SOS 7204 SOIL DEGRADATION AND CONSERVATION
Lecturer
Dr. Lukman Nagaya Mulumba
Course Type: CORE (M.Sc. Agric. I.)
Course Credits (CU):
3 CU i.e. 45 Contact Hours per semester
Course Duration: 15 weeks (45 hours)
1. COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course introduces students to soil degradation process, causes and factors. It equips them with knowledge and
skills in mitigating the different forms of soil degradation and their relationship to soil characteristics and soil-plant
interactions; identification of causes and control measures of soil degradation, crop response to soil degradation.
2. Course Objectives
This course will enable students to learn the basic processes of soil processes of soil degradation. Students will gain
an insight and appreciate the challenges faced in getting solutions to ever increasing land/soil degradation, low
agricultural production and poverty despite all efforts made towards modernizing agriculture in developing countries.
Participation in the course should enable a student to acquire understanding, knowledge and skills in management of
soils in more integrated and sustainable manner. By the end of the course, a student should be able to solve and
give guidance in solving soil management-based agricultural production problems.
3. Recommended References
Soil and Water Conservation in Kenya
Rusoke, et al. 2000. Uganda land resources manual. A guide for extension workers. Published by SIDA’s land
management unit.
Lal and Stewart (eds.). 1995. Soil Management: Experimental basis for sustainability and environmental quality. Boca
Raton, Fl. pp. 181-222
Lal et al., 1998. Methods of assessment of soil degradation. Advances in Soil Science. CRC press. New York. pp.558
Young. A. 1998. Land resources: now and for the future / Anthony Young, 1932-Cambridge, U.K.; New York:
Cambridge University Press.
4. COURSE CONTENT, METHODS OF INSTRUCTION, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
TOPIC
CONTENT
METHOD OF
INSTRUCTION /
Time allocated
1. Introduction
Interactive lecture (3
 Class introduction and generation of
hrs)
expectations
 Definitions of soil degradation
 Causes and factors of soil degradation
2. Soil degradation
3. Soil resilience




Chemical, physical and biological degradation
Natural and man mediated degradation.
Indicators of soil degradation
Methods for the assessment of soil
degradation.
 Definition
 Process, factors and causes of soil resilience

TOOLS /
EQUIPMENT
NEEDED
LCD projector,
Chalk / BB or
Markers / Flip
charts
Interactive lecture (9
hrs)
Chalk / BB or
Markers / Flip
charts,
Projector
Interactive lecture (3
hrs)
Chalk / BB or
Markers / Flip
charts,
Projector
4. Soil quality
5. Soil productivity





6. Soil Conservation on
cultivated land





7. Socio-issues in soil
degradation

8. Soil degradation in
Uganda


Chalk / BB or
Markers / Flip
charts
Interactive Lecture (3 Chalk / BB or
hr)
Markers / Flip
charts,
Projector
Interactive Lecture (6 Chalk / BB or
Soil conservation defined
hr)
Markers / Flip
Agronomic and vegetative measures
Practical
(6
hrs
to
see
charts
Physical soil conservation measures
Importance of soil conservation in crop production the different soil
conservation
Simple survey, layout method and equipment
measures
Interactive lecture (3 Chalk / BB or
Assessment and socio-economic evaluation of
hrs)
Markers / Flip
soil degradation
charts
Gender issues in soil conservation
Interactive Lecture (3 Chalk / BB or
Documented and field case studies of soil
hr)
Markers / Flip
degradation
charts
Definition
Determinants of soil quality
Determination of soil quality
Concepts and definitions
Consequences of soil degradation on
productivity
5. SUMMARY OF TIME NEEDED
Interactive lectures covering theory
45 hrs
6. OVERALL COURSE EVALUATION
Continuous Assessment Test
Final examination
40%
60%.
END
Interactive lecture (3
hrs)