Bachelor in Soil Science

faculty of Agriculture - Department of Soil and Water

Description

The Department of Soil and Water established in 1966. The Department of Soil and Water is the main department in the Faculty of Agriculture since its establishment. The Soil and Water department includes two divisions, namely the Soil and Water Division. One of the objectives of Soil division is to graduate qualified agricultural engineers in the field of soil sciences. The Soil division has various scientific laboratories, which are the soil, plant and water analysis laboratory, the soil microbiology laboratory, the soil fertility and plant nutrition laboratory, the soil nature laboratory, the soil survey and classification laboratory, the Remote sensing laboratory and Geographic Information system (GIS). These laboratories provide lessons and laboratory experiments for students of the Soil and Water Department. These laboratories provides scientific and research consultations in the field of soil science, and assists decision-makers in developing scientific solutions to solve some of the problems of agricultural development in Libya.

Objectives

By passing all courses, the graduate will be able to:

1. Shows extensive knowledge of various soil sciences and their optimal and sustainable use.

2. Provides scientific advice to public authorities and workers in the field of soil science.

3. Studying soil cultivation problems that hinder agricultural production, and proposing appropriate solutions.

4. Design the research experiments in the field of soil science, interpret them and draw conclusions from them.

5. Putting a strategy for the scientific research plan in the field of soil science, in order to develop scientific solutions in the field of land conservation and reclamation and the agricultural environment.

Outcomes

By completing all the requirements for success in the program, the graduate will be able to:

a. Knowledge & Understand:

A.1. Recognizes the foundations and principles of soil and water science and scientific terminology in the field of soil science.

A.2. Understands the physical, chemical and nutritional properties of soil, and the factors affecting them.

A.3. Classifies and maps the types of soils, and prepares various explanatory and pedological maps of Libyan soils.

A.4. Understands the formats of necessary nutrients needed by crops, how to design Soilless Culture, methods of adding and using fertilizers, the role of microorganisms and their relationship to soil, plants and water.

A.5. Learns good drainage systems for different types of soils, methods of managing and conserving soil and water, and methods of soil, plant and water analysis.

B. Mental Skills:

B. 1. Explains the scientific terminology of soil and other related sciences.

B.2. Connects the theoretical and practical aspects of the natural, chemical and nutritional properties, how to deal with soil and methods of reclamation.

B.3. Explains the different types of soil maps, and link them to the suitability of the soil for growing different crops.

B.4. Explains the relationship between nutrients and the role of microorganisms in soil fertility, soil pollution, plant growth, and how to calculate the crop nutritional needs according to the available fertilizer in the market.

B.5. Suggests the good method for preparing drainage systems according to the type of soil and crop, the adopted irrigation practice, and the methods of soil, plant and water analysis.

C. Practical & professional skills:

C.1. Applying the basics of soil science and its relationship to water, plants and other related sciences.

C.2. Uses the laboratory equipment to study the physical, chemical and nutritional soil properties.

C.3. Suggest the appropriate method for agricultural soils reclamation.

C.4. Design the research and the scientific projects in the various fields of soil science.

C.5. Uses the scientific methods to write research papers for a possible usage in practical fields.

D. Generic and transferable skills

D.1. Adheres the student to the duty assigned to him in his field of work in the specified time.

D.2. Works within a research team whose capabilities stand out in his field.

D.3. Manages the laboratory and uses modern technology.

D.4. Contact and communicate effectively with others.

D.5. Collects the information, writes scientific reports and presents them in an appropriate manner.

Certificate Rewarded

Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences, majoring in Soil and Water - Soil Science  program.

Entry Reuirements

For admission to the Bachelor `s degree at the Faculty of Agriculture, the following is required:

1. The academic grade of the student in the previous educational stage of the program must be at least good.

2. The student should undergo an admission test and a personal interview (if the institution deems it).

3. General Scientific Certificate of Secondary Education or Certificate of agricultural high schools and institutes.

4. Fluency in Arabic for non-native speakers.

5. In the case of any change in the admission requirements, the new requirements will apply to new applicants only.

Study Plan

The Bachelor in Soil Science prepares students to qualify for Bachelor in Soil Science. The student studies several subjects which have been carefully chosen in this major to cover its different aspects.

It comprises 8 Semesters of study, in which the student will study a total of 150 units, which include 42 units of general subjects, and 49 major units, 30 of elective units. In addition to a final project in the student's major.

