Department of Agricultural and Plantation Engineering

Faculty of Engineering Technology

The Open University of Sri Lanka

AGX4356 Soil Science

Academic year 2020/2021
TMA 01
Last date of Submission: 21/05/2021
Answer all questions. Do not copy the text directly from lesson materials. Use the principles and
basic facts in the lesson materials and you are required to collect relevant information from external
sources too.

Indicate the reference list. Follow any standard format (Ex: Harvard, IEE) for writing the
Bibliography/References.

Deadline for the assignment is fixed and strict.

1.(a) Define the term of “Soil” (5 marks)

(b) Briefly discuss the importance of soil on plant growth (10marks)

2. (a) Discuss the factors affect on soil formation (10 marks)

(b) Briefly describe the soil formation process (10 marks)

3. (a) Describe the term of soil texture and briefly discuss the importance of the knowledge of
soil texture in Agriculture (15marks)
(b) Discuss the factors influencing soil structure and development (10 marks)

4. (a) If a bulk density of a soil sample is 1.25 g/cm3. Estimate the porosity of soil sample and
volume of solid in soil sample (5 marks)

(b) Define the terms of bulk density, particle density and porosity (10 marks)

(c) Briefly explain how above properties in (b) vary with different textured soils (10 marks)
5. Write short note on following topics

i. Soil temperature on plant growth

ii. Soil pH
iii. Important of soil organisms

(each section carries 05 marks)