Information Package / Course Catalogue
Soil Fertility
Course Code: TBB406
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

The objectives of the course is to teach the factors that affect the fertility of the soils and the techniques to increase and sustain the fertility

Course Content

Soil fertility concepts and laws of fertility; soil texture and textural classes; soil water; organic matter and humus; colloidal systems, clay minerals and cation exchange capacity (CEC); soil reaction (pH) and pH amendment materials; soil salinity and alkalinity; and information on the protection and sustainability of soil fertility.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Lec. Mustafa Ali KAPTAN
Learning Outcomes
1.Explains the basic theoretical knowledge related to soil fertility and plant nutrition
2.Evaluates the relationships among soil properties, environmental factors, and plant growth
3.Makes basic assessments on the determination of soil fertility and fertilization practices
4.Knows the basic methods used in the determination of soil fertility
5.Suggests practices for protecting and improving soil fertility for sustainable agriculture
Recommended or Required Reading
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Introduction to soil fertility; agriculture and productivity, yield definitions and fertility-limiting factors.
Week 1 - Practice
Selection of a sample field for soil fertility assessment.
Week 2 - Theoretical
Basic theories and laws of soil fertility; availability theory and nutrient availability.
Week 2 - Practice
Observation of field conditions and preparation of a soil sampling plan.
Week 3 - Theoretical
Soil texture concept; sand, silt and clay fractions and textural classes.
Week 3 - Practice
Preparation of soil samples for analysis.
Week 4 - Theoretical
Relationship of soil texture with water retention, aeration, nutrient retention and soil management.
Week 4 - Practice
Practice on interpreting soil texture classes.
Week 5 - Theoretical
Soil water; water sources, infiltration, percolation, permeability and capillary movement.
Week 5 - Practice
Determination of field capacity in soil.
Week 6 - Theoretical
Soil water and moisture constants; field capacity, wilting point, available water and fertility relationships.
Week 6 - Practice
Practice on soil moisture and available water calculations.
Week 7 - Theoretical
Soil organic matter; composition, fractions, humus formation and decomposition products.
Week 7 - Practice
Determination of soil organic matter.
Week 8 - Theoretical & Practice
Effects of organic matter on soil physical, chemical and biological properties and sustainable fertility.
Week 9 - Theoretical
Colloidal systems; clay minerals, micelles, surface charge and colloidal stability.
Week 9 - Practice
Determination of soil pH and salinity.
Week 10 - Theoretical
Cation exchange capacity, anion/cation exchange, base saturation and nutrient retention.
Week 10 - Practice
Practice on CEC and base saturation calculations. Quiz exam
Week 11 - Theoretical
Soil reaction (pH); pH concept, types of acidity, H+ sources and buffering.
Week 11 - Practice
Determination of soil lime content.
Week 12 - Theoretical
pH management; liming, sulfur applications, pH-nutrient availability and yield relationships.
Week 12 - Practice
Practice on lime and sulfur requirement calculations.
Week 13 - Theoretical
Soil salinity and alkalinity; formation, major ions, classification and the situation in Türkiye.
Week 13 - Practice
Interpretation of EC, SAR and ESP values.
Week 14 - Theoretical
Reclamation of saline/alkali soils; drainage, leaching, gypsum applications and sustainable fertility management.
Week 14 - Practice
Practice Examination
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Quiz1%5
Practice Examination1%5
Midterm Examination1%30
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory142256
Lecture - Practice142256
Practice Examination1011
Quiz1011
Midterm Examination1415
Final Examination1516
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
2
2
2
OÇ-2
4
3
2
2
3
OÇ-3
3
4
2
2
4
4
2
2
2
OÇ-4
2
3
3
4
2
OÇ-5
3
3
3
2
3
4
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026