Definition and soil pedological and edaphological concepts

Soil science

Soil science is the study of natural resources on the surface of earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of spoil; and these properties in relation to the use and managements of soils.

     Sometimes terms which refer to branches of soil science, such as pedology (formation, chemistry, morphology and classification of soil) and edaphology (influence of soil on organisms, especially plants), are used as if synonymous with soil science. The diversity of names associated with discipline is related to the various associations concerned. Indeed, engineers, agronomists, chemist, ecologist, biologist, microbiologists, archaeologists, and specialists in regional planning, all contribute to further knowledge of soils and the advancement of the soil sciences.

Soil scientist have raised concerns about how to preserve soil and arable land in a world with a growing population, possible future water crises, increasing per capita food consumption, and land degradation.

Soil occupied the pedosphere, one of earth’s spheres that the geosciences use to organize the earth conceptually. This is the conceptual perspective of pedology and edaphology, the two main branches of soil science. Pedology is the study of soil in its natural setting. Edaphology is the study of soil in relation to sol-dependent uses. Both branches apply a combination of soil physics, soil chemistry, and soil biology. Due to the numerous interactions between the biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere that are hosted within the pedosphere, more integrated, less soil-centric concepts are also valuable. Many concepts essential to understanding soil come from individuals not identifiable strictly as soil scientists.

Definition of soil science:- ‘’The science dealing with soil as a natural resource on the surface of the earth, including pedology (soil genesis, classification and mapping), physical, chemical, biological and fertility properties of spoil and these properties in relation  to their management for crop production.’’

Soil science has six well defined and developed disciplines

Soil fertility - nutrient supplying properties of soil.

Soil chemistry - chemical constituents, chemical properties and the chemical reaction.

Soil physics - involves the study of physical properties.

Soil microbiology- deals with microorganisms, its population, classification, its role in transformations.

Soil conservation - dealing with protection of soil against physical loss by erosion or against chemical deterioration i.e excessive loss of nutrients either natural or artificial means.

Soil pedology - dealing with the genesis, survey and classification.