Preamble
Postgraduate training in Soil Science began in the 1992/93 Session in the various areas of specialization. Three programmes are offered, Ph.D., Master of Agriculture and the Postgraduate diploma. The complete curriculum for the Ph.D. takes about 3 full academic years where no course work is required for full time and minimum of 4 full academic years for part-time; the Master of Agriculture (M. Agric) shall be run on full-time or part-time basis. For full-time registration, the minimum duration shall normally be two full academic years and maximum of 4 full academic years. For part-time registration, the minimum duration shall be eight semesters and maximium of twelve semesters, from the date of registration; and the Postgraduate Diploma, one full academic year for full time and two academic years for part-time.
Thesis based on research work is required in both the Ph.D. and M. Agric programmes. A project report is required for the postgraduate diploma programme in addition to the required courses to be taken in the academic year. All courses are to be taken in the first academic year.
10.5.2 Vision and Mission
(i) To assist in the attainment of self-sufficiency in the production of basic food;
(ii) To contribute to the achievement of the goal of marked increase in the production of agricultural raw materials to support the growth of our several industries;
(iii) To enhance the production and processing of export produce;
(iv) To modernize agricultural production, processing, storage, preservation, and distribution;
(v) To enhance the rural employment opportunities and the attendant improvement of the quality of rural life;
(vi) To evolve effective ways of protecting agricultural land resources from ecological degradation such as erosion, pollution, etc;
(vii)To develop new patterns of agricultural structures and government policies which clearly demonstrate that agriculture is an important part of our national economy.
10.5.3 Philosophy
The Primary philosophy that guides the training of students is the production of skilled manpower that is adequately furnished with the comprehensive information required, for engaging in economic agricultural production in an environment characterized by rural and urban setting and adequate land endowment. Such information also includes engaging techniques that protect the environment. Such knowledgeably professional manpower has to be produced in an atmosphere with the widest possible human and material resources, through the adoption of effective techniques of instruction and exposure to the actual practice of agriculture. Consequently, there are opportunities for formal training at the Postgraduate levels for the acquisition of advanced knowledge leading to a higher degree.
10.5.4 Objectives
The overall objectives of the postgraduate programmes are to provide an advanced academic training in research and modern application of soil science to resource development; prepare student for the world of work in professional areas such as soil surveys, soil related research in government institutes, private organizations, industries and Universities; provide advanced training for agricultural and industrial extension services in soil conservation and management.
10.5.5 Postgraduate Programmes
(A) Postgraduate Diploma in Soil Management and Land Use Planning
The programme consists of course work (all courses at the P.G. Diploma level are compulsory). Field work and reports, project work and seminars.
The minimum units for the award of Postgraduate Diploma are distributed as follows:
|
Course Title Courses Field Report Project Work Seminars Total |
Units 23 3 3 2 31 |
(B) M. Agric. Programme
The programme consists of core courses covering the key area of soil science, elective courses in the respective area of specialization of the candidate, thesis research and seminars.
Areas of Specialisation
Soil chemistry
Soil Fertility
Soil Mineralogy
Soil Physics
Soil Management and Conservation
Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry
Pedology
Land Use Planning and Management
Environmental Soil Science
The minimum units for the award of M. Agric degree are distributed as follows:
|
Course Title College courses (compulsory) Core courses Electives Thesis (SOS 799) Seminar (SOS 797 & 798) Total |
Units 10 12 7 6 2 37 |
(C) Ph.D. Programme
The award of Ph.D. degree shall be by research leading to quality thesis approved by the Senate of the University. However, there may be course work, which will vary depending on the background of the candidate but in the relevant soil courses that are taken at M. Agric Degree level and in some cases include courses in related basic sciences.
Areas of Specialisation
Soil Chemistry
Soil Fertility
Soil Physics
Soil Conservation and Management
Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry
Pedology
Soil Mineralogy
Land Use Planning and Management
Environmental Soil Science
10.5.6 Departmental Postgraduate Committee
Membership
The membership shall consist of all staff with responsibilities in the departmental postgraduate programme i.e.:
*Head of Department (Chairman)
Departmental PG Coordinator
All PG Lecturers and Supervisors
*The Chairman must possess a PhD.
