has functional groups containing covalently bonded hydrogen which
dissociates with the increase in pH to produce negative charges on the humus colloid.

35
ION EXCHANGE

It is interchange of ions between colloids and soil solution (water having dissolved salts
in the soil) and/or between the solid phases if these are in a close contact. If the process is
between cations, it is a called cation exchange and for anions it is termed as anion
exchange. These are reversible reactions.

Cation Exchange

Cations are positively charged ions. Soil colloids have negative charges on their surfaces.
Cations are adsorbed at these negatively charged sites The adsorbed cations can be
exchanged by other cations present in soil solution. This exchange of one positive ion by
another is called cation exchange. For example, when an NH4+ containing fertilizer is
added to a soil, many of the numerous NH4+ ions replace the other cations that are already
adsorbed to the exchange sites. Cation exchange takes place on the surfaces of clay and
humus colloids as well as on the surfaces of plant roots. The cations mostly present on
the cation exchange sites of the soil colloids are Ca2+, Mg2+, H+, Na+, K+, and Al3+.

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

It is defined as the total exchangeable cations that a soil can hold at a specific pH.
It is usually reported in centimoles of charge per kilogram dry soil (cmol (+) kg-1 soil).

Factors affecting CEC

1. pH

The CEC of a soil changes with a change in pH. As the pH rises, pH dependent CEC also
increases. Most CEC from humus is pH dependent and up to 10-40% of the soil CEC
may be from pH dependent charges.

2. Amount of clay

The CEC of soil generally increases with the increase in clay contents. For every 1%
clay, a CEC value of 0.5 can be established. For example a soil having 40% clay, the
CEC contributed by the clay will be (40*0.5) cmol (+) kg-1 soil.
36
3. Type of clay
The soils having 2:1 type of clays (smectite) have a higher CEC than those having 1:1
type (kaolinitie) clays because smectite clays have more isomorphic substitution than do
the kaolinite clays.

4. Amount of organic matter

Soils having a large amount of organic matter have a higher CEC than those having the
same amount and types of clay but less organic matter. For every 1% well decomposed
organic matter (humus) in soil, a CEC value of 2 can be established. For example, a soil
having 2% organic matter will have (2*2) 4 cmol (+) Kg-1. For a soil having 40% clay
and 2% organic matter, the CEC of that soil will be approximately equal to
24 cmol (+) kg-1 soil.

Clay (40%) 40 x 0.5 = 20 cmol (+)kg-1 soil


Organic matter (2%) 2x2 = 4 cmol (+) kg-1 soil
Total = 24 cmol (+)kg-1 soil

Significance of cation exchange capacity of soil

1. Cation exchange is important because the cations held on the exchange complex are
available to plants. These cations supplement the soil solution.
2. By cation exchange, hydrogen ions from the root surface and microorganisms replace
nutrient cations from the soil exchange complex. The replaced nutrient cations can go
to the soil solution.
3. Soils with high CEC have less leaching losses of nutrient cations, than the soils with
low CEC.
4. It is important reaction in causing and correcting soil acidity and alkalinity. In sodic
soils, the application of gypsum, a source of Ca2+, to replace Na+ from the clay
complex is a good example of the cation exchange in improving physical properties
of the soils.
5. Cation exchange is also important as a mechanism in the purification and alteration of
the percolating water. Cation exchange sites adsorb many metals like Cd2+, Ni2+, Pb2+
and Zn2+ that might be present in the waste waters.
37
Soil pH

It is defined as the -ve log of the hydrogen ion activity of a soil.


pH = - log (H+)
pH 1
(H+)

Where (H+) represents the hydrogen ion activity in mol L-1. The pH scale is the logarithm
to the base 10 of the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion activity. As the pH of a solution goes
from 7 to 6, the hydrogen concentration increases 10 times and OH ions decrease by 10
times. The pH scale extends from 1 to 14, with pH 7 as being the neutral point. Soils with
pH less than 7 are acidic and those with a pH above 7 are alkaline or basic. This means
that at pH 7, hydrogen and hydroxyl ion concentrations are equal at 10-7 moles per liter
(e.g water).

