Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition

  1. Course Title: SS 303 – SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION
  2. Course aim: To equip students with knowledge and understanding on soil fertility management and application of plant nutrition concepts for sustainable crop production.
  • iii. Course expected learning outcome(s)

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

  • Articulate the principles governing soil fertility and land productivity
  • Identify courses of low soil fertility and soil productivity
  • Articulate suitable and appropriate approaches to sustainable crop production
  • Interpret and apply soil analytical data to design appropriate soil fertility management
  • Articulate the functions of individual nutrients, and diagnose associated nutrient disorders in plants.
  • Design appropriate approaches and strategies for integrated plant nutrient management.

 

  1. Course Status:             Core
  2. Credit rating          11 Credits
  3. Total hours spent: 110 hours

                                                         Lectures                             36 hrs

                                                            Seminars/Tutorials               8 hrs

                                                            Assignments                      10 hrs

                                                            Independent Study               8 hrs

                                                            Practical                             48 hrs

 Prerequisite: SS 103, SS 201or SS 203

  • vii. Course Content: The concepts of soil fertility and soil productivity; factors influencing soil fertility status and soil productivity; active and potential soil fertility; Physical, chemical and biological soil fertility; Sources and availability of plant nutrients in soils; Fates of plant nutrients in soils; Media for plant growth. Soil fertility evaluation; Soil fertility management strategies for sustainable soil productivity. Integrated plant nutrient management strategy, Fertilizers and soil amendments; Plant response to fertilizers and fertilizer recommendations; Residual effects of inorganic fertilizers and manures. Functions, roles and metabolism of plant nutrients,  Nutrient absorption by plants and their translocation in the plants;  Nutrient concentration ranges in plant tissues,  Nutrient balance, disorders and their effects   on crop/plant quality, Soil fertility  degradation.

 

Practical skills: Identification of soil fertility and land quality indicators; Soil sampling for soil fertility evaluation; Interpretation and application  of  soil analytical data in soil fertility and plant  nutrient management; Correction of nutrient deficiencies in soils; identification of different types of fertilizers and their  nutrient content,  Calculating amounts of fertilizers to apply based on fertilizer type and nutrient recommendations;  Storage, handling and application  of fertilizers and manure; Identification of plant nutrient disorders and deficiency symptoms; Plant analysis and interpretation of plant analysis results; Field and pot experiments for the testing plant response to soil amendments.

  • Teaching and learning activities

The teaching methods to be used are divided into three broad categories – mass-instruction methods, student-centered learning methods based on individualized study, and group-learning methods.

  • Mass-instruction techniques: including but not limited to lectures and similar expository techniques like seminars and workshops; and mass practical work;
  • Individualized-learning techniques: including directed study of material in textbooks, paper-based self-study materials, self-instruction via mediated materials, computer-based learning and multimedia, individual assignments, projects, and individual practical work;
  • Group-learning techniques: including buzz sessions and similar small-group activities; class discussions, seminars, group tutorials; participative exercises of the game/simulation/case study type; mediated feedback/discussion sessions; group projects and self-help groups.
  1. Assessment Methods

Formative and summative assessments for learners shall be used.

  • Assignments, Seminar presentations, Seminar reports, Practical reports, Practical tests, Quizzes, Theory tests, University Exam
  1. Reading list

Havlin, J. L., J. D. Beaton, S.L. Tisdale, W.L. Nelson (2005). Soil Fertility and Fertilizers:  An introduction to Nutrient Management. 7th Edition. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N. J., USA.

Westermann, R. L. (1990). Soil Testing and Plant Analysis. 3rd Edition. Soil Sci. Soc. Of America, Inc., Madison, Wisc., USA.

Landon JR (1991). Booker Tropical Soil Mannual. A handbook for soil survey and agricultural land evaluation in the tropics and subtropics. Addison Wesley Longman Limited, England.

Jones, J.B. Jr. 2012. Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility Manual. 2nd Edition. CRC Press. 280p

Donahue, R.L., R.W. Miller and J.C. Shickluna (l992).  Soils: An introduction to soils and plant growth.  Prentice Hall, Inc., Inglewood Cliffs, N.J. USA

Uriyo, A.P., H.O. Mongi, M.S. Chowdhury, B.R. Singh and J.M.R Semoka (1979). Introductory Soil Science. Tanzania Publishing House, DSM. Chapter 6.

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