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_________________________________________________
CURRICULUM
(Revised)
FOR THE DEGREE OF M.Sc. (HONS.) AND Ph.D. IN
SOIL SCIENCE
Implementation Session 2016-18 and onward
DEPARTMENT OF SOIL & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENES
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
UNIVERSITY OF SARGODHA
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LIST OF POST GRADUATE COURSES IN SOIL SCIENCE
Course Code Course Title Credit Hours
SES-701 Principles and Uses of Laboratory Equipment 3(0-3)
SES-702 Soil Chemistry 3(2-1)
SES-703 Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition 3(2-1)
SES-704 Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry 3(2-1)
SES-705 Soil Classification 3(2-1)
SES-706 Salt-Affected and Waterlogged Soils 3(3-0)
SES-707 Soil Physics 3(2-1)
SES-708 Soil Mineralogy 3(3-0)
SES-709 Soil - Plant Relationship 3(3-0)
SES-710 Principles and Applications of Bioremediation 3(3-0)
SES-711 Advanced Techniques in Bioremediation 3(3-0)
SES-712 Integrated Nutrient Management 3(3-0)
SES-713 Advanced Research Methods and Technical Writing 3(3-0)
SES-714 Organic Agriculture 3(2-1)
SES-715 Advanced Soil Chemistry 3(3-0)
SES-716 Advanced Soil Fertility 3(3-0)
SES-717 Advanced Soil Microbiology 3(3-0)
SES-718 Advanced Soil Physics 3(3-0)
SES-719 Special Problem 1(1-0)
SES-720 Seminar 1(1-0)
SES-721 Soil Ecology 3(3-0)
SES-722 Soil Quality and Management 3(3-0)
SES-723 Nutrient Acquisition and Transport 3(3-0)
SES-724 Biochar: Concept and Application 3(3-0)
SES-725 Waste water impact on soil Health 3(2-1)
STAT-701 Statistical Methods for Agricultural Research-I
3(3-0)
STAT-702 Statistical Methods for Agricultural Research-II 3(3-0)
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Note: - Additional requirements, if nothing is contradictory to UOS existing rules &
regulations and amended from time to time:
1. Minimum credit hours for the completion of course work for M.Sc. (Hons.) and Ph.D.
degrees are 24 and 18 respectively. Whereas, a minimum of 16 and 12 credit hours must be
completed from the major courses for M.Sc. (Hons.) and Ph.D. degrees respectively.
2. Minor courses (if opted) can be taken from any department of the University of Sargodha.
However, the selection of minor courses will be upon the field of research as proposed by
the supervisor according to the area of specialization.
3. Courses selected/qualified for M.Sc. (Hons.) will not be permitted to take again in Ph.D.
except Special Problem and Seminar which are compulsory for both M.Sc. (Hons.) and
Ph.D. students; whereas Seminar will be enrolled twice for the completion of Ph.D. course
work.
4. STAT-701 and STAT-702 are compulsory courses for M.Sc. (Hons.) and Ph.D. degree
programs respectively.
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DETAIL OF COURSES SES-701 PRINCIPLES AND USES OF LABORATORY EQUIPMENT 3(0-3)
Objective and Learning Outcome
Principles, theory and operation of the advanced instruments used for soil and plant analyses are discussed. The students should be able to operate different laboratory instruments, control error, interpret the data and maintain quality of analyses.
Course Contents
1. Quality management, assurance and control measures 2. Analytical errors, analysis and control 3. Development of standard operating procedures 4. Use of basic laboratory equipment:
4.1 Spectrophotometer: UV and visible range 4.2 Flame photometer 4.3 Atomic absorption spectrophotometer 4.4 Ion meter: selective ion electrodes 4.5 EM-38 and EC probe
5. Introduction, principles and usage of specialized equipment: 5.1 Inductively coupled plasma meter and direct current plasma meter 5.2 Chromatography: GC and HPLC 5.3 Microscopy: Scanning and transmission 5.4 X-ray diffractometery 5.5 Mass spectrophotometery 5.6 Electro Ultra Filtration 5.7 Neutron moisture probe/time domain reflectrometery (TDR)
5.8 Oxygen diffusion rate meter 1.9 Thermocycler PCR (polymerase chain reaction) 1.10 Gel electrophoresis apparatus
6. Elements of analytical report writing
Books Recommended 1. DeLevie, R. 1997. Quantitative Chemical Analysis. McGraw-Hill Co. Inc.
New York, USA.
2. Harris, D.C. 2006. Quantitative Chemical Analysis. 7th Ed. W. H. Freeman
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& Co. NY, USA.
3. Pansu, M. and J. Gautheyrou. 2006. Handbook of Soil Analysis. Avenue de Marinville 6 94100 St. Maur des Fossés France. ISBN-10 3-540-31210-2 Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York ISBN-13 978-3-540-31210-9 Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York.