Importance of soil pH:

1. It is major factor in determining which trees, shrubs or grasses will dominate the land
under natural conditions.
2. pH influences the processes involved in the formation and development of soils.
3. Most minerals are soluble in acid soils than in alkaline soils thus releasing ions toxic
to plants e.g Al.
4. It affects the availability of nutrients to the plants. Alkaline pH reduces the solubility
of all the micronutrients (particularly Fe, Zn, Cu & Mn) except Mo and Cl. Within a pH
range of 6.5 – 7.5, most of the essential nutrients (especially phosphate) are available to
plants.
5. The soil pH also affects plant growth by influencing the activity of beneficial soil
microbes. Most N-fixing bacteria are not very active in strongly acidic soils. Bacteria that
decompose soil organic matter and thus release nitrogen and other nutrients for plant use
are depressed by strong acidity. Fungi usually tolerate acidity better than do other
microbes.
6. Plant growth is also affected at high pH due to an excess of sodium ions both in soil
exchange complex and solution, which actually deteriorate soil's physical conditions for

38
plant growth. Moreover, nutrient imbalance and sodium toxicity may also decrease plant
growth.

39
ORGANIC MATTER

Soil organic matter is composed of decomposing residues (plants and animals), by-
products formed by decomposition, microorganisms and materials resistant to further
decomposition. Generally, a mineral soil contains 2-5 % organic matter. Organic matter
plays a variety of roles in nutrient, water and biological cycles in soil system. Pakistani
soils contain < 1 % organic matter.

Source of Organic Matter

Common organic waste materials which could be used to increase soil organic matter
include animal manures, crop residues, composts, green manure, sewage sludge, food
processing wastes, industrial organic wastes, wood manufacturing wastes and municipal
wastes.

Significance of Organic Matter

1. Organic matter is a source of nutrients like N, P and S for plants.


2. Organic matter affects both the physical and chemical properties of the soil and its
overall health.
3. It increases water infiltration in soil.
4. It increases water holding capacity. Organic matter can hold 20 times moisture of
its weight.
5. Organic matter may bind pesticides making them less active, and reduces the risk
of pollution.
6. It increases catioin exchange capacity and thus nutrient holding capacity of soil.
7. Organic matter enhances the biological activity of soil, therefore crop health and
vigour is improved.
8. It chelates (binds) nutrients and thus improves their availability.
9. It is a source of energy for soil microorganisms.
10. It buffers changes in soil pH.
11. It improves physical condition of soil.
12. It gives dark colour to soil and so influences soil temperature.
13. Organic matter is a source of growth-promoting substances for plants.
40
Factors Affecting Organic Matter in Soil

The amount of organic matter in soil is the result of two processes: the addition of
organic matter (roots, surface residue, manure, etc.) and the loss of organic matter
through decomposition. The following five factors affect both additions and losses.

1- Management. Practices that increase plant growth on a field (cover crops, irrigation,
etc.) will increase the amount of roots and residue added to the soil each year. On the
other hand, intensive tillage decreases organic matter by speeding up decomposition.

2- Soil texture. Fine-textured soils can hold much more organic matter than sandy soils.
Decomposition occurs faster in well-aerated sandy soils. A sandy loam rarely holds more
than 2 % organic matter.

3- Climate. High temperatures speed up the degradation of organic matter. In areas of


high precipitation (or irrigation) there is more plant growth and therefore more roots and
residues are added to the soil as source of organic matter.

4- Vegetation. In grasslands, organic matter is added to the soil each year from grass
roots that extend deep into the soil. In forests, the organic matter comes from leaves that
are dropped on the surface of the soil.

Soil organic matter can be improved by various practices such as addition of


farmyard manure, management of crop residues and green manuring.

Green Manuring

A growing crop that is plowed under and mixed with the soil to enrich the organic matter,
is called green manure crop.

The practice of plowing under or soil incorporation of such green manure crops is called
green manuring. Green manures are mostly leguminous crops which are high in N
contents. Generally following crops are suitable for green manuring: Jantar, Guara,
Cow peas, Alfalfa, Sun hemp and Clover etc.

41
Criteria for the selection of green manure crops

1. It should be fast growing and easily established.


2. It should produce abundant and succulent biomass.
3. It should be well adapted to the local conditions.
4. It should be able to fix nitrogen in the soil.
5. Growth habit of crop should encourage ground cover soon after its establishment.
6. I should have the ability to grow on poor soil.
7. It should have a wide climatic and soil adaptation.

