Information Package / Course Catalogue
Soil Physics
Course Code: TBB303
Course Type: Required
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 2
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 5
Objectives of the Course

Investigate theoretical and practical foundations of soil physics and the applications. The definition and the development of soil physics and where they are used. Implementation of the laboratory analysis.

Course Content

The fundamental relationships of soil physics, the soil disperse system, the characteristics of the disperse phase, soil texture, grain size distribution and textural classification, soil structure classification, formation, development and agricultural importance of soil water retention, the potential of the soil water and its movement potential, soil water classification , soil aeration, soil temperature.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Prof. Gönül AYDIN
Learning Outcomes
1.Understands the fundamental principles of Soil Physics and can apply them to soils.
2.Can perform physical analyses of soil and list the purposes for which they can be used.
3.Can express findings and interpretations related to the physical properties of soils clearly in both written and oral form, and can report and communicate effectively.
4.Can find solutions to mitigate risks arising from the physical properties of soils.
5.Can explain the relationships between soil physical properties and other scientific disciplines and what these relationships imply.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Özkan, İ., 1985. Toprak Fiziği. Ziraat Fakültesi Yay. 946 s. Ders Kitabı 270.
2.Fiziğin Temelleri I (Mekanik), D. Halliday ve R. Resnick; Çeviri: Cengiz Yalçin, 1996.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
What is soil physics? The importance and the purposes.
Week 1 - Practice
Presentation of the laboratory.
Week 2 - Theoretical
The soil physical conditions; soil as a three-phase system, the volume and mass relationships.
Week 2 - Practice
Determination of a soil profile under field conditions.
Week 3 - Theoretical
The solid phase; soil texture (texture).
Week 3 - Practice
The determination methods of soil texture in field and in laboratory.
Week 4 - Theoretical
The solid phase; soil structure (structure).
Week 4 - Practice
The determination of the soil structure in field.
Week 5 - Theoretical
Soil-water; water and the structure of water , the adsorption of water on the solid surface of soils.
Week 5 - Practice
Slideshow of a soil structure.
Week 6 - Theoretical
The physical condition of the soil-water system; the forces near to the soil solid surface within the soil-water system.
Week 6 - Practice
Taking undisturbed soil samples.
Week 7 - Theoretical
The basic concepts of the soil water; tension, pressure, stress, tortuosity, surface tension, contact angle, capillarity - What is capillary rise?
Week 7 - Practice
The preparation of undisturbed soil samples for the laboratory analysis.
Week 8 - Theoretical
The soil-water status.
Week 8 - Practice
Methods for determining the soil moisture in field.
Week 9 - Theoretical
The soil-water potential energy.
Week 9 - Practice
The determination of the soil color in field.
Week 10 - Theoretical
The measurement of the soil moisture content and the potential energy; detailed measurement methods for the direct and indirect soil water content.
Week 10 - Practice
The soil moisture content determination in laboratory.
Week 11 - Theoretical
The measurement of the soil water potential, instruments for measuring the capillary-matrix-capillary potential.
Week 11 - Practice
The soil moisture content determination in laboratory.
Week 12 - Theoretical
The soil moisture characteristic curve; soil properties affecting the soil moisture characteristic curve.
Week 12 - Practice
The determination of the water content at field capacity and permanent wilting point.
Week 13 - Theoretical
The soil moisture characteristic curve; the soil moisture characteristic curve formation.
Week 13 - Practice
The concept of capillarity.
Week 14 - Theoretical
The soil water dynamics, the movement of water, the flow of fluids in narrow pores , viscosity.
Week 14 - Practice
Report of Practice
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%40
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory142256
Lecture - Practice142256
Midterm Examination1516
Final Examination1617
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)125
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
OÇ-1
4
4
2
3
2
2
2
3
2
3
2
OÇ-2
3
5
1
5
2
1
1
2
3
1
2
OÇ-3
4
4
2
4
2
5
3
1
4
2
3
OÇ-4
3
3
4
4
2
1
2
2
5
2
4
OÇ-5
4
4
2
5
3
2
2
2
3
2
4
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026