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Define:
It is branch of agriculture which deals with the chemical composition of all the components of
crop production including soil plant fertilizer and irrigation water. In past the term was used
synonymously of soil science
Physical Properties
Chemical Properties:
Properties which deal with the chemical composition and certain chemical reaction in the soil
are known as chemical properties of soil.
From agriculture point of view these properties or reaction control the solubility and
bioavailability of essential plant elements some important chemical properties are:
Minerals:
It is naturally occurring inorganic substances with definite chemical composition (chemical
formula) and definite physical properties.
Minerals give negative charge to our soil. There are two types of minerals which are given as.
Primary Minerals:
The minerals which can not altered since their formation (very resistance) through
weathering is primary minerals i.e. Mica, Diamond, Quartz
Secondary Minerals:
The minerals which is altered by weathering is called secondary minerals i.e. Marble,
CaSo4.2H2o (Gypsum), CaSo4 (Plaster of Paris).These are very important from agriculture
point of view.
Sandy soil contains primary minerals so it is not good because it is not break.
In process of deprotonation negative charge species like OH~ (hydroxyl), carboxyl, amines,
phenols, anoles & humus are present in the soil. As the pH arises the negative charge on soil
is increases and vice versa.
Si Si
Al
Al
Si
Si
Al
2:2 Types 2:1 Types
Si
Si
Al
Al
Expulsion Si
Si
Al
Si Attraction
Si
Al Al
Si Si
Al
The constant charge may be raised due to two reasons.
2) Isomorphic Substitution
2) Isomorphic Substitution:
It is the replacement of an atom by another within the layer of soil clay having similar size but
different charge unit is called isomorphic substitution.
In this process the physical structure of soil colloids is not altered but some charge unit is
arises on the soil. A net negative charge arises on soil surface when a higher valent positive
charge (i.e.Ca++, Ferric, Al+3) having altered +2 charge by lower charge one (K+1, Na+1) in
the process of isomorphic substitution. A net negative comes on the surface to satisfy the
extra positive present on the surface and added in the negative charge of soil.
O O OH O O OH
Al Al Mg Al
O O OH O O OH
It is ability of a soil to hold Cation (+). Indirectly ion exchange capacity is measure of total
negative charge present on a soil.
2) Amount of Clay:
With increase of amount of clay soil CEC increase and vice versa. It means heavy texture soil
(clay soil) have more CEC than sandy soil.
3) Type of Clay:
The soils heaving more 2:1 type of clay have high CEC as compared to the soil with more1:1
type of clay minerals. The reason for this may be more isomorphic substation in 2:1 of clay
minerals as compared to 1:1 type.
Information
It is very hard to increase 1% organic matter in our land only
less than 0.5% is present in our soil.
4) Amount of Organic Matter:
Soil that heaving large amount of organic matter have more CEC than those with same
amount and type of clay but less amount of organic matter content. It may be due to
extended surface area and high negative charge of organic matter content. It is reported that
with 1% rise in organic matter content the CEC of that soil is doubled.
2) Cation exchange site hold Ca, Mg, K, Na and NH4 and reduce their losses through leaching.
NH4+
Fe++ K+
Hg++ Ca++
3) Cation exchange site hold fertilizer K+ and NH4+ reduce literal (horizontal) mobility in soil.
Correction of sodic soil is function of cation exchange capacity. The sodic soil has excess
amount of insoluble sodium on the exchange site of soil collides. When gypsum is added the
sodium are replace with the calcium of gypsum and soil is corrected.
EC is measured is EC meter which works on the principle of solu bridge (Modified form of
wheat stone bridge) more the ion present in soil solution or irrigation water more is
conductance of electricity the more common ion present in the soil or irrigation water are
Chloride, Sulphate, Carbonate and Bicarbonate of calcium ion, magnesium, sodium ion
and potassium ion.
Do You Know
Criteria for Soil Ec 1dS/m=1000µS/cm
If ECe of soil is less than 4 dS/m the soil is normal and all types of plant species can
grown on these soil.
If ECe is 4 dS/m to 8 dS/m than soil is termed as saline soil in such soil only salt
tolerant plant species (Barley, Gur, rice) and salt tolerant crop verity can be grown.
The growth of crop plant in such soil is humbled due to excessive presence of
soluble salt in the root zone.
If ECe is more than 8 dS/m the soil is categorized as extremely saline soil and in
such soil only some salt tolerant grasses and bushes can be grown
Correction of saline soil can be made by just washing of these soils through good
quality water provided that drainage of these soils must be very good.
Soil pH
It is also known as Soil Reaction and may be defined as Negative log of Hydrogen ion
concentration activity. It is measured within the range of 1 to 14 with the neutral point of
7 .It has no unit when expressed in activity but measure in (m-mol/L) ^1/2 when expressed
in concentration.
Significance of pH
1) Soil pH influences the process of soil formation and soil development as solubility of
minerals and microbial activity depends upon soil pH.
2) Soil pH greatly influence nutrient availability and effect of toxic ion to plant or strongly
acidic soil (pH 5,6) have low basic cation(Na+,K+,Mg+2) but have high and toxic
concentration of Al ,Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn and Co (acidic cation). Majority of field and food crop
can’t tolerate this situation and gave less production. Only pineapple, blue berries, and
conifer species grow under such condition.
The availability of majority of nutrient is maximum at 6.5 to 7.5 pH. The agriculture lands
of Pakistan soil is managed between 7.4 and 8.5.
3) Soil pH greatly influence on physical properties of soil when soil pH became more than
8.5 the soil became sodic and soil structure is displaced which deteriorate all physical
properties and yield is reduced.
4) Soil pH effect plant growth through influencing activity of beneficial soil microorganism
for example most of N-fixing bacteria are not very active in sodic soil (active in our
alkaline soil). However fungal growth is better in acidic soil condition.
Advisor:
GM Mahdi (SP18C1BE010)