Advantages of green manuring

1. Improves the soil fertility


2. Adds nutrients and organic matter to the soil
3. Improves the soil structure
4. Improves soil aeration
5. Increases soil biodiversity by stimulating the growth of beneficial microbes and
other soil organisms

42
COMPOSTING

Composting is a controlled biological process which converts organic constituents,


usually wastes, into humus like material suitable for use as a soil amendment or organic
fertilizer.

Composting Process

The process of composting consists of a period of rapid decomposition and self-heating


followed by a cooler, slower decay of remaining organic substrates. All the three major
groups of soil microorganisms, bacteria actinomycetes and fungi are involved in this
process. Regulating the kinds of organic substrates and controlling the physical and
chemical attributes of the decomposition environment in the compost pile facilitate the
process. Manipulating moisture content, pH, nutrient concentrations and oxygen can
bring about increased decomposition rates and change the characteristics of the compost.
Today, enhancement in the modern engineering has resulted in the growing use of
composting for municipal and industrial waste treatment and nutrient recovery. The same
microbial processes are used by the both large commercial composting industries and by
backyard gardeners.

Process diagram: composting systems

Raw materials Process Product

Organic matter

Mineral nutrients
Compost

Water (Relatively stable organic matter)

Microorganisms

43
Conditions for optimum composting

i. Availability of organic matter in bulk


ii. Nitrogenous material in plenty (starter)
iii. Adequate supply of water to keep it moist
iv. Proper air circulation
v. Warm temperature for optimum decomposition

Advantages

i. Composting is a very good technology to convert organic waste into useful soil
amendment
ii. Composting improves soil fertility whether in backyard gardens or agricultural
lands
iii. It promotes crop productivity and soil quality
iv. Composting generally poses a low risk to the environment, assuming that it is free
of heavy metals or hazardous organic materials
v. It eliminates pathogenic or deleterious organisms, insect larvae, intestinal
parasites and weed seeds
vi. It reduces waste volumes which facilitates its transportation to the field for soil
application.
vii. Composting is an economical approach compared with other waste handling
technologies

44
ESSENTIAL PLANT NUTRIENTS

Plants need food for their growth and development like other living things. Humans and
animals depend on plants for their food but plants can produce their food from natural
raw materials. Sixteen elements have been found to be indispensible for plant growth,
development and reproduction. These essential elements are referred to as essential
nutrients.

Criteria of essentiality

An element should meet following three criteria to be termed as an essential nutrient:

1. Plant is unable to complete vegetative or reproductive stage of its life without that
element.

2. The need of such a nutrient is specific and its deficiency symptoms can be
corrected by supplying only the same nutrient.

3. The nutrient plays a direct role in plants active (metabolic) processes and meets
its nutritional needs.

Essential nutrients can be distinguished into macro and micro nutrients depending upon
their requirements.

Macro nutrients (major nutrients)

Macro nutrients are required in relatively larger quantity by plants. Their concentration in
plants is usually > 500 mg kg-1.

i.e. C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S

Macro nutrients are further categorized into primary and secondary nutrients

From a management perspective, the primary nutrients are N, P, and K, because they are
most often limiting from a crop production standpoint. All of the other essential

45
macronutrient elements (Ca, Mg and S) are secondary nutrients because they are rarely
limiting, and seldom added to soils as fertilizers

Micro nutrients (minor nutrients/ trace elements)

Micro nutrients required in relatively smaller quantity by plants. Their concentration in


plants is usually <100 mg kg-1.

i.e. Zn, Cu, B, Fe, Mn, Cl, Mo,

Sources

C, H, O, are available to plants naturally from air and water. For other nutrients many
sources can be used but commonly used are as,

N= Urea (NH4)2CO, Ammonium Sulfate (NH4)2SO4, Calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN),


Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), Nitrophos (NP)

P= Single super phosphate (SSP), Triple super phosphate (TSP), Di-ammonium


phosphate (DAP), Mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) and Nitrophos (NP)

K= Sulfate of potash (SOP) and Murate of potash (MOP)

Ca= Calcium sulfate (CaSO4.2H2O)

Mg= Magnesium sulfate (Mg SO4)

S= Elemental sulfur (S)

Zn= Zinc sulfate (ZnSO4)

Cu= Copper sulfate (CuSO4)