4. Smith, A. K. and M.S. Cresser. 2004. Soil and Environmental Analysis: Modern Instrumental Techniques. 3rd Ed., Marcel & Dekker, Inc., USA.
5. Spark, D.L. (ed.) 1996. Methods of Soil Analysis. Part.3. Chemical Methods. SSSA, ASA Series No.5. Madison, WI, USA.
SES-702 SOIL CHEMISTRY 3(2-1)
Objective and Learning Outcome
Principles governing ion exchange, retention, chemical equilibria for precipitation & synthesis and chemical remediation processes in soil are discussed. The students should be able to predict release of ions and fate of chemicals in soil by using models.
Course Contents
1. Chemical equilibria in soil, water and solute interactions 2. Soil solution-solid interaction 3. Mineral dissolution: congruent and incongruent 4. Neo-formation of minerals in soil 5. Thermodynamics and applications in soil 6. Organic matter: composition and fractionation 7. Surface chemistry of soil matrix 8. Sorption and desorption models 9. Ion exchange: selectivity coefficients, equivalent fraction concept
9.1 Hysteresis in ion exchange 9.2 Anion exclusion 9.3 Complementation effect 9.4 Zeta potential
10. Reactions of metal chelates in soils 11. Chemical behavior of ions / elements in aerated and submerged soils 12. Buffering reactions in soil 13. Chemical remediation of contaminated soils and water
Practical
1. Determination of CEC and base saturation
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2. Developing K vs Ca + Mg activity ratios in laboratory 3. Determination of phosphorous adsorption isotherm 4. Comparative fit (data from 3) to Freundlich and Langmuir models 5. Developing titration curves
Books Recommended 1. Bohn, H.L., B.L. McNeal and G.A.O. Connor. 2001. Soil Chemistry. 3rd Ed.
John Wiley & Sons Inc., NY, USA. 2. Essington, M. E. 2004. Soil and Water Chemistry. CRC Press, Boca Raton,
FL, USA. 3. McBride, M. 1994. Environmental Chemistry of soils. 406 pp. ISBN0-19-
507011-9. Oxford University Press. 4. Sparks, D.L. 2003. Environmental Soil Chemistry. 2nd Ed. Academic Press,
San Diego, CA, USA. 5. Sposito, G. 2008. The Chemistry of Soils. 2nd Ed. Oxford University Press,
NY, USA. 6. Sriniwas, P. 2010. Soil Chemistry. Oxford Book Company, New Delhi, India. 7. Tan, K.H. 2009. Environmental Soil Science. 3rd Ed. CRC Press,
Greenwatch Georgia, USA.
SES-703 SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT NUTRITION 3(2-1)
Objective and Learning Outcome
Nutrient pools and dynamics in soil, uptake and translocation within the plant, their deficiencies and toxicities, interactions and fate of fertilizers are discussed. The students should be able to identify nutritional disorders, calculate fertilizer requirement and use efficiency, and understand techniques for integrated nutrient management.
Course Contents
1. Basic soil-plant-relationship in plant nutrition 2. Plant nutrient behavior in soils 3. Nutrient behavior in submerged soils 4. Soil fertility evaluation: soil test calibration and plant analysis
4.1 External and internal nutrient requirements 5. Fertilizer management strategies: nutrient availability and fertilizer
use efficiency 5.1 Fertigation and foliar fertilization 5.2 Integrated plant nutrient management (IPNM) 5.3 Variable rate fertilizer technology
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6. Nutrient-water and other interactions 7. Specific effects of fertilizers: plant, human and animal health 8. Environmental implications of fertilizer use
Practical
1. Soil and plant analysis for NPK 2. Interpretation of soil and plant analysis results 3. Create and learn deficiency symptoms of nutrients
Books Recommended 1. Ahmad, N. and M. Rashid. 2003. Fertilizers and their use in Pakistan: An
extension guide. Planning Commission, NFDC, Islamabad, Pakistan.
2. Barker A.V. and D.J. Pilbeam. 2007. Handbook of Plant Nutrition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
3. Bhatti, A.U. 2005. Spatial Variability & its Management in Agriculture. Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan.
4. Elsworth, L. and W.O. Relay (eds.). 2009. Fertilizers: Properties, Applications and Effects. Nova Science. Publ. Inc., NY, USA.
5. Havlin, J.L., S.L.Tisdale, W.L. Nelson and J.D. Beaton. 2013. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers: An Introduction to Nutrient Management. 8th ed. Pearson Education, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA.
6. Mengel, K. and E.A. Kirkby. 2001. Principles of Plant Nutrition. 5th Ed. International Potash Inst., Bern, Switzerland.
