Soil is the foundation of agriculture and a vital natural resource that sustains life. Understanding its composition, fertility, and quality is essential for sustainable farming, environmental management, and effective land use planning. This vocational skill course in soil analysis has been meticulously designed to provide students with in-depth training in the scientific techniques used to assess and improve soil health.
The course offers a comprehensive blend of traditional chemical methodologies and modern instrumental techniques, ensuring that students gain both theoretical understanding and hands-on practical skills. Through a diverse range of laboratory experiments, learners become familiar with evaluating critical soil parameters such as organic matter content, moisture levels, pH, electrical conductivity, and the presence of essential nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Techniques like redox titration, gravimetric analysis, complexometric titration, flame photometry, spectrophotometry, and turbidimetry are employed to provide a holistic understanding of soil properties. Students are also trained to measure soil bulk density, particle density, water-holding capacity, and salinity — factors that directly impact crop yield and soil management strategies. Special emphasis is given to preparing soil health cards and using soil analysis kits to make the learning process more practical, relevant, and field-oriented. These activities help bridge the gap between laboratory results and their real-world applications in agriculture and land stewardship. The course not only builds a foundation in soil chemistry but also empowers students to classify soils based on quality, develop soil improvement plans, and promote awareness about responsible land use practices. By the end of this course, students will be well-prepared for careers in agricultural services, soil testing laboratories, and environmental monitoring sectors. They will possess the skills required to contribute meaningfully to sustainable farming and natural resource management.
Contents –
Module 1. About Soil Analysis
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Importance of Soil Analysis
1.3 Objectives of Soil Analysis
1.4 Different Types of Soils in India
Module 2. Organic Matter and Moisture Content of Soil
2.1 Introduction
2.2 To Measure Organic Matter and Moisture Content of Soil using Redox titration
Module 3. Alkalinity of Soil
3.1 Introduction
3.2 To find Alkalinity of different types of Soil Sample by Acidbase Titration
Module 4. Water Holding Capacity of Soil
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Estimation of Water Holding Capacity of Soil by Gravimetry
Module 5. Electrical Conductivity of the Soil
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Measurement of Electrical Conductivity of the Soil Sample by using Electrical Conductivity Meter
Module 6. Nitrogen Content in the Soil
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Evaluate the Nitrogen content from the Soil Sample by Kjeldahl Method
Module 7. Bulk Density and Particle Density of the Soil
7.1 Introduction
7.2 To estimate Bulk Density and Particle Density of the Soil Sample using Specific Gravity Bottle
Module 8. Sodium Content in the Soil
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Analysis of Sodium Content in the given Soil Sample by Flame Photometric Method
Module 9. Potassium Content in the Soil
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Find out the Potassium Content in the given Soil Sample by Flame Photometric Method
Module 10. Phosphorus Content in the Soil
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Find the Content of available Phosphorus from the Soil Sample by Spectrophotometry
Module 11. Calcium and Magnesium Content in the Soil
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Estimation of Calcium and Magnesium by Complexometric Titration
Module 12. Chlorides Content in the Soil
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Determination of Chlorides in the given Soil Sample by Argentometric Titration
Module 13. Sulphates in the Soil
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Measurement of Sulphates in the given Soil Sample by Turbidimetry
Module 14. pH of the Soil
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Measurement of pH of the given Soil using Calibrated pH Meter
Module 15. Soil Health Card and Demonstration of Soil Analysis Kit
15.1 Preparation of Soil Health Card and Demonstration of Soil Analysis Kit