Fe= Iron sulfate (FeSO4)

Mn= Manganese sulfate (MnSO4)

Cl= Sodium chloride (NaCl), Potassium chloride (KCl)

46
Mo= Ammonium molybdate (NH4)6Mo7O24.2H2O

B= Boric acid (H3BO3)

In addition to these mineral fertilizers some organic sources/ biofertilizers are also used
to supply these nutrients

Available forms:

Nutrients Cations Anions

Macronutrients

Nitrogen NH4+ NO3-

Phosphorus HPO42- and H2PO4-

Potassium K+

Magnesium Mg2+

Calcium Ca2+

Sulfur SO42-

Micronutrients

Copper Cu2+

Chlorine Cl-

Iron Fe2+

Boron H3BO3

Manganese Mn2+

Zinc Zn2+

Molybdenum MoO42 -

Functions

Nitrogen

 Nitrogen is a part of all living cells and is a necessary part of all proteins,
enzymes and metabolic processes involved in the synthesis and transfer of energy.
47
 Nitrogen is a part of chlorophyll, the green pigment of the plant that is responsible
for photosynthesis.
 Helps plants with rapid growth, increasing seed and fruit production and
improving the quality of leaf and forage crops.

Phosphorus

 The most important function of P in plants is energy storage and transfer.


Phosphorus is an integral part of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and Adenosine
diphosphate ADP.
 It is involved in the formation of all oils, sugars, starches, etc.
 Adequate supply of P is important for development of reproductive parts of plant.
 It improves blooming and root growth.
 It hastens crop maturity.

Potassium

 Potassium, unlike N and P forms no compounds in the plant.

 It is required for the activation of more than 80 enzymes. This is the most
important function of K.

 It is involved in stomatal regulation. It helps in the maintenance of plant turgor.

 Plants require K for better produce quality.

48
NITROGEN CYCLE

The sequence of biochemical changes undergone by nitrogen wherein it is used by a


living organism, liberated upon the death and decompositions of the organisms and
converted ultimately to its original oxidation state.

N-Cycle from
Principles and
Application of Soil
Microbiology

Figure: overview of the nitrogen cycle, showing major pools


(shaded areas) and transformations (lines) of N.

The Processes Involved in N-Cycle


Mineralization

The conversion of nitrogen from its organic form to inorganic form as a result of
microbial activity.

Immobilization
Conversion of nitrogen from its inorganic form to organic form in microbial or plant
tissues.

Mineralization
Organic N Inorganic N
Immobilization
49
Aminization

It is the conversion of protein into amino acids and amides by heterotrophic (use organic
substances as energy source) microbes.
Microorganisms
Protein R-NH2 + CO2 + Energy + other products

Ammonification

It is the conversion of amino acids and other N-containing compounds into NH4 form of
nitrogen.
R-NH2 + H2O NH4 + Energy + CO2 + other products
Fate of NH4 released during ammonification process
1. Can be taken up by plants and microorganisms
2. Can be adsorbed on exchange complex
3. Can be fixed by 2:1 type clay minerals
4. Some NH4 can be lost as NH3 through volatilization
5. Can be Nitrified

Nitrification

It is the biological oxidation of NH4 to NO2 and then to NO3 by autotrophic (use
inorganic substances as energy source) soil bacteria under aerobic conditions.
Nitrosomonas
2NH4 + 3O2 2 NO2- + 4H+ + 2H2O
(Ammonium) Bacteria (Nitrite)

Nitrobacter
2NO2 + O2 2NO3-
Bacteria (Nitrate)

This NO3 can undergo (Fate of nitrate)


1. Up take by plants and microbes
2. Denitrification under anaerobic conditions
3. Leaching

Ammonia volatilization

Mass transfer of N as ammonia gas from soil, plant, or liquid systems to the atmosphere.

50
This is particularly important when fertilizer salts containing Ammonium salts (e.g. Urea)
are applied on the surface of an alkaline soil at high temperature.
NH4+ + H2O + OH- NH3+ 2H2O
Free NH3 gas escapes.

Ammonium fixation

It is the entrapment of NH4 in the interlayer spaces of some clay minerals such as illite.