7. Russell, E.J. 2011. The fertility of the soil. 1st Ed. Cambridge Univ. Press, UK.
SES-704 SOIL MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 3(2-1)
Objective and Learning Outcome
Microbial mediated transformation of elements in soil, bioremediation and biotechnological approaches are discussed. The students should be able to understand and apply microbiological approaches for crop production and to safeguard the environment.
Course Contents
1. Rhizosphere: plant-microbes and microbe-microbe interactions 2. Microbial cycling of elements: macro and micronutrients and heavy metals;
agricultural and environmental significance
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3. Biochemistry and biotechnology of BNF; application in agriculture and environment
4. Mycorrhizal symbiosis 5. Plant growth regulators, phytotoxins and siderophores: microbiology and
biochemistry 6. Composting: microbiology and biotechnology; agricultural and
environmental application 7. Microbial metabolism 8. Bioremediation of contaminated soils: biodegradation and detoxification 9. Use of stable isotopes in microbiological research
10. Metabolic and nucleic acid based analysis of soil microbial diversity 11. Bio-fertilizers: present and future prospects
Practical 1. Isolation of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi
2. Enrichment techniques 3. Organic matter decomposition rates and C:N ratio effect 4. Inoculation techniques 5. Biological N2 fixation measurement techniques
Books Recommended 1. Barton, L.L. and D.E. Northup. 2011. Microbial Ecology. John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, USA. 2. González, M.B.R. and J. González-López. 2014. Beneficial Plant-microbial
Interactions- Ecology and Applications. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, Boca Ratoon, FL.
3. Khan, M.S., A. Zaidi, and J. Musarrat (eds.). 2009. Microbial Strategies for Crop Improvement. Springer, NY, USA.
4. Maier, R.M., I.L. Pepper and C.P. Gerba. 2009. Environmental Microbiology. 2nd Ed. Academic Press Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.
5. Paul, E.A. (ed.). 2007. Soil Microbiology, Ecology and Biochemistry. 3rd Ed. Elsevier, Oxford, UK.
6. Pommerville, J.C. 2014. Fundamentals of Microbiology. 10th Ed. Jones & Bartlett learning, Burlington, MA, USA.
7. Sylvia, D.M., J.J. Fuhrmann, P.G. Hartel, and D.V. Zuberer. 2005. Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology. Prentice Hall International, NJ, USA.
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SES-705 SOIL CLASSIFICATION 3(2-1)
Objective and Learning Outcome
The course is aimed to develop relation among different soil categories and their importance for particular use. The students should be able to classify soils and devise strategic and efficient land use.
Course Contents
1. Concepts and importance 2. Introduction to soil taxonomy 3. Criteria of classification 4. Properties diagnostic to categories 5. Diagnostic horizons and other diagnostic properties 6. Soil moisture regimes: Classes and importance 7. Soil temperature regimes: Classes and importance 8. Categories and nomenclature 9. Keys to categories: Order, suborder, great group and sub group FAO and
other systems of classification 10. Agro ecological zones and soils of Pakistan
Practical
1. Profile description representing important soil orders
2. Classify research farm soil to sub group level.
3. Designation of genetic horizons found in Pakistan. 4. Identification of taxonomic names: orders, suborders, great groups,
subgroups, families and series
Books Recommended 1. Buol, S.W., R.J. Southard, R.C. Graham and P.A. McDaniel. 2011. Soil
Genesis and Classifications. 6th Ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. NY, USA
2. Eswaran, H. et al. 2003. Soil Classification: A Global Desk Reference. CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL, USA.
3. FAO. 1998. World Reference Base for Soil Resources. FAO, Rome, Italy 4. Soil Survey Division Staff. 2005. Soil Survey Manual. USDA, Washington
DC, USA. 5. Soil Survey Staff. 2010. Keys to Soil Taxonomy. 11th Ed. USDA, Washington
DC, USA. 6. USDA. 1998. Soil Taxonomy. Krieger Publishing Co., Washington DC, USA.
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SES-706 SALT-AFFECTED AND WATERLOGGED SOILS 3(3-0)
Objective and Learning Outcome
Sources, processes, accumulation and implications of excess salts and water in soil and their mitigation options are discussed in this course. The students should be able to identify sources and diagnose causes of excess salts and water, effectiveness of reclamation options and preventive measures, and select salt tolerant crops for profitable crop production.
