Lecturers:                 Dr J. Hussein (Coordinator)
                                Mr M Wuta
                                Dr S Mpepereki

General Course Information

The course will consist of two 1 hour lectures on Mondays and Wednesdays  plus a three hour practical session every Monday afternoon. Course assessment will include written assignments, practical write ups, reports on field trips and intrasessional exams which will all account for 30% of the final course mark. There will be a three hour final examination which will be written in November  and will account for 70% of the final course mark.

Recommended Books

 1.  The Nature and Properties of Soils - by N.C. Brady

 2.  Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Soil science - by R.E.
        White

 3.  Fundamentals of Soil Science - by H.D. Foth

 4.  Fertilizers and Soil Fertility - hy U.S. Jones

 5.  Soil Conditions for Plant Growth - E. Russell.

 6.  Soils of Zimbabwe - K.W. Nyamapfene

These books can be borrowed from the departmental resource room or the Main Library. Students should note that books can be borrowed from the resource room during the following periods.

Mornings    0900 - 0930 hours
Afternoons   1400 - 1500 hours
 

 Introduction to Soil Science

 Course Outline

 Numbers in [ ] brackets indicate no. of lecture hours

l. General Introduction to Soil Formation

History of Soil Science and Concepts of a soil, study of soil forming factors (climate, organisms, parent material, relief, time), processes of soil  formation (weathering, leaching, podzolization, gleying), horizonation, soil profile morphology, texture, colour, structure, soil separates, particle size distribution. [8 hrs]

2. Mineralogy of Soils

Mineralogical components of soils, structure, and properties of clay minerals (e.g. surface area, surface charge). [2 hrs]

3.      Chemical Properties of Soils

Ion exchange (cation and anion), CEC, exchangeable bases, soil pH, soil acidity, liming, soil salacity and sodicity. [6 hrs]

4.      Physical Properties of Soils

Soil as a disperse three phase system, phase relationships, bulk density, particle density, porosity, aeration.

5.      Soil Water Relations

Soil-water content, soil water potential, moisture release curves, soil water movement, filtration, drainage, concept of available water capacity (AWC), evapotranspiration and potential evapotranspiration, irrigation scheduling. [6 hrs]

6.      Soil Organic Matter

Origin of soil organic matter, decomposition of organic matter, soil factors affecting decomposition(soil micro-organisms, C/N ratio, soil physical factors), effects on soil properties [2 hrs]
 

7.      Soil Organisms/Soil Biota

Macro, meso and micro-organisms in soil, effects on soil properties. Relationships between soil organisms and higher plants. [2 hrs]

8.      Plant Mineral Nutrition

Study of cycles of essential plant mineral nutrients in soils, movement of nutrients in soils and uptake by plants, management of soil fertility (use of organic and inorganic fertilizers).

9.      Soil Temperature

Soil temperature cycles (diurnal and seasonal) solar radiation and soil temperature, management of soil temperature. [2 hrs]
 

10.      Soil and Water Conservation

Tillage, types of different tillage systems, soil compaction and plant growth, water and wind erosion, soil and water conservation. [4 hrs]

11.      Soil Classification

Introduction to soil classification systems, Zimbabwean Classification System, FAO. [4 hrs)

12.      Soil Survey

Type of soil surveys, soil survey methodology, (use of remote sensing techniques), Land capability classification. [2 hrs]

 1.  Lectures (Two 1 hour session per week)

 2. Practicals (one 3 hour session per week)

    2.1   Attendance is compulsory and only on valid medical grounds  or serious mishaps may a student
            be excused.  In any case permission must be sought in writing with supporting doctor's or other
            official certificates. Note that the student may still be required to submit the written assignments.

    2.2   Failure to submit a practical assignment results in an  automatic zero mark which is averaged with
            the rest of the marks at the end of the year.

3.  Field Trips/Work

      3.1  Attendance is compulsory, 3.1 conditions apply.

      3.2  Failure to submit a fieldwork report is treated as 3.2 above.

 4.  Examinations

      4.1  Part 1 intrasessional examination test in SL101 takes place on the last Monday of Term
            One.

      4.2  Second Term examination - normally on last Monday of Term Two

      4.3  Final end of year examinations are arranged by the Registrar and they normally commence in
            October/November.

 5.  Course Assessment (CA)

      5.1  The C.A accounts for 30% of the overall final mark.

      5.2  The other 70% of the overall final mark is the final written examination mark in each
            course.

      5.3  The C.A consists of all assignments done throughout the year under items 3 and 4 above
            (appropriately weighted), plus 5.1 and 5.2.

6.  Academic Integrity Code

    6.1  Students should be prompt and regular in attending classes and should submit assignments on time.

    6.2   Students should adhere to the integrity of the academic process which requires that credit be
            given where credit is due. Accordingly, it is a breach of academic integrity to  present as one's
            own work the ideas, representation or works of another, or to permit another to present one's
            work  without customary and proper acknowledgement of authorship.  Some of the more
            common breaches of academic integrity are;  theft of instructional materials or tests;
            unauthorized  access or otherwise manipulating laboratory equipment,  computer programs or
            other materials without proper  authorization; misuse of research experiment data in reporting
            results; use of personal relationships to gain grades or favors or otherwise attempting to obtain
            grades or credit through fraudulent means.

    6.3   Students should put on laboratory attire, white overcoat, fully covering plastic or leather shoes at
            all times when carrying out experiments in the laboratory.

    6.4   Students should not obstruct or disrupt teaching and laboratory work.

    6.5   Students should not abuse or harass any fellow student, lecturer or technician.

    6.6  Students should take maximum care so that they do not  damage laboratory equipment or cause
           injury to oneself or someone else through negligence or unreasonableness. The cost of equipment
           lost or broken will be deducted from the caution fee.

    6.7   Students should not come to class drunk or intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.

    6.8   No smoking is allowed in the class or laboratory.

    6.9   Breach of the Integrity Code may seriously affect one's academic results.