SOL507: SOIL PHYSICS
L:2 T:0 P:2 Credits: 3
Course Outcomes: Through this course students should be able to
• speculate with the basic concepts of scope of soil physics.
• summarize the physical characteristics of soils.
• review the characteristics of soil water and its distribution.
• enumerate knowledge about the thermal properties of soils.
UNIT I
Scope of soil physics: definations of soil physics and its scope, relation of soil physics to
other branches of soil science., three phase system of soil.
Mechanical analysis of soils: soil texture and its classification., measurement specific
surface of soil
UNIT II
Soil basic concepts: soil consistence, soil compaction and consolidation, soil strength,
swelling and shrinkage
Soil crusting: mechanism of soil crusting, factors affecting and evaluation of soil crusting,
soil conditioners, effects of soil puddling on soil physical properties, clod formation
UNIT III
Soil physical characteristics: genesis of soil structure, types of soil structure,
characterization and management of soil structure, soil aggregation, aggregate stability of
soil, characteristics of good soil tilth
Soil air composition: composition of soil air, renewal of soil air - convective flow and
diffusion, measurement of soil aeration, soil air management
UNIT IV
Soil water characteristics: measurement of Soil water content, measurement of soil-
moisture potential, soil-water constants, energy state of soil water, Soil-moisture
characteristic curve and hysteresis
Soil water distribution: infiltration, internal drainage and redistribution,, soilplant-
atmosphere continuum (SPAC)
UNIT V
Dynamics of water in soils: water flow in saturated and unsaturated soils, Poiseuille’s law,
Darcy’s law, Hydraulic diffusivity, Measurement of hydraulic conductivity in saturated and
unsaturated soils
UNIT VI
Thermal properties of soil: energy balance, thermal properties of soil, measurement of soil
temperature and its management, soil temperature in relation to plant growth
PRACTICAL
Soil texture estimation.
• To estimate textural class of soil by Bouyoucos hydrometer method
• To estimate mechanical analysis of soil by the International Pipette Method.
Soil water constants
• To determine available water holding capacity of soil.
• To measure soil water potential using tensiometer.
• To measure the soil temperature by thermocouple method.
Soil properties estimation.
• To determine bulk density of soil sample by field method
• To determine particle density of soil sample by laboratory method
• To determine porosity of soil sample.
• To measure Atterberg’s limits of the soil sample.
Water movement through soil.
• To determine infiltration rate of the soil using double ring infiltrometer.
• To determine saturated hydraulic conductivity by constant head permeameter.
• To determine of saturated hydraulic conductivity by falling head permeameter.
Text Books:
1. SOIL PHYSICS by GHILDYAL BP & TRIPATHI RP, NEW AGE INTERNATIONAL
References:
1. INTRODUCTORY SOIL SCIENCE by DIPLI KUMAR DAS, KALYANI PUBLISHERS
2. A TEXTBOOK OF SOIL PHYSICS by SAHA ARUN KUMAR, KALYANI
PUBLISHERS
