Information Package / Course Catalogue
Soil Fertility Analysis and Evaluation
Course Code: TBB307
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 1
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 4
Objectives of the Course

The aim of this course is to explain the basic methods used in determining the fertility status of soils. It is also aimed to provide students with practical skills in using pot experiment methods in soil fertility studies.

Course Content

Fertility characteristics of soils and statistical evaluation methods of these characteristics; correlation analyses in fertility criteria; types of experiments conducted for the determination of soil fertility and the issues to be considered in practice; statistical analysis methods, their applications and interpretations.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
1.Explains the basic concepts, fertility theories, and evaluation criteria used in soil fertility analyses.
2.Applies the basic principles of soil and plant sampling, sample preparation, and interpretation of analysis results.
3.Evaluates fertilizer materials, fertilizer application techniques, and pot/greenhouse experiment methods in terms of fertility assessment.
4.Designs field experiments and appropriate experimental designs according to the principles of planning, implementation, and evaluation.
5.Evaluates data obtained from fertility experiments using analysis of variance and multiple comparison tests and interprets the results.
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Açıkgöz, N., E. İlker, A. Gökçöl, 2004. Biyolojik Araştırmaların Bilgisayarda Değerlendirilmeleri. ISBN: 973-483-607-8 E.Ü. Tohum Teknolojisi Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezi Yayın No:2 Bornova-İzmir.
2.Açıkgöz, N., 1994. Tarımda Araştırma ve Deneme Metodları, , Ege Üniv. Ziraat Fak Yay No. 478, İzmir.
3.Steel, R.G.D and Torrie, J.H., 1981. Prensiples and procedures of statistics. Mc graw and HillInt. Editions.Aucland USA.
4.Cochran, W.G. and G.M. Cox, 1957. Experimental designs. II. Edition, John Wiley and sons Inc., Newyork.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical & Practice
Literature review and examination of the main course references
Week 2 - Theoretical
Basic theories in soil fertility; availability theory, Baule’s percentage yield theory, and mobility theory
Week 2 - Practice
Examination of standard value tables used in soil and plant analyses
Week 3 - Theoretical
Law of the minimum, law of diminishing returns, and Mitscherlich and Bray approaches
Week 3 - Practice
Example calculations and interpretation exercises related to fertility laws
Week 4 - Theoretical
Soil and fertility concepts; soil formation, soil profile, and fertility criteria
Week 4 - Practice
Evaluation of soil fertility criteria using sample data
Week 5 - Theoretical
Physical and chemical properties of soils; texture, structure, water, pH, and organic matter
Week 5 - Practice
Interpretation of soil analysis results in terms of fertility
Week 6 - Theoretical
Soil groups, Soil Taxonomy, soil classification, and principles of soil sampling
Week 6 - Practice
Practices on soil sampling, labeling, and preparation of a sampling plan
Week 7 - Theoretical
Plant sampling, leaf analysis, nutritional disorders, and analysis methods
Week 7 - Practice
Evaluation of plant sampling time, sampling organ, and analysis results
Week 8 - Theoretical
Organic and chemical fertilizer materials used in experiments, application time, and application methods
Week 8 - Practice
Comparison of fertilizer label information, nutrient contents, and application methods
Week 9 - Theoretical
Pot experiments conducted in greenhouses; pot size, soil amount, pot material, and selection of indicator plants
Week 9 - Practice
Preparation of a pot experiment layout and evaluation of application techniques
Week 10 - Theoretical
Pot experiment methods; microbiological and biological methods, Sekara, Nicholas, and Neubauer methods
Week 10 - Practice
Comparison of the advantages, limitations, and application areas of pot experiment methods. Quiz exam
Week 11 - Theoretical
Introduction to field experiments; simple fertilizer experiments, omission experiments, and nutrient increment experiments
Week 11 - Practice
Preparation of treatment structure and application plans for simple fertilizer and omission experiments
Week 12 - Theoretical
Factorial fertilization experiments, principles of conducting field experiments, plots, replications, and sources of error
Week 12 - Practice
Preparation of a factorial experiment plan and evaluation of plot layout and replication structure
Week 13 - Theoretical
Experimental designs; completely randomized design, randomized complete block design, and Latin square design
Week 13 - Practice
Randomization according to experimental designs, sources of variation, and preparation of sample ANOVA tables
Week 14 - Theoretical
Analysis of variance, F test, mean comparison tests, LSD and Duncan tests, and interpretation of results
Week 14 - Practice
Practice of ANOVA, LSD/Duncan grouping, and interpretation of results using a sample dataset. Course Participation and Performance Assessment
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Attending Lectures1%5
Quiz1%5
Midterm Examination1%30
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory141242
Lecture - Practice142142
Quiz1011
Midterm Examination1718
Final Examination1617
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)100
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
2
2
2
2
OÇ-2
3
3
2
4
2
2
2
2
OÇ-3
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
3
OÇ-4
3
4
4
3
5
2
2
2
3
3
OÇ-5
4
5
4
5
4
3
2
2
2
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026