Study plan for this program is shown below:

1st Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
ZO1014 ZOOLOGY 04 University requirement +

This course explains to the student the relationship between general zoology and various related sciences such as (histology, embryology, physiology, etc.), explains the different cell structures and functions (cell membrane, nucleus, nucleic acids, cytoplasmic organelles), and enables the student to identify the structure of the all systems in the body, the functions of the various organs of the body, and the physiological and mechanical processes related to those functions. It also explains the different types of animal tissues, their structures, their locations, and their function within each organ

AE1004 Fundanental of Economics 04 University requirement +

PH1123 General Physics 03 University requirement +

AR1012 Arabic Language 1 02 University requirement +

MA 1113 Math 1 03 General +

In Math1, the student learns the concepts, terminology, principles and laws of this course, and how to use functions and their properties in the study of applied models. It also enables the student to link endings, connections and derivation, and it becomes clear to the student the uses of calculus applications in life sciences. The student will also be able to discuss the different methods of calculating integration and its applications and explain the first-order finite difference models.

EL 1012 English Language 1 02 University requirement +

This course of English (1) designed for Agricultural ESP classroom, at the faculty of agriculture, University of Tripoli. Each lesson is divided into two parts to cover terminology and grammar. Each unit offers step by step instruction that immerse students in the four key language components of reading, writing, listening and speaking including grammar. First, it offers a realistic reading passage/s about a certain branch of agriculture and career specific vocabulary terms and phrases. It addresses various introductory agricultural topics such as the origin of agriculture, its' branches and history. In addition, it tackles plant products, animal products and other basic topics in their field of agriculture. It further addresses the English language sentence structure and the English word classes and covers grammar tenses. It tends to improve students' English communication level considering their future career.

CH1014 General Chemistry 1 04 University requirement +

2nd Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
PH1113 Mechanical Physics 03 Compulsory +

1123 MA Math 2 03 General +

In Math 2, the student will learn about the properties of functions in more than one variable and draw in three dimensions. He will also be able to use partial differential methods in calculating some applications, acquire the skill of creative thinking, and learn methods of solving problems in different types of differential equations. The student also gets acquainted with the basic concepts of vectors and matrices in two dimensions.

EL1022 English Language 2 02 University requirement +

This course of English (2) designed for Agricultural ESP classroom, at the faculty of agriculture, University of Tripoli. It tends to improve students' English communication level considering their future career environment. To incorporate career-specific vocabulary and contexts, every unit includes reading comprehension passage and tests vocabulary and listening skills. It further leads students through exercises to written and oral production. English two addresses various agricultural topics such as soil types preparation, seeding methods, farm equipment, livestock, and organic farming. It further extend students' knowledge of English grammar considering various grammar rules which complement their former English one grammar.

CH1023 General Chemistry 2 03 Compulsory CH1014 +

BO1024 04 General BO1014 +

This course deals with the introduction of botany botany and other sciences related. Different feeding methods, reproduction methods and how these organisms reproduce in the life cycle, , and the classification of living organisms since their classification. Phrases of organisms associated with aspects

AR1022 Arabic Language 2 02 University requirement AR1012 +

3rd Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
SW1023 Principles of Water Science 03 Compulsory +

The water science course aims to introduce water science, its branches, and its relationship to other sciences. This course also describes the hydrological cycle elements and the factors affecting them. This course also describes the physical properties of water and also describes the concepts of flow of water in the porous media.

CH2303 Organic Chemistry 03 Compulsory +

SW1014 Principles of Soil Science 04 Compulsory +

The principles of Soil science course explains the basic concepts of soil science. This course introduces the different soil components, and the different soil formation factors and processes. This course deals with the morphological properties of the soil profile and its surrounding environment, as well as the physical, chemical, biological and colloidal soil properties and their relationship to soil and plants. Student in this course will know all the different branches of soil sciences.

SW1003 General Microbiology (Theoretical) 03 Compulsory +

The general microbiology course describes the diversity of microorganisms, the structure and function of bacterial cells, and also describes microbial growth and metabolism. Methods of controlling the growth of microorganisms by physical and chemical means are also addressed. This course also describes the basic genetic systems of bacteria, bacteriophages, and plasmids. During this course, the student will learn the role of microorganisms in food production and preservation, and their ability to cause food borne infections. This course also aims to teach students how to use beneficial microorganisms in agricultural, industrial and environmental applications.

ST 2004 Agricultural Statistics 04 Elective 1113 MA +

HO1004 principles of horticulture 04 Compulsory +

This course is one of the main general courses for all scientific divisions in the agricultural faculty. It includes many contents: An introduction to the establishment and development of horticulture and its definition, the importance of horticultural crops to humans, the relationship of horticulture to other sciences and its place in agricultural production, divisions of horticultural crops - scientific division, according to the length of plant life - division of horticulture and the importance of each, structure of horticultural plants - the root system and its functions, the stem and its components (buds, flowers, leaves, fruits and seeds), growth and development of horticultural plants, their definitions, methods of measuring growth, stages of growth and characteristics of each, and environmental conditions and their impact on the growth and development of horticultural crops, photosynthesis and environmental factors affecting, respiration and environmental factors affecting it, flowers, the formation of flower buds and the factors affecting them for the fall of flowers, fruiting - pollination, fertilization, fruit setting, parthenogenesis, fruit falling (June) and the nature of pregnancy in fruit trees. Plant growth regulators and their uses, propagation facilities - their types, characteristics and uses of each of them, their composition, growing mediums and growing containers, propagation by fertilized seeds - its advantages and disadvantages - vegetative propagation - its definition, propagation by cuttings, and, the remaining methods of vegetative propagation include grafting, layering, tissue culture and seedling transfer, pruning and tree breeding, fruit thinning - fertilization and irrigation.