Biological Nitrogen Fixation

Next to photosynthesis, biological nitrogen fixation is probably the most important


biochemical reaction for life on earth. Through this process, certain organisms (called
diazotrophs) convert the inert dinitrogen gas of the atmosphere (N2) to ammonia with the
help of an enzyme called nitrogenase. The ammonia changes to ammonium and becomes
available to plants. The process is carried out by limited number of microorganisms,
including several species of bacteria, a number of actinomycetes, and cyanobacteria (blue
green algae). Nitrogen fixing microbes can exist as free living or in association with other
microbes or plants

Denitrification

This is the biological reduction of NO3 or NO2 to molecular N (N2) or nitrous oxide
(N2O) by microbial activity under ananerobic conditions. The N2 or N2O thus produced
are lost to the atmosphere.

2NO3 2NO2 2NO N2 N2O


-O2 -O2 -O2 -O2

Leaching

The removal of nitrogen especially NO3-N out of root zone in solution by downward
movement of water through the soil.

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N-balance sheet: gains and losses of soil nitrogen
Gains Losses

1. Biological nitrogen fixation 1. Crop removal


2. Industrial fixation (chemical fertilizers) 2. Leaching
3. Crop residues, manures etc. 3. Volatilization
4. Electrical discharge 4. Denitrification
5. Immobilization (for the time being)

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PROBLEM SOILS

Soil problems are generally of three types:

1. Soil salinity and sodicity


2. Soil erosion
3. Waterlogged soils

1. Soil salinity and sodicity

Soils affected by salinity and / or sodicity are called salt-affected soils. These soils
adversely affect the growth of most crop plants because of the presence of excess soluble
salts or exchangeable sodium or both.

Salt-affected soils are generally divided into three main classes i.e. saline, sodic and
saline-sodic.

A. Saline soil

A soil having sufficient amount of soluble salts but not excessive exchangeable sodium to
adversely affect the growth of most crop plants. Saline soils have:

Electrical conductivity of the saturated soil extract (ECe) > 4 dS m-1


Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) < 13 (mmol L-1)1/2
Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) < 15
pH of saturated soil paste (pHs) < 8.5

B. Sodic soil

A soil having sufficient amount of exchangeable sodium but not excessive soluble salts to
adversely affect the growth of most crop plants. Sodic soils have

Electrical conductivity of the saturated soil extract (ECe) < 4 dS m-1


Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) > (mmol L-1)1/2
Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) > 15
pH of saturated soil paste (pHs) < 8.5

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C. Saline-sodic soils

A soil having both soluble salts as well as exchangeable sodium in sufficient amount to
adversely affect the growth of most crop plants. A saline sodic soil has

Electrical conductivity of the saturated soil extract (ECe) > 4 dS m-1


Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) > 13 (mmol L-1)1/2
Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) > 15
pH of saturated soil paste (pHs) > 8.5

In some literature, the term “alkali” is used in place of “sodic” i.e. for soils having excess
exchangeable sodium. Hence the term “saline-alkali” in place of “saline-sodic” and
“alkali” in place of “sodic” are used. However, the use of the term “alkali” is being
discouraged because of its ambiguity with the term “alkaline” which refers to the soils
having pH> 7.0.

Reclamation and management of salt –affected soils

Reclamation is the process of removal of excessive soluble salts and / or exchangeable


sodium from the soil.

An amendment is a material which is added/applied to the soil to make it more suitable


for plant growth e.g. gypsum, sulphuric acid.

Pre-requisites of soil reclamation

1. Good internal soil drainage


2. Land leveling
3. Availability of sufficient amount of good quality water
4. Deep ground water

From reclamation point of view, the salt-affected soils are divided into two categories i.e.
saline and sodic / saline-sodic.

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Reclamation of saline soils

The reclamation of saline soils is relatively easy to achieve if large amounts of good
quality irrigation water is available and surface as well as internal drainage are possible.
Embankments are made around the saline field and the field is flooded with water. While
moving downward, this water removes the soluble salts out of the root zone and rending
the soil fit for crop growth.

Reclamation of sodic / saline-sodic soils

For reclaiming sodic and saline-sodic soils some amendments supplying soluble calcium
in the soil either directly (gypsum) or indirectly (sulfuric acid etc. in calcareous soils) are
required / needed. After applying amendments heavy irrigation is required to leach the
replaced sodium from the soil’s exchange complex and soluble salts out of the root zone.
Saline sodic soil should not be leached with out any amendment otherwise these soils will
be converted into sodic soils after the leaching of soluble salts. Sodic soils are more
difficult to reclaim than the saline-sodic soils.