Functions
(i) To co-ordinate Postgraduate programmes in the Department
(ii) To collaborate with other disciplinary degree programmes
(iii) To present candidates for admission, award of grants, scholarships and fellowships and the award of higher degrees to the College Postgraduate Committee.
(iv) To recommend External Examiners to the College Postgraduate Committee.
10.5.6 General Admission Requirements
(A) Masters Programmes
M.Agric in Soil Science courses is open to;
Graduates of Soil Science of FFUNAAB and other Institutions recognized by Senate
Any other qualification adjudged to be equivalent to B. Agric. in Soil Science and related courses by the Senate
(B) Doctorate Programme
The candidate for PhD degree is required to meet the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta requirements for admission into postgraduate studies. However, candidates should hold M.Agric. Soil Science degree of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta or its equivalent from any other University recognized by the Senate. Holders of one year M.Sc. degree with average course score of 60 per cent and above may be considered on the condition that they shall register for M.Agric/PhD in the first instance.
Candidates admitted into the Ph.D programme may have to audit some relevant courses offered at Master’s level at the discretion of the supervisor.
10.5.7 Admission Requirements
Minimum requirement for admission into postgraduate programmes include:
Five credits minimum in relevant subjects, at most in two sitting including English Language, Mathematics and Chemistry.
B.Agric or B.Sc in Soil Science or related courses with minimum of Second Class Lower (Hons). Cummulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) lower than 3.00 may not be considered for admission. Holder of Postgraduate Diploma in Soil Science, from FFUNAAB in addition to the first degree may be considered for M.Agric programme provided the average grade point is not less than 60%.
Direct admission into Ph.D. programme shall be for holders of M. Agric by research, otherwise, candidate will be admitted for M.Agric/Ph.D. programme.
10.5.8 Duration of Programme
The duration of study for the Masters programme shall be a minimum of 4 semesters and maximum of 8 semesters for full time candidates; while part-time studies shall be for a minimum of 6 semesters and maximum of 10 semesters.
If the Masters degree was obtained from FUNAAB or of a similar quality, the minimumduration of study for a PhD shall be 4 and 6 semesters for full and part time studies respectively. For holders of other Masters degrees, the minimum, duration of study shall be 6 and 8 semesters for full and part time studies respectively.
For holders of one year Masters degree, the minimum duration on the PhD programme shall be three years full time and four years part time.
A student who fails to register for 2 consecutive academic sessions is deemed to have withdrawn from the programme.
10.5.9 Postgraduate Courses
(A) Postgraduate Diploma Courses
First Semester
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
PCP 701 |
Principle of Crop Production |
PRINCRPP |
4 |
|
SOS 701 |
Soil Testing and Fertilizer Recommendation |
SOTFEREC |
3 |
|
SOS 703 |
Fertilizer and Fertilizer Management |
FERTMGNT |
3 |
|
SOS 705 |
Soil Fertility Management |
SOFERMGT |
2 |
|
SOS 797 |
Seminar I |
SEMINARI |
1 |
Second Semester
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
PBS 702 |
Design and Statistical Analysis of Experimets |
DSTAEXPT |
3 |
|
SOS 702 |
Soil Conservation and Management |
SOMDTCON |
3 |
|
SOS 704 |
Soil Survey and Land Use Planning |
SOSVLUPL |
3 |
|
SOS 706 |
Soil Water Plant Relationships |
SOWAPLRL |
2 |
|
SOS 708 |
Field Report |
FELDREPT |
3 |
|
SOS 798 |
Seminar II |
SEMINAII |
1 |