MA2113 Differential Equations 03 Compulsory MA1123 +

4th Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
2214 FT Biochemistry 04 General 2303 Ch +

SW2023 Soil Chemistry 03 Compulsory SW1014 +

Soil chemistry course aims to explain the foundations used in the study of the chemical composition of soil. During this course, the student is introduced to all the chemical properties of soil and how to estimate and calculate them practically and in the field. During this course, all chemical properties of soil are linked to other branches of soil science.

SW2014 Soil Physics 04 Compulsory SW1014 +

The objective of the Soil physics course is to enable the student to understand the principles used in studying the physics and mechanics of soil in the field and laboratory, as well as the concepts of practical physical analysis of soil. This course also describes the relationship between the physical properties of soil and other sciences of soil science.

GO2203 Geology 03 Compulsory +

The geology course describes the different layers of the earth (the properties and composition of each layer and its relationship to the atmosphere, water and biosphere). Also, by studying this course, the properties of the earth's crust and its components of rocks and minerals, and tectonic plates (its composition, movement and its relationship to ancient and modern geological structures) are explained. The impact of climate and the movement of tectonic plates on geological processes and geological structures is also discussed in this course.

BO3004 Plant Physiology 04 University requirement CH1014 +

CH2103 Analytical Chemistry 03 Compulsory CH1021 +

5th Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
SW3023 Plant Nutrition 03 Compulsory SW1014 +

This course aims to understand the term of plant nutrition by studying the fundamental elements in terms of its importance, forms, availability and deficiency. Also, this course explains the relationships among these elements, and describes the mechanisms of plant to absorb the ions. In addition, it discusses the factors that may affect the availability of these ions.

SW3014 Soil Survey and Classification 04 Compulsory SW1014 SW2014 +

This course describes how the soil is formed, factors and processes of soil formation in different geographical environments. This course aims to introduce the modern American soil system and its different levels (order, suborder, great group, sub-great group, family, series). This course deals with explaining the problems of cultivating different soils and methods of reclamation and management. Through this course, the student learns the methodology used to study soil in the field. Through the practical lessons of this course, the student will also be able to identify the different types of soil survey and the types of map scales drawn, and the different types of pedological, interpretive soil maps.

SW2143 Principles of of irrigation science 03 Compulsory SW2014 +

This course aims at defining the importance and role of water in the plant, the movement of water in the soil-plant-atmosphere column and the relationships that govern this movement. It is possible to make a comparison between different irrigation systems.

SW2033 Soil, Plant and Water Analysis 03 Compulsory +

This course explains the importance of analyzing soil, plant and water samples. It deals with the definition of the mechanism used in collecting soil, plant and water samples, and how to conduct the necessary analyzes on them. This course explains and interprets many necessary analyzes such as estimation of salinity, degree of reactivity, total soluble ions in soil and water samples, estimation of fertilizer elements (nitrogen - phosphorus - potassium) in soil and plants, organic matter - and equivalent calcium carbonate in soil.

SW1113 Geographic Information System 03 Elective +

The geographic information systems course is descried with definition of GIS with a brief history, the relationship of GIS with other information systems, advantages and disadvantages of geographic information systems, applications of GIS in general and in the agricultural environment in particular. In addition to this, this course covers the basic components of GIS: (data and information – hardware – software – people – operating methods), the concept of geographic information systems: (Recording or Entering data and information - Organizing data and information - Analyzing data and information - Extracting information), Geographical Coordinate System, Reference and Projections, and how to convert from one system to another. furthermore, brief information about: Maps, Remote sensing and Global Positioning Systems are also covered in this course. Also, databases definition, types and how to create them are explained. The difference between Vector and Raster and data model and the conversion between them are also covered in this course.

SW3113 Agricultural Drainage 03 Compulsory SW2014 +

The agricultural drainage course describes the different types of agricultural drainage systems, how to design agricultural drainage systems and how to maintain them. This course also explains the problems that arise in the design of different drainage systems. Also, this course explains the different diameters of drainage pipes and how to choose the appropriate types of agricultural drainage systems.