Gypsum (CaSO4 2H2O)

Gypsum is the most commonly used source of Ca+2 for the reclamation of both
calcareous and non-calcareous sodic / saline-sodic soils because of its comparatively low
price, easy transport, general availability and easy application than other amendments.
The following chemical reaction takes place when gypsum is added to a sodic / saline-
sodic soil.

2Na + CaSO4 2H2O Ca + Na2SO4 + 2H2O

In this equation represents the soil exchange complex.

Calcium solubilized from gypsum replaces sodium from the soil solids and soluble
sodium sulfate is formed which is leached out of the root zone with the application of
heavy irrigation.

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Sulfuric Acid

Sulfuric acid may also be used in place of gypsum but only in calcareous sodic / saline-
sodic soils. The following chemical reaction takes place when sulfuric acid is added to
calcareous sodic / saline-sodic soils.

H2SO4 + CaCO3 CaSO4 + CO2 + H2O

2Na + CaSO4 2H2O Ca + Na2SO4 + 2H2O

In this equation represents the soil exchange complex.

Calcium solubilized from CaSO4 with the application of H2SO4, replaces sodium from
the soil solids and soluble sodium sulfate is formed which is leached out of the root zone
with the application of heavy irrigation.

Management of salt-affected soils

If it is not possible or practicable to remove all the salts and / or exchangeable sodium
from soil due to high cost or shortage of good quality water these soils may still be used
profitably with proper management. In such situation, either some salt tolerant plants can
be grown or salt damage to the plants can be minimized by controlling water and
following adapting suitable techniques of planting e.g. planting on raised beds.

Soil erosion

The detachment and movement of soil / land surface by running water, ice, wind, gravity
or other geological agents is called soil erosion.

Waterlogging / Water logged soil

Soils saturated with water (due to high or perched water table) for a sufficiently long time
annually which is determental to most of the field crops are called waterlogged soils.
Waterlogging causes oxygen deficiency for plant roots, ultimately leading to death of
sensitive crops.

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Perched water table means the water table of a saturated layer of soil which is separated
from an underlying saturated layer by an unsaturated layer.

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POLLUTION: SOURCES, IMPACT AND MANAGEMENT

Wherever we live, whatever our interests, environmental issues affect us all. All external
conditions, both biotic and abiotic, that affect an organism or group of organisms is called
Environment.

Pollution

It is any alteration of air, water or soil that harms health, survival, or activities of humans
and other living organisms.

Soil Pollution

Soil pollution is any physical or chemical change in soil that adversely affects the health
of plants or other organisms living on and in it.
Soil is polluted due to build-up of persistent toxic compounds, chemicals, salts,
radioactive materials, or disease causing agents, which have adverse effects on plant
growth and soil ecology.

Sources of pollution

In modern economies, various types of activities, including agriculture, industry and


transportation, produce a large amount of wastes and new types of pollutants. Soil, air
and water have traditionally been used as sites for the disposal of all these wastes. The
most common sources of pollution can be summarized as under:

1. Effluent discharges from sewage treatment works has Nitrogen (N) and
Phosphorus (P), persistent organic pollutants, pathogens, litter, oxygen depleting
substances and suspended solids.
2. Industrial effluent discharges contain N, oxygen-depleting substances and a broad
spectrum of chemicals (heavy metals) and suspended solids etc.
3. Industrial processes release hazardous chemicals to air, soil and water.
4. Oil fields and storage facilities release hydrocarbons e.g. oil spillage in sea.
5. Landfill sites release N, ammonia, oxygen- depleting substances, broad spectrum
of chemicals and is also a source of pathogens.
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6. Fish farming release N, P, oxygen-depleting substances, pathogens, suspended
and solids.
7. Use of pesticide, insecticides and herbicides leave chemical residues in soil.
8. Organic waste recycling and agriculture fertilizer release N,P and pathogens.
9. Power generation facilities produce N, sulphur, mercury, and heat (high
temperature) pollution.
10. Farm wastes release N, P, oxygen-depleting substances, pathogens and suspended
and solids.
11. Mining produce heavy metals, acid, suspended and settle-able solids.

Potential impacts of pollution

Human health

Because humans are at the top of the food chain, they are particularly vulnerable to the
effects of nondegradable pollutants. For example, Mercury released from industry in
water can accumulate in fish and eventually in bodies of the people who consume the
fish. This highly toxic element can cause nervous disorders, and paralysis. More recently
research has revealed that many chemical pollutants, such as DDT interfere with the
human body’s reproductive and developmental functions. These substances are known as
endocrine disrupters.

Natural resources

Pollution also has a dramatic effect on natural resources. Ecosystems such as soil, forest,
wetland, and rivers perform many important services for Earth’s environment. They
enhance water and air quality, provide habitat for plants and animals, and provide food
and medicines. Any or all of these ecosystem functions may be impaired or destroyed by
pollution.

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Effect on soil

Pollution can decrease the availability of the nutrients to the plants and some pollutants
Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd) and Mercury (Hg) are directly toxic to the plants.
Pollutants affect the soil ecology and delicate balance between flora (plants) and fauna
(animals).

Ozone depletion

Earth is encircled by a thin protective layer of ozone gas (O3). This layer is found about
20-50 km above the earth and it serves as a sunscreen, screening out 95- 99% of UV
(10-400 nm) radiation. Due to pollution ozone layer is damaged and ultra violet rays
would reach directly to the earth surface and can cause skin cancer and other
complications to the living organisms.

Eutrophication

Undesirable addition of plant nutrients, mainly P and N, to water bodies causes


eutrophication. It is characterized by an intense proliferation of algae and higher plants
and their accumulation in excessive quantities, which can result in detrimental changes in
water quality and biological populations and can interfere with human uses of that water
body.

Socio-Economic implications

Another major effect of pollution is the tremendous cost of pollution cleanup and
prevention. In addition to its effects on the economy, health, and natural resources,
pollution has social implications as well e.g. building of landfills in poor areas.

Management strategies

There are different ways to handle the pollutants produced by variety of sources.

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Chemical treatment

It includes the reactions to remove, destroy or modify contaminants (in situ or ex situ)
e.g. Dechlorination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) contaminated soils, acid leaching
of metal-contaminated soils. Treatment of industrial effluents with different chemicals
before releasing them into the sewerage system. Chemical treatment of waste material is
costly and needs more expertise to handle variety of compounds in the system.

Landfills

Areas where wastes are buried, called landfills, are the cheapest and most common
disposal method for solid wastes worldwide.
But landfills quickly become overfilled and may contaminate air, soil, and water. The
other option is Bioremediation; using natural biological processes to regulate the
decomposition of organic wastes, is an effective strategy for dealing with organic garbage
and produces a material that can be used as a natural fertilizer. Recycling, extracting and
reusing certain waste materials, has become an important part of solid waste management
strategies in developed countries

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is a process that uses microorganisms, plants, or microbial or plant


enzymes to detoxify contaminants in the soil and other environment.

Strategies for Bioremediation

A number of bioremediation strategies can restore soil and environmental quality. For a
given contaminant, one or more of the following strategies may be needed to ensure
successful bioremediation.

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Passive bioremediation

It is natural bioremediation of contaminated sites by indigenous microorganism. In this


kind of bioremediation rate of degradation (breakdown) may be too slow for some
situation.

Biostimulation

Biostimulation is the addition of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, to stimulate


indigenous microorganisms in soil.

Bioventing

In this gaseous stimulants, such as oxygen and methane, are added in the soil to stimulate
microbial activity.

Bioaugmentation

It is the inoculation of a contaminated site with microorganism to facilitate


biodegradation.

Composting

Composting is the use of microorganism in constructed piles of soils or windrows to


degrade/decompose contaminants. It’s a biological process that breaks down organic
material (such as grass clippings and leaves) into more stable materials. In composted
material partial sterilization occurs and weed seeds and pathogenic organism are killed
and most of the toxic organic compounds are destroyed. Nitrogen in the composted
material becomes more stable than the raw waste material. It’s the best option to handle
the waste material as the composted material may be used as natural fertilizer for
nurseries, gardens, orchards, vegetables and field crops.

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Phytoremediation

It is the use of plants to remove, contain, or transform


contaminants. This can be accomplished directly (e.g., by
plants hyperaccumulating heavy metals) or indirectly (e.g.,
by plants stimulating microorganisms in the rhizosphere).

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