|
SOS 799 |
Project |
PROJECT |
3 |
7.2 M.Agric Courses
First Semester
Compulsory University/ College Courses
|
Course Code |
Course title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
PBS 803 |
Biostatistics |
BIOSSTAT |
3 |
|
SOS 815 |
Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition |
SOILFERT |
3 |
|
CSC 801 |
Use of Computer in Research |
USEOCOMP |
4 |
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
Compulsory Departmental Courses |
|||
|
SOS 801 |
Soil Chemistry |
SOILCHEM |
3 |
|
SOS 803 |
Advanced Pedology |
ADVCPEDL |
3 |
|
SOS 897 |
Seminar I |
Seminar I |
1 |
|
SOS 899 |
Thesis |
RETHESIS |
6 |
Elective Courses
Pedology/Soil Survey and Land Use Planning/Soil Mineralogy Specialisation/Soil Conservation and Management
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
SOS 809 |
Soil Management and Conservation |
SOMGTCON |
3 |
|
SOS 811 |
Management of Problem Soil |
MGMTPOSL |
3 |
|
SOS 817 |
Advanced Remote Sensing |
ADVARTSS |
3 |
Soil Chemistry/Soil Fertility Specialisation
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
Compulsory Departmental Courses |
|||
|
SOS 805 |
Soil and Plant Analysis |
SOPLANAL |
3 |
|
SOS 807 |
Fertilizer and Fertilizer Technology |
FERTTECH |
3 |
|
SOS 813 |
Soil Water Plant Relationships |
SOWAPLRL |
3 |
Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry Specialisation/Soil Pyhsics
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
SOS 809 |
Soil Management and Conservation |
SOMGTCON |
3 |
|
SOS 813 |
Soil Water Plant Relationships |
SOWAPLRL |
3 |
Environmental Soil Science Specialisation
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
SOS 809 |
Soil Management and Conservation |
SOMGTCON |
3 |
|
SOS 819 |
Soil Environmental Chemistry |
EMVRSOSC |
3 |
Second Semester
Compulsory Departmental courses
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
Compulsory Departmental Courses |
|||
|
SOS 802 |
Soil Physics |
SOILPHYS |
3 |
|
SOS 804 |
Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry |
SOMCBBCN |
3 |
|
SOS 898 |
Seminar II |
SEMINAII |
1 |
Elective Course
Pedology/Soil Survey and Land Planning/Soil Mineralogy Specialisation
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
SOS 808 |
Advanced Analytical Techniques |
ADVANTEC |
3 |
|
SOS 810 |
Soil Mineralogy and Micromorphology |
SOMIMCPH |
3 |
|
SOS 812 |
Pedology Processes |
PEDOPROC |
3 |
|
SOS 814 |
Soil Survey and Land Use Planning |
SOSULUPL |
3 |
|
SOS 818 |
Landscape and Soil Ecology |
LSDCSOEC |
3 |
Soil Chemistry/Soil Fertility Specialisation
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
SOS 806 |
Soil Physical Chemistry |
SOPHCHEM |
3 |
|
SOS 808 |
Advanced Analytical Techniques |
ADVANTEC |
3 |
|
SOS 810 |
Soil Mineralogy and Micromorphology |
SOMIMCPH |
3 |
|
SOS 816 |
Soil Hydrology |
SOILHYDR |
3 |
Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry Specialisation
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
SOS 808 |
Advanced Analytical Techniques |
ADVANTEC |
3 |
|
SOS 818 |
Landscape and Soil Ecology |
LSDCSOEC |
3 |
Soil Physics/Soil Management and Conservation Specialisation
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
SOS 808 |
Advanced Analytical Techniques |
ADVANTEC |
3 |
|
SOS 810 |
Soil Mineralogy and Micromorphology |
SOMIMCPH |
3 |
|
SOS 816 |
Soil Hydrology |
SOILHYDR |
3 |
Environmental Soil Science Specialisation
|
Course Code |
Title |
Abbreviation |
Unit |
|
SOS 806 |
Soil Physical Chemistry |
SOPHCHEM |
3 |
|
SOS 808 |
Advanced Analytical Techniques |
ADVANTEC |
3 |
|
SOS 818 |
Landscape and Soil Ecology |
LSDCSOEC |
3 |
10.5.10 General Graduation Requirements
The final assessment shall be undertaken only when all courses and project requirements for the degree have been fulfilled and certified by the supervisors.