6th Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
SW3033 Soil fertility and fertilizers 03 Compulsory SW3023 +

This course aims to explain the concept of soil fertility and its productivity. The role of soil in supplying plants with various nutrients is discussed during this course. This course explains the physical and chemical properties of soil, soil fertility and their relationship to increasing agricultural production. The course deals with the nutrients necessary for plant growth, knowing their sources, functions, and symptoms of their deficiency on plant growth. Different types of fertilizers and methods of adding them to the soil are also identified, and fertilizer recommendations are developed for many different agricultural crops and trees. The mechanism used in assessing soil fertility is explained by conducting some laboratory and field tests.

SW3054 Soil Microbiology 03 Compulsory +

This course explains the importance of microorganisms that live in the soil. The course also describes soil chemically and biologically through the interactions between microorganisms and focusing on the importance of soil quality/health for sustainable ecosystems. During this course, examples of beneficial and harmful soil microorganisms are given, and how to control each of them. This course describes the roles of soil microbes and their impact on the chemical and physical properties of soil. Also, one of the objectives of this course is to discuss some practical applications of soil microbiology to solve agricultural and environmental quality problems.

CS1024 Principles of Field Crops 04 Elective 1024 Bo +

In this course, the student will be able to differentiate between field crops and their habitats or centers of origin. The course also explains the different divisions of field crops. It also distinguishes between the environmental conditions that affect the productivity of field crops. It also defines the basic rules for applying the full care of crops in the field of agricultural sciences and technology. It also enables the student to identify the areas that can be followed to improve and increase the productivity of field crops.

SW3233 Reclamation and Management of Saline Soils 03 Compulsory SW2014 +

This course describes the causes of Salinization of saline lands and the mechanism used in how to diagnose them. The different types of salt-affected lands and their reclamation methods are also mentioned. During this course, reference is made to the methods of follow-up reclamation operations and methods of cultivating reclaimed land from salinity. During this course, the student will be able to understand the considerations taken about the quality of irrigation water and the factors that affect the efficiency of washing.

SW3504 Libyan Soils 04 Compulsory SW3014 +

The Libyan soils course explains the types of soils prevailing in the arid regions and their distinctive properties. During this course, the types of soils prevailing in Libya are identified according to the different soil classification systems (the modern American system of soil classification, the Russian system of soil classification, the FAO system of soil classification). The student will be able to know the factors and processes of soil formation prevailing in different regions of Libya. This course describes the most important obstacles and problems that hinder agricultural production in Libyan soils. The student will be able to understand the methodology used in evaluating agricultural lands.

CH1021 General Chemistry 2 (Lab) 01 University requirement +

7th Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
SW3213 Soil and water conservation 03 Compulsory SW2014 +

The soil and water conservation course describes the importance of preserving soil and water resources from the problem of soil erosion, both wind and water. This course describes the relationship between soil properties and its susceptibility to erosion, and defines the methods used to protect soil from the dangers of wind erosion and water erosion.

SW2064 Remote Sensing and its Application 04 Elective +

This course aims to enable the student to understand the basics of remote sensing science and its historical development. This course enables the student to identify the components and elements of remote sensing. This course deals with the identification of data and information used in remote sensing technology (e.g.: satellite images and aerial photos). This course aims to enable students to identify methods of analyzing, interpreting and processing satellite images and aerial images, and applying them realistically in the study of land resources (such as: vegetation cover, soil, water).

AEN1024 General Agricultural Machinery 04 Elective +

CH2301 Organic Chemistry (Lab) 01 Compulsory +

8th Semester

Code Title Credits Course Type Prerequisite
CH2101 Analytical Chemistry (Lab) 01 Compulsory +

SW1001 General Microbiology (Practical) 01 Compulsory BO1024 +

The practical microbiology course is concerned with introducing the student to the laboratory devices and equipment used in the microbiology laboratory, and how to use a light microscope to observe microorganisms. During this course, the student will test sterilization methods in microbiological procedures, and how to isolate and grow bacteria and fungi on growth media. The student also learns how to diagnose the general morphological features of different microorganisms.

RF1023 Principles of Forstry 03 Elective BO1014 +

SW3992 Special studies 02 Compulsory SW1023 +

The Special Studies course describes the mechanism used in choosing the research topic and its hypotheses, and the objectives to be achieved to reach the desired results. During this course, the student acquires several skills, including, but not limited to, how to collect different data sources, the experiment to be designed, and the choice of research methods. Also through this course, the student learns how to analyze and interpret research results to serve the hypotheses and objectives of the research.

AE1503 Agricultural Economics 03 Elective +

A specialized course that teaches 3 hours per week. It includes an introduction to agricultural economics and its branches, and an identification of economic and agricultural activity and its main objectives. In addition to explaining applications of the theory of demand and supply, and studying some branches of agricultural economics represented in studying the theories of production possibilities, agricultural production economics, agricultural development, agricultural resources, agricultural cooperation, and agricultural marketing.