Course Contents
1. Salt-affected and waterlogged soils in Pakistan and global perspective 2. Genesis of saline and sodic soils 3. Classification systems of salt-affected soils 4. Effects of salinity and sodicity on soil characteristics 5. Derivation and applications of Gapon equation 6. Plant responses to saline and sodic conditions 7. Amelioration strategies and economic feasibility for salt-affected soils 8. Water requirements for reclamation 9. Concept of leaching fraction and its applications 10. Soil waterlogging
10.1. Causes 10.2. Soil and plant responses 10.3. Amelioration strategies
11. Environmental and economic impacts of salinity and waterlogging
Books Recommended 1. Ghafoor, A., M. Qadir and G. Murtaza. 2004. Salt-Affected Soils: Principles
of Management. Allied Book Centre, Urdu Bazar, Lahore, Pakistan.
2. Maliwal, G.L. and L.L. Somani. 2010. Nature, Properties and Management of Saline and Alkali Soils. Agrotech Publishing Academy, Udaipur, India.
3. Pessarakli, M. (ed.). 2010. Hand Book of Plant and Crop Stress. 3rd Ed. Marcel & Dekker Inc., NY, USA.
4. Pierzynski, G.M., J.T. Sims and G.F. Vance. 2000. Soils and Environmental Quality. CRC Press. Boca Raton, FL, USA.
5. Schjonning, P., S. Elmholt and B.T. Christensen. 2004. Managing Soil Quality Challenges in Modern Agriculture. CABI Publisher Cambridge, MA, USA.
6. Singh, N.T. 2005. Irrigation and Soil Salinity in the Indian Subcontinent: Past and Present. Lehigh University Press, Bethlehem, Israel.
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SES-707 SOIL PHYSICS 3(2-1)
Objective and Learning Outcome
Physical processes of water, air, heat and pollutants movement in soil and their management are taught. The students should be able to understand soil physical conditions for optimal plant growth.
Course Contents
1. Soil physical properties and inter-relationships 2. Nature and physical behavior of clay and clay minerals 3. Properties of water: Molecular, fluid and colligative 4. Soil water potential and its components 5. Measurement of water in soil 6. Water characteristics curves: Hysteresis 7. Saturated and unsaturated water flow 8. Infiltration models: Horton, Kostiakov, Green and Ampt, and Philip’s
8.1 Flow in capillary tubes: Poiseuilles’ law 8.2 Extended Darcy’s law and its application 8.3 Richards equations for transient water flow
9. Free and artificial drainage: Drainage design equations 10. Heat flow in soil: Thermal properties; Factor affecting; heat flow equations 11. Transport of gases and water vapors through soil 12. Solute transport in soil; Solute conservation equation, convection-
dispersion equation 12.1. Miscible displacement and breakthrough curves 12.2 Transport of inert, non-adsorbing and adsorbing chemicals in soil 12.3 Volatile organic compounds transport in soil
13. Estimation of crop water requirement
Practical
1. Measurement of soil water, soil strength, particle density, soil water characteristic curves, infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity
2. Problem sets
Books Recommended 1. Hillel, D. 1998. Environmental Soil Physics. Elsevier Academic Press, San
Diego, CA, USA. 2. Hillel, D. 2004. Introduction to Environmental Soil Physics. Elsevier
Academic Press, San Diego, CA, USA. 3. Hillel, D. 2008. Soil in the Environment: Crucible of Terrestrial Life. Elsevier
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Inc., Burlington, MA, USA. 4. Jury, W.A. and R. Horton. 2004. Soil Physics. 5th Ed. John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., NY, USA. 5. Marshall, T.J., J.W. Holmes and C.W. Rose. 1996. Soil Physics. 3rd Ed.
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
SES-708 SOIL MINERALOGY 3(3-0)
Objective and Learning Outcome
Soil minerals’ structural properties, occurrence, identification and their role in nutrient chemistry, crop production, pollutant stabilization and engineering. The students should be able to understand and interpret mineral composition and its role in nutrient availability and structural stability.
Course Contents
1. Concept and significance 2. Chemical and structural classification of soil minerals 3. Carbonate, sulphate, sulphide and phosphate minerals 4. Oxides and hydroxide of Al, Fe and Mn 5. Phyllosilicate in soils: structure and morphological characteristics 6. Kaolin, halloysite and serpentine minerals 7. Allophane and imogolite 8. Micas: structures, weathering and effect on K availability 9. Vermiculite: structure and properties in relation to K/NH4 10. Smectites: structure and properties in relation to CEC 11. Chlorites and Inter-stratification in layer silicates 12. Tectosilicates: feldspar, quartz and zeolite 13. Clay mineral economy of Pakistan 14. Impacts of soil minerals composition on environment
Books Recommended 1. Akhtar, M.S. 2001. Soil mineralogy. In: Bashir, E. and R. Bantel (eds.).
