SES-301

2(2-0)

Soil Science-1

Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences

University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
 GEOLOGY

The study of earth is known as geology

Geology
• The study of the Earth, the materials of which
it is made, the structure of those materials,
and the processes acting upon them
• It includes the study of organisms that have
inhabited our planet
• An important part of geology is the study of
how Earth's materials, structures, processes
and organisms have changed over time
• Geology describes the structure of the
Earth on and beneath its surface, and the
processes that have shaped that structure
• It also provides tools to determine
the relative and absolute ages of rocks found
in a given location, and also to describe the
histories of those rocks
Significance

• The main aim of geology is to understand

how the earth works, mountains are built
and oceans are formed
• Its applications include
• the search for oil and gas, water and
minerals
• environmental studies;
• reconstructing the past environments
of the Earth, which helps us with
predicting the future
• In practical terms, geology is important for
– mineral and hydrocarbon exploration and
exploitation,
– evaluating water resources,
– understanding of natural hazards (earthquake,
volcanic eruption, land sliding etc.)
– the remediation of environmental problems, and
– providing insights into past climate change
 Earth structure

Geologists have proposed a layered model of the

Earth, with a crust and lithosphere on top, the mantle
below and the outer core and inner core below that.
Crust

Lithosphere

Upper mantle

Lower mantle

Outer core

Inner core
 Branches of geology
1- Mineralogy
It is the study of the chemical composition
and structures of minerals
2- petrology
Study of the composition and origin of rocks
3- Geochemistry
It is the study of chemical composition of
earth materials and the chemical changes
taking place in earth
4-Geophysics
It is the study of applications of
principles of physics to the study of
earth
5- Mining geology
Study of location and extraction of
minerals resources
6- Petroleum geology
Study of location and extraction of
hydrocarbons
7- Engineering geology
It is the study of the interaction of earth
with human made structures like dams,
bridges, buildings etc.
8- Hydrology
It is the study of locating and maintaining
underground water resources
9- Environmental geology
It is the study of interaction of all biotic and
abiotic factors with geological environment
“Soil”
 Soil
Unconsolidated upper portion of
earth crust that
supports plant growth
Significance of Soil
In any ecosystem, whether your backyard, a
farm, a forest, or a regional watershed, soils
have six key roles to play
 Significance/Functions of Soil
• Soil supports the growth of higher plants
mainly by providing a medium for plant roots
and supplying nutrients
• Soil properties are the principal factor
controlling the fate of water in hydrological
system
• Soil functions as nature’s recycling system
 Significance/Functions of Soil
• Soils provide habitats for living organisms
• Soils markedly influence the composition and
physical condition of the atmosphere
• In human-built ecosystem, soil plays an
important role as an engineering
medium/materials
SOIL SCIENCE
 SOIL SCIENCE

• It is a branch of agriculture that deals with

soil as a natural resources that serves as a
medium of plant growth
• It includes the study of soil formation,
classification, soil physical, chemical and
biological properties and fertility of soil in
relation to their management for growth of
plants and sustaining a clean environment
 BRANCHES OF SOIL SCIENCE

1- Soil Chemistry
The study of chemical compositions and
chemical reactions occurring in soil
2- Soil genesis
It is the study of mode of origin of soil in
relation to soil forming processes
3- Soil Classification
It is the systematic arrangement of soils into
groups or categories on the basis of
characteristics
 4-Soil Physics
It deals with the physical properties and
physical processes taking place in soil
5- Soil fertility
It deals with the ability of soil to provide
essential nutrients to the plants
6- Soil microbiology
It deals with the microorganisms inhabiting
soil, their functions and activities in relation
to plant growth
7- Soil mineralogy
It is the study of minerals occurring in
soil
8- Soil salinity
It is the study of salt affected soils,
their effects on plant growth,
management and amelioration
9-Soil survey
It is the systematic examination,
description and mapping of soils of specific
area
10- Soil morphology
It deals with the visual observations of
features of soil
ENVIRONMENT
 WHAT IS ENVIRONMENT?

Surroundings of living organisms that

affect their life is called environment
 EVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
It is an interdisciplinary field that
integrates physical and biological sciences
to the study of environment
 Branches of environmental sciences
1- Atmospheric sciences
It is the study of earth`s gaseous outer layer with
relation to other systems
2-Environmental ecology
It is the study of interaction of populations with the
environment
3- Environmental chemistry
It is the study of chemical alterations in the soil,
water and air and their remediation
4- Environmental microbiology
It is the study of composition and physiology of
microbial communities and their transformations in
environment
 LECTURE 2

spheres of earth

Institute of Soil and Environmental

Sciences
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad
 FOUR SPHERES OF EARTH
The area near the earth surface can be divided into
four inter-connected spheres

1- Lithosphere (Geosphere)
2- Hydrosphere
3- Biosphere
4- Atmosphere
 LITHOSPHERE OR GEOSPHERE
• It is the solid, rocky crust covering the
entire planet
• It is inorganic in nature and is composed of
minerals
• It is also called geo-sphere
Elemental composition of the Earth’s crust

Element Mass % (of crust)

Oxygen O 46.71
Silicons Si 27.69
Aluminum Al 8.07
Iron Fe 5.05
Calcium Ca 3.65
Sodium Na 2.75
Potassium K 2.58
Magnesium Mg 2.08
Hydrogen H 0.14
Others 1.28

Total: 100
 Hydrosphere

• It
is composed of all of the water on or near
the earth

•This includes oceans, rivers, lakes even the

moisture in air

• 97 % 0f the earth water is in oceans and

•Remaining three percent is fresh water

•
 BIOSPHERE
It is composed of all living organisms, Plants, microbes,
animals
 ATMOSPHERE
• It is the body of air around our planet
• It is most dense at sea level and rapidly decreases with
altitude
• It acts as a thermal blanket, captures heat and supply snow
and rain
Composition of the Atmosphere

Nitrogen 78.08%
Oxygen 20.95%
Argon 0.93%
CO 2 0.03%
Neon, Helium Krypton -------Traces.
Xenon, Water vavpours, d ust
Particles, hydrocarbons etc.
 Pedosphere

The interface where all the spheres meet is

called Pedosphere

“Soil” is sometimes synonymously referred to

as Pedosphere