(A) M. Agric. Programmes
Course work
Candidates must have satisfactorily completed the stipulated course work and guided study as earlier approved. A minimum of 37 credit unit is required (including credit units for seminar and research). Course work shall consist of compulsory College subjects, core departmental subjects as well as electives to be offered by students as advised by their supervisory committee. The compulsory and elective courses to be offered by each student shall be dictated by the specialty of interest as well as the specific research area.
In addition to the foregoing, students may be required to offer relevant courses mounted by other departments in the University.
Seminar
Each PG student is to present 2 seminars viz: a Pre-data (Seminar 1) and a Post-data (Seminar 2) presentation.
Research study and Thesis Presentation
Candidates must have satisfactorily completed the approved guided study before eligible for the oral open defense.
Open Thesis Defence
Each PG student shall openly defend his/her research thesis before a panel of appropriately constituted examiners.
10.5.11 Course Synopsis
(A) Postgraduate Diploma
SOS 701: Soil testing and Fertilizer Recommendation (3 Units)
Principles and methods of soil testing. Soil and plant tissue sampling techniques, interpretation of soil test results. Fertilizer recommendation.
SOS 702: Soil Conservation and Management (3 Units)
Causes of soil degradation. Soil erosion and methods of control under different cropping systems. Soil structure improvement and maintenance.
SOS 703: Fertilizer and Fertilizer Management (3 Units)
Types of fertilizer, Economics of fertilizer use. Methods of fertilizer application. Fate of applied fertilizer. Fertilizer manufacture. Fertilizer formulation and calculations.
SOS 704: Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (3 Units)
Principles and methods of soil survey. Elements of air photography and photogrammetry, Use of soil resource inventories in land use planning and management. Management of Land use systems.
SOS 705: Soil Fertility Management (2 Units)
Concepts and assessment of soil fertility. Nutrient requirements of crops. Symptoms of nutrient deficiency and toxicity. Fertilizer assessment procedures and programmes. Maintenance of soil fertility under different cropping/farming systems.
SOS 706: Soil Water Plant Relationship 1 (2 Units)
Water in relation to plant growth and yield, The atmosphere-soil-plant water system, rainfall characteristics, the implications of the nature of tropical rainfall, water balance studies and their application to agriculture, role of agricultural techniques in crop-water relations, movement of water in soils and root system, Movement out of the plant-soil system.
(B) M. Agric. Programme
Compulsory Courses
SOS 801: Soil Chemistry (3 Units)
Basic chemical principles. Soil chemistry and bio-availability of chemical nutrients. The solid phase (crystal chemistry of silicates; Structural classification of silicates). Rate and processes in relation to nutrient availability. Interactions of chemicals with the reactive surfaces. Soil as an adsorption system. Soil pH, acidity index and salt affected soils. Chemistry of fertilizers, heavy metals and other toxic elements in soils. Behaviour of pollutants in the soil.
SOS 8O2: Soil Physics (3 Units)
Effect of soil physical properties on plant growth and other uses of soil. Analysis and quantification of the physical properties and physical behaviour of unsaturated soil i.e Transport and accumulation of water, heat, gases and solutes. Factors affecting infiltration, saturated flow and unsaturated flow.
SOS 803: Advanced Pedology (3 Units)
Principles of pedology with special emphasis on soil genesis, microclimate and soil climate in soil genesis, relationship between geomorphology and pedology. In-depth study and analysis of major world classification systems (Soil taxonomy). Canadian soil classification system, French classification system, FAO/UNESCO soil legends; study of classification of soils of Nigeria and Africa; fabric and mineral analysis of soil; soil development evaluation.
SOS 804 : Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry (3 Units)
Principles of soil biochemistry in relation to soil components as potential energy sources and electron acceptors and protoplasmic constituents. Microbial ecology. Production of soil materials through organic matter decomposition. Redox reactions in field soils. Nutrient transformations in anaerobic soil condition. Biological processes in the rooting zone. Minor toxic elements, pesticides and microbial degrading. Microbiology of water pollution.
ELECTIVES
SOS 805: Soil and Plant Analysis (3 Units)
Principles and procedures of chemical analysis of soil. Analysis of plants and fertilizer for available and total constituents. General principles of soil testing, sampling techniques for plant and soil analysis sample pretreatments. Interpretation of analytical data. Procedures for fertilizer recommendation. Quality control and laboratory control and laboratory management.
SOS 806: Soil Physical Chemistry (3 Units)
General colloid science. The surface chemistry of soil colloids. Laws of Thermodynamics Principles of chemical kinetic in relation to soil system. (Reaction order, rate constants, temperature effect, kinetics of microbial catalyzed reactions).
SOS 807: Fertilizer and fertilizer Technology (3 Units)
Review of past and current fertilizer use in Nigeria. Fertilizer types, manufacture, use and application. Organic fertilizers. Fertilizer efficiency. Fertilizer characteristics, storage and marketing. Special fertilizer formulation. Fertilizer use in relation to surface and ground water pollution, feed and food quality. Fertilizer calculation.
SOS 808: Advanced Analytical Techniques (3 Unit)
Methods for the isolation and recognition of soil components. Fundamental principle of analytical technique (spectrophotometry, electroanalytical techniques, X-ray diffraction, thermal methods AAS, X-ray fluorescence, spectrography chromatography etc). The application of radio-isotopic methods and gas chromatopraphy to the study of the movement of ions and pesticides in soils. Advanced spectrometry instrumentation. Quality control and laboratory management. Analytical techniques in soil physics. Soil microbiological and biochemical assays.
SOS 809: Soil Management and Conservation (3 Units)
Soil water movement, soil aeration drainage and plant growth. Drainage systems and selection, cropping systems in relation to soil moisture. Soil moisture determination. Water erosion, wind erosion, sediments and control. Evapotranspiration losses and control.
SOS 810: Soil Mineralogy and Micromorphology (3 Units)
Structure of the earth; mineralogical and chemical composition of the earth’s crust and relationship to soil; general concept of mineral weathering and genesis in soil; classification of soil minerals; structure of silicate clay minerals; organic soil mineral and their structure; weathering in soil environments; recent techniques in soil mineral studies; principles of micro-morphology.
SOS 811: Management of Problem Soil (3 Units)
Definition and scope. Management of acid soil. Management of acid sandy soils. Management of acid clay soils. Management of saline and alkali soils. Management of acid sulphate distributed soils, management of soil damaged by construction activities, industrial wastes and oil spillage.
SOS 812: Pedology Processes (3 Units)
Processes that form soil material; weathering sequences, ratios and indices, production of soil material through organic matter decomposition. Processes of soil horizon and profile development, processes in soil with impeded drainage, processes in freely drainage profiles, dynamics processes in the rooting zone of plants; processes influenced by soil management practices.
SOS 813: Soil-water-Plant Relationships II (3 Units)
Water balance, dependence of/on water in the contest of world’s agriculture. Measurements for water resource assessment. Hydrological structure of vascular plants. Movement of water in soils. Movement of water towards and into the root system. Movement out of the plant-soil system.
SOS 814: Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (3 Units)
Principles and methods of soil survey. Soil survey techniques including parametric mapping. Use of soil resource inventories in planning land use. Remote sensing and soil survey interpretation. Qualitative and quantitative land evaluation and land use system analysis, geographical information system (GIS).
SOS 815: Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition (3 Units)
Essentiality of plant nutrition. Basic concepts in soil plant relationships. Soil fertility and productivity. Soil organic matter, fertilizers and lime use. Soil fertility evaluation. Cropping system and soil fertility.
SOS 816: Soil Hydrology
The hydrological cycle. Relationships between the hydrological cycle and agriculture, forestry and nature, water balance of the soil profile including rhizosphere. The interaction between ground water, precipitation and water quality. Influence of soil and vegetation on the hydrological cycle.
SOS 817: Advanced Remote Sensing (3 Units)
Review of basic principles; qualitative and quantitative techniques applied to analysis of remotely sensed data; quantitative approaches of remote sensing data analysis to land classification; applications of remote sensing in resource studies with illustrative case studies from literature; equipment for data analysis; current trends in remote sensing and application in soil and agricultural surveys.
SOS 818: Landscape and Soil Ecology (3 Units)
System thinking and application to landscape and soil ecology; factors; forces and processes of stability in natural ecosystem; cause effect affected relationships in man-made (social) ecosystems (e.g agroecosystems); soil ecosystem; the troublesome elements (COHNSP), their disposal; land (soil) pollution; environmental impact assessment.
SOS 819: Soil Environmental Chemistry (3 Units)
Examination and description of specific chemical properties and processes in soil and in relation to environment; consequences of the processes in relation to environmental quality and pollution application of basic chemical concepts to the terrestrial system in the examination of the behaviour of solutes and associated solid phases in soils and related resources.
10.5.12 Post Graduate Research Benchmark
(A) Masters Programme
Minimum duration of bench/field work should be 6 months
Research study should have a minimum of 3 clear objectives.
Research work should include a field/clinical and laboratory component
Research work must have the potentials of generating at least one journal publication.
(B) Doctorate Programme
Minimum duration of bench/field work should be 12 months
Research should have a minimum of 5 clear objectives
Research work should include a field/clinical and laboratory component.
Research shall employ at least one modern laboratory technique such as molecular biology studies.
Research must have the potentials of generating at least two journal publications.
10.5.13 Postgraduate Lecturers
|
Name |
Rank |
Qualifications |
Specialisation |
|
Adejuyigbe, C.O. |
Senior Lecturer & Ag. HOD |
B.Agric (Ile-Ife, M.Agric, PhD (Ibadan) |
Soil Biology/Fertility |
|
Adetunji, M.T. |
Professor |
B.Sc. (Ile-Ife), M.Sc. (Ibadan), PhD (Ile-Ife) |
Soil Chemistry/Soil Fertility |
|
Salako, F.K. |
Professor |
B.Agric., M.Sc (Nsukka) PhD (Ibadan) |
Soil Physics/Soil Conservation |
|
Mrs. Babalola, O.A. |
Professor |
B.Sc., M.Sc. (Ilorin) PhD (Zaria) |
Soil Microbiology/Biochemistry |
|
Adesodun, J.K. |
Reader |
B.Agric, M.Sc., PhD (Nsukka) |
Soil Physics/Soil Conservation |
|
Senjobi, B,.A. |
Senior Lecturer |
B.Agric,(OSU),M.Sc., PhD (Ibadan) |
Pedology/Soil Survey and Classification |
|
Azeez, J.O. |
Senior Lecturer |
B.Agric, M.Agric., PhD (Abeokuta) |
Soil Chemistry |
|
Soretire, A.A. |
Lecturer I |
B.Agric, M.Agric. (Abeokuta), PhD (Ile-Ife) |
Soil Microbiology/Biochemistry |
|
Mrs. Olowokere, F.A. |
Lecturer I |
B.Agric. (Ile-Ife), M.Agric (Abeokuta), PhD (Ibadan) |
Soil Fertility
|
|
Ajiboye, G.A. |
Lecturer I |
B.Sc (Ibadan), M.Sc, Ph.D. (Ilorin) |
Pedology/ Mineralogy
|
|
Dare, M.A. |
Lecturer I |
B.Agric (Ilorin), M.Agric, Ph.D (Ibadan) |
Soil Microbiology
|
|
Akinsete, S.J. |
Lecturer II |
B.Sc,M.Sc(Ibadan), PhD (Reading) |
Soil Physics/Conservation Management |
|
Mrs. Oyegoke, C.O. |
Lecturer II |
B.Sc, M.Sc(Ile-Ife), PhD (Abeokuta) |
Applied Geology/Pedology |
|
Busari, M.A. |
Lecturer II |
B.Agric,M.Agric., PhD (Abeokuta) |
Soil Physics |