Soil Science. National Book Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan. 2. Brindley, G.W. and G. Brown. 1984 Crystal Structures of Clay Minerals and
their X-ray Identification. Mineralogical Soc. Monograph No.5. London, U.K. 3. Dixon, J.B. and S.B. Weed (eds.), 1989. Minerals in Soil Environment. 2nd
Ed., SSSA. Madison, WI, USA. 4. Dixon, J.B. and D.G. Schulze. 2002. Soil Mineralogy with Environmental
Applications. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, USA. 5. Recent literature
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SES-709 SOIL-PLANT RELATIONSHIP 3(3-0)
Objective and Learning Outcome
The course is designed to address the intricacies of soil and plant relations for crop production. The students should be able to understand hypoxia and salinity interactive effect on plant growth and importance of mycorrhizae, water and nutrient uptake and translocation to aerial parts.
Course Contents
1. Soil-plant-environment relationship
2. Plant root system: growth distribution, forms and factors affecting; Root hairs and CEC of roots; shoot-root relationship
3. Rhizosphere: root exudates and factors affecting; pH, redox potential and significance
4. Mycorrhizae: types and mechanisms for water and nutrient uptake 5. Uptake and transport of ions: movement in soil and plant 6. Mechanisms of ion transport across membranes: Ion release into xylem,
xylem and phloem transport; factors affecting ion uptake 7. Water movement from soil to plant root and within plant 8. Water use efficiency and transpiration ratio 9. Water stress, hypoxia and plant growth 10. Mechanisms of salt tolerance; salinity-hypoxia interaction 11. Plant responses and adaptation to extreme environments
Books Recommended 1. Kirkham, M.B. 2005. Principles of Soil and Plant Water Relations. Elsevier
Academic Press, San Diego, CA, USA. 2. Marschner, P. 2012. Marschner’s Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. 3rd Ed.
Academic Press. Inc., Orlando, FL, USA. 3. Marschner, P. 2012. Marschner’s Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants
Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier 32 Jamestown Road, London NW1 7BY, UK 225 Wyman Street, Waltham, MA 02451, USA 525 B Street, Suite 1800, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA.
4. Mengel, K. and E.A. Kirkby. 2001. Principles of Plant Nutrition. 5th Ed. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
5. Rendig, V.V. and H.M. Taylor. 1989. Principles of Soil–Plant Inter-relationships. McGraw Hill Publishing Co., NY, USA.
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SES-710 PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS OF 3(3-0)
BIOREMEDIATION
Objective and Learning Outcome
At the completion of this course, students will be able to understand:
1. Biodegradation and bioremediation.
2. Principles and processes of bioremediation.
3. Soil and water pollution and its impact on environment.
4. Approaches for the remediation of contaminated sites.
Course Contents
1. Biodegradation: Assimilation of nutrients, lag phase, enzyme induction,
acclimation, activation and kinetics
2. Cometabolism: Substrates, enzymes and reaction; Environmental
significance
3. Factors affecting biodegradation: Biotic and Abiotic,
4. Bioremediation: Advantages/disadvantages, strategies and applications
5. In Situ Bioremediation: Land farming, prepared beds and soil piles, bioventing
& biosparging, composting, intrinsic bioremediation, phytoremediation
6. Ex Situ Bioremediation: Bioreactors, biofilters, cometabolism, anaerobic
process, biological and non-biological treatments
7. Bioremediation of inorganic pollutants: Biosorption, reduction, solubilization/
oxidation, precipitation, methylation
Books Recommended 1. Adriano, D.C., J.M. Bollag, W.T. Frankenberger Jr. and R.C. Sims (Eds.).
1999. Bioremediation of contaminated soils. SSSA, Agronomy Monograph 37, Madison, WI, USA.
2. Alexander, M. 1999. Biodegradation and bioremediation. 2nd ed. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, USA.
3. Sylvia, D. M., J.J. Fuhrmann, P.G. Hartel and D.A. Zuberer. 1998. Principles and applications of soil microbiology. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA.
4. Hurst, C. J., R. L. Crawford, G.R. Knudsen, M.J. McInernery and L.D. Stetzenbach. 2002. Manual of environmental microbiology. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC, USA.
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SES-711 ADVANCED TECHNIQUES IN BIOREMEDIATION 3(3-0)
Course Contents
1. Terminology and definitions
2. Regulatory Background
3. Characteristics of wastes
4. Non-radioactive wastes
5. Inorganic wastes, Organic wastes, Mixed wastes, Radioactive wastes
6. Inorganic wastes, Organic wastes, Mixed wastes
7. Characterization and Identification of contaminated sites
8. Technologies for remediation
9. Established technologies: Principles and practices, Solidification/stabilization
(the most widely practiced)
10. On-site incineration, Off-site incineration
11. Innovative technologies: Principles and practices
12. Vacuum extraction, Ex-situ bioremediation
13. In-situ bioremediation, Soil washing
14. In-situ flushing, In-situ vitrification, Solvent extraction, Dechlorination
15. Chemical treatment
16. Ex-situ supercritical oxidation
Books Recommended 1. Chemical Fixation and Solidification of Hazardous Wastes, 1990, Printed and
produced by Penn State Copy Centers and sold at Penn State Bookstore.
2. Adriano, D.C., J.M. Bollag, W.T. Frankenberger Jr. and R.C. Sims (Eds.).
1999. Bioremediation of contaminated soils. SSSA, Agronomy Monograph
37, Madison, WI, USA.
3. Alexander, M. 1999. Biodegradation and bioremediation. 2nd ed. Academic
Press, San Diego, CA, USA.
4. Sylvia, D.M., J.J. Fuhrmann, P.G. Hartel and D.A. Zuberer. 1998. Principles
and applications of soil microbiology. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ,
USA.
5. Hurst, C.J., R.L. Crawford, G.R. Knudsen, M.J. McInernery and L.D.
Stetzenbach. 2002. Manual of environmental microbiology. American Society
for Microbiology, Washington, DC, USA.
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SES-712 INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT 3(3-0)
Course Contents
1. Introduction, Soil-Plant Relationships
2. Nutrient forms, transformations and plant availability as influenced by
chemical and biological reactions in soils
3. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulfur, Calcium, Magnesium
4. Micronutrients
5. Soil Acidity and Alkalinity, Soil pH and management of acid and alkaline soils
6. Characteristics and use of fertilizers and soil amendments
7. Soil testing procedures, application for soil fertility management
8. Soil Fertility Evaluation
9. Fundamentals of Nutrient Management,
10. Nutrients, Water & Interactions
11. Economics of Plant-Nutrient Use
Books Recommended
1. Sylvia, D. M., J.J. Fuhrmann, P.G. Hartel and D.A. Zuberer. 1998. Principles and
applications of soil microbiology. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA
2. Havlin, J.L., J.D. Beaton, Tisdale, S.L., and W.L. Nelson. 2005. Soil Fertility and
Fertilizers, 7th ed. Pearson
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SES-713 ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS AND 3(3-0)
TECHNICAL WRITING
Course Contents
1. Research: Definition, types and phases
2. Inductive and deductive approaches of research
3. Literature review: Sources of scientific information and data basis
4. Hypothesis development
5. Research protocol and methodologies
6. Methods and ways to control plagiarism
7. Writing of research proposal
8. Project execution: Data collection, handling, analyzing and presentation
9. Project report writing
10. Writing scientific paper
11. Preparation of scientific presentation
12. Ethics in research and scientific writing
Books Recommended 1. Bates, D. J. 1994. Writing with precision. Acropolis Books Ltd., Washington, DC,
USA.
2. Blaxter, L., C. Hughes and M. Tight. 2002. How to research. 2nd Edition, Viva Books
Private Limited, New Delhi, India.
3. Greenfield, T. 2002. Research methods for postgraduates. Oxford Univ. Press, NY,
USA.
4. Little, M. T. and F.J. Hills. 1978. Agricultural experimentation: Design and analysis.
John Wiley and Sons, NY, USA.
5. Luellen, R.W. 2002. Fine-tuning your writing. Wise Owe Publishing Company,
Madison, WI, USA
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SES-714 ORGANIC AGRICULTURE 3(2-1)
Course Contents
1. The roots of organic agriculture,
2. Soil organic matter and plant health,
3. Nutrient management opportunities and challenges,
4. Biodynamic farming,
5. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA),
6. Growing to the market,
7. The role of research in organic agriculture,
8. Cooperative distribution and marketing of organic produce,
9. Organic Forage and Livestock Production,
10. Soils and Nutrient Cycling,
11. Organic Crop Production,
12. Organic Agriculture Case Study, Organic Agriculture Profession,
13. Organic Farming Work Placement,
14. Issues in Organic Agriculture,
15. Marketing and Business Management in the Organic Agriculture Sector
PRACTICAL 1. Comparison of organic residues,
2. Residue quality assessment on the basis of lignin content,
3. C/N ratio in relation to nutrient decomposition and mineralization
Books Recommended
1. Havlin, J.L., J.D. Beaton, Tisdale, S.L., and W.L. Nelson. 2005. Soil Fertility
and Fertilizers, 7th ed. Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
2. Sylvia, D. M., J.J. Fuhrmann, P.G. Hartel and D.A. Zuberer. 1998. Principles
and applications of soil microbiology. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ,
USA.
