Soil & Environmental Sciences

Introduction

The Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences is one of the key discipline of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of The Poonch, Rawalakot, Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The Department is continuously making progress gradually in terms of academics and research both qualitatively and quantitatively since its establishment. The postgraduate program was started in 1999 and Ph.D degree program was initiated in 2007. The present position of the Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences has been achieved by the continuous hard work of its dedicated staff over the years. At present, Department is actively engaged in research activities on different aspects of soils i.e. Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, Integrated Plant Nutrient Management System, Carbon and Nitrogen Bio transformations in soil, Phosphorus Dynamics, Soil Microbiology and Legumes Introduction and Establishment.
The Department by now has completed various research projects funded by Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. At present, three research projects funded by different organizations are in progress. The Department has well qualified and dedicated teachers. The contribution and dedication of the staff towards research is reflected though quality research papers in international peer reviewed Journals. The dedications of the faculty members have also been recognized by various national organizations, since a number of faculty members have won prestigious national awards (Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship (AvH), Best Scientist of the year, Best Teacher cum Researcher Award and Star Laureate Award etc.).
The state of Azad Jammu & Kashmir has valuable soil resources which are under continuous threat of erosion and infertility of soils. The Department of soil & environmental sciences is playing a leading role in developing management practices for reducing erosion and replenishing fertility status of such degraded soils. Additionally, Department is intensively engaged in developing trained human resource base, conduct basic and applied research in the relevant field, and provide advisory services to the farmers, NGOs and the relevant agro-based industry. Department has the potential to conduct short term training programs to farmers and in service agri-personnel pertaining to the technological development and resource management.

Scheme of Studies for B.Sc (Hons.) Agri. Soil & Environmental Sciences

Semester/Course No.	Tile of the Course	Credit Hours
3rd Semester
SES-211	Introduction to Soil Science-I    (Minor)	3(2-1)
4th Semester
SES-221	Introduction to Soil Science -II  (Minor)	3(2-1)
5th Semester
SES-311 SES-312 SES-313 SES-314 SES-315	Physical Properties of Soil Chemical Properties of soil Instrumentation and Laboratory Techniques Soil Genesis and Morphology Introduction to Environmental Science Total Credit Hours	3(2-1) 3(2-1) 3(1-2) 3(2-1) 3(3-0) 15
6th Semester
SES-321 SES-322 SES-323 SES-324 SES-325 SES-326	Salt-Affected Soils and Water Quality Soil Fertility and Fertilizer use Soil Survey and Land Evaluation Municipal and Agro Waste Management Biological Nitrogen Fixation Environmental Pollution, climate change and its management     (Minor) Total Credit Hours	3(2-1) 3(2-1) 3(2-1) 3(3-0) 3(2-1) 3(3-0) 18
7th Semester
SES-411 SES-412 SES-413 SES-414 SES-415	Soil Microbiology Environmental Pollution and Management Soil and Water Conservation Carbon Sequestration in Soil Applied Mathematics Total Credit Hours	3(2-1) 3(3-0) 3(3-0) 3(2-1) 3(3-0) 15
8th Semester
SES-421 SES-422 SES-423 SES-424 SES-425	Soil Water Plant Relationship Land Degradation and Management Trace Elements in Agriculture Research Project and Scientific Writing Internship/Research Project Total Credit Hours	3(3-0) 3(3-0) 3(3-0) 3(2-1) 4(0-4) 16

Scheme of Studies for M.Sc (Hons.)/Ph.D Program

Course No.	Title of the course	Credit hours
SS-701	Principles and use of Laboratory Equipment	3(0-3)
SS-702	Soil Chemistry	3(2-1)
SS-703	Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition	3(2-1)
SS-704	Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry	3(2-1)
SS-705	Soil Taxonomy	3(2-1)
SS-706	Salt-affected & Water logged Soils	3(3-0)
SS-707	Soil Physics	3(2-1)
SS-708	Soil Mineralogy	3(2-1)
SS-709	Soil Plant Relationship	3(3-0)
SS-710	Advanced Soil Chemistry	3(3-0)
SS-711	Advanced Soil Fertility	3(3-0)
SS-712	Advanced Soil Microbiology	3(3-0)
SS-713	Advanced Soil Physics	3(3-0)
SS-719	Special Problem	1(1-0)
SS-720	Seminar	1(1-0)
SS-721	M.Sc  Thesis	10(0-10)
SS-722	Ph.D Thesis	12-(0-12)