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SES-715 ADVANCED SOIL CHEMISTRY 3(3-0)
Course Outline
1. Chemical thermodynamics of soils: Processes and variables 2. Chemical potentials: Metal oxides, hydroxides and silicates clays 3. Kinetics of soil chemical reactions 4. Precipitation and dissolution in soil environment 5. Surface electro-chemistry of colloids: Sorption of trace metal ions;
Selectivity and pH 6. Inter-particles attraction: Solid-solid and solid-liquid interaction 7. Chemistry of submerged soils 8. Chemical transformations of selective elements in soils 9. Contamination of soils with organic and inorganic pollutants 10. Risk assessment of trace metals in soil and water 11. Integrated management of polluted environment 12. Sorption theory: Description and application for decontamination of soils and
water 13. Recent developments in soil and environmental chemistry 14. Systems for waste water treatment: Physical, chemical and bio-chemical
Books Recommended 1. Conklin, Jr. A.R. 2005. Introduction to Soil Chemistry Analysis and
Instrumentation. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NY, USA. 2. Kumar, A. 2004. Environmental Contamination and Bio-reclamation. APH
Publishing Corporation, New Delhi, India. 3. Schjonning, P., S. Elmholt and B.T. Christensen. 2004. Managing Soil
Quality Challenges in Modern Agriculture. CABI Publisher Cambridge, MA, USA.
4. Sparks, D.L. 2003. Environmental Soil Chemistry. 2nd Ed. Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.
5. Sposito, G. 2008. The Chemistry of Soils. Oxford University Press, NY, USA.
6. Viessman, J.W. and M.J. Hammer. 2009. Water Supply and Pollution Control. 8th Ed. Prentice Hall NY, USA.
SES-716 ADVANCED SOIL FERTILITY 3(3-0)
Course Outline
1. Growth expression: Mitscherlich and Quadratic equations
2. Plant responses to applied nitrogen: Mathematical description 2.1 Stubble management and N availability
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2.2 Effect of forms nitrogen on plant growth: Ammonia absorption, losses and toxicity
3. Phosphate phase equilibria in soils: Dissolution, precipitation, retention reaction at microsites 3.1 Reaction products and changes in applied P 3.2 Soil phosphate buffering capacity and availability
4. Potassium equilibria in soil: Quantity/intensity relationship and availability 5. Modeling nutrient uptake by plants 6. Modeling nutrient losses 7. Nutrition and plant disease interactions 8. Mineral nutrition of horticultural plants 9. Modern concept in soil fertility: Hydroponics, tunnel farming and roof top /
pot culture 10. Formulation of fertilizer recommendations 11. Integrated plant nutrient management system 12. Soil variability and its control in field experiments
Books Recommended
6. Barker A.V. and D.J. Pilbeam. 2007. Handbook of Plant Nutrition. CRC
Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA. 7. Elsworth, L. and W.O. Relay (eds.). 2009. Fertilizers: Properties,
Applications and Effects. Nova Science. Publ. Inc., NY, USA. 8. Havlin, J.L., J.D. Beaton, S.L. Tisdale and W.L. Nelson. 2005. Soil Fertility
and Fertilizers. 7th Ed. Pearson Education, Singapore. 9. Marschner, H. 1995. Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. Academic Press
Inc., Orlando, FL, USA. 10. Mengel, K. and E.A. Kirkby. 2001. Principles of Plant Nutrition. 5th Ed.
International Potash Inst., Bern, Switzerland. 11. Marschner, P. 2012. Marschner’s Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants
Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier 32 Jamestown Road, London NW1 7BY, UK 225 Wyman Street, Waltham, MA 02451, USA 525 B Street, Suite 1800, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA.
SES-717 ADVANCED SOIL MICROBIOLOGY 3(3-0)
Course Outline
1. Advances in soil and environmental microbiology 2. Microbiology of the terrestrial and aquatic environment 3. Organic pollutants: Sources and types, biodegradation and bioremediation
21
4. Biotransformation of metal pollutants 5. Metabolic and nucleic acid based analysis of soil microbial diversity
5.1 Extraction of bacterial DNA from soil 5.2 Recombinant DNA techniques, PCR, probes and reporter genes
used for monitoring soil microbes 6. Recent trends and approaches in soil and environmental microbiology 7. Soil enzymes and their role
Books Recommended 1. Burns, R.G. and R.P. Dik. 2002. Enzymes in the Environment. Marcel
Dekker, Inc. NY, USA. 2. Harrison, R.M. (ed.). 2001. Pollution: Causes, Effects and Control. 4th Ed.
Royal Soc. of Chem., Cambridge, UK. 3. Hurst, C.J., R.L. Crawford, G.R. Knudsen, M.J. McInernery, and L.D.
Stetzenbach. 2002. Manual of Environmental Microbiology. American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC, USA.
4. Maier, R.M., I.L. Pepper, and C.P. Gerba. 2009. Environmental Microbiology. 2nd Ed. Academic Press Inc., San Diego, CA, USA.
5. Paul, E.A. (ed.). 2007. Soil Microbiology, Ecology and Biochemistry. 3rd Ed. Elsevier, Oxford, UK.
6. Sylvia, D.M., J.J. Fuhrmann, P.G. Hartel, and D.V. Zuberer. 2005. Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology. Prentice Hall International, NJ, USA.
SES-718 ADVANCED SOIL PHYSICS 3(3-0)
Course Outline
1. Water flow equations and their applications 2. Thermodynamic potentials and chemical potential of soil water 3. Use of models for artificial drainage
3.1 Factors influencing drainage 4. Heat flow equations: Application and calculations 5. Application of gas flow equations 6. Pollutant transport in soil environment: Analytic solutions of the CDE model 7. Mobile-immobile water flow model for solute transport 8. Behavior assessment model for pesticide and hormones transport 9. Application of soil physics for remediation of hazardous wastes 10. Spatial variability analysis of soil properties and significance 11. Analysis of frequency distribution 12. Techniques for characterizing variability 13. Irrigation water scheduling; Water balance; Old and modern concepts of
irrigation 14. Irrigation and water use efficiency
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15. Calculation of evapo-transpiration by various methods
Books Recommended 1. Bhatti, A.U. 2005. Spatial Variability and its Management in Agriculture.
Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, Pakistan. 2. Hillel, D. 1998. Environmental Soil Physics. Academic Press Inc., San
Diego, CA, USA. 3. Hillel, D. 2004. Introduction to Environmental Soil Physics. Elsevier
Academic Press. San Diego, CA, USA. 4. Hillel, D. 2008. Soil in the Environment: Crucible of Terrestrial Life. Elsevier
Inc., Burlington, MA, USA. 5. Jury, W.A. and R. Horton. 2004. Soil Physics. 5th Ed. John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., NY, USA. 6. Marshall, T.J., J.W. Holmes and C.W. Rose. 1996. Soil Physics. 3rd Ed.,
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
SES-719 SPECIAL PROBLEM 1(1-0)
The special problem is intended to instruct students on proper techniques for scientific
research and methodologies. The students are expected to prepare directed
assignment and collect information and material related to current research interest.
SES-720 SEMINAR 1(1-0)
The seminar is intended to instruct students on proper techniques for presentation of
scientific material. Each student is expected to prepare and present a scientific seminar
and to submit written documentation supporting that seminar.
SES-721 SOIL ECOLOGY 3(3-0)
Course Outline
1. Introduction, Viruses, Bacteria
2. Soil environment, Bacteria and archaea, Fungi, Algae
3. Soil animals, Microbial energetic
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4. Microbial metabolism, Microbial growth and interactions
5. Environmental limits to microbial activity
6. Soil aggregates, Rhizosphere
7. Soil organic matter composition, Formation of soil organic matter
8. Decomposition and carbon mineralization
9. Composting, Xenobiotic metabolism I, Xenobiotic metabolism II, Nitrogen
fixation process
10. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (S. Boyle)
11. Nitrogen mineralization (S. Boyle)
12. Nitrogen immobilization, Nitrification, Denitrification
13. Trace gases
14. Sulfur cycle, Phosphorus cycle
15. Mycorhizae I, Mycorrhizae II
16. Aromatic Nomenclature, Nitrogen cycle
17. Mycorrhizae
18. Metals
Books Recommended 1. Richards, 1987. The Microbiology of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Longman
Scientific & Technical.
2. Soil Microbial Ecology, Meeting, 1993, Marcel Dekker
3. Soil Ecology, Killham, 1994, Cambridge University Press
4. Biodegradation and Bioremediation, Alexander, 1994, Academic Press
5. Environmental Soil Biology, 2nd edition, Wood, 1995, Blackie A & P
6. Fundamentals of Soil Ecology, Coleman and Crossley, 2nd edition, 2004,
Academic Press
7. Modern Soil Microbiology, van Elsas et al., 1997, Marcel Dekker.
8. Soil Microbiology: An Exploratory Approach, Coyne, 1999, Delmar
9. Soil Microbiology, Tate, 2nd edition, 2000, John Wiley.
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SES-722 SOIL QUALITY AND MANAGEMENT 3(3-0)
Objective and Learning Outcome
Soil quality is the capacity of the soil to function within the ecosystem boundaries to sustain biological productivity and maintain environmental quality. After studying this course, the student will be able to understand basic principles of soil quality and learn to assess and evaluate soil quality related to agricultural production and environmental quality including soil resilience capabilities and then its conservation.
Course Outline
1. Soil quality and its assessment: Indicators and guidelines
2. Soil management in contrasting environments
3. Maintenance of soil productivity
4. Impact of vegetation change on soils
5. Nutrient cycles in relation to soils with special reference to carbon and
nitrogen cycles
6. Soils as a source or sink of greenhouse gases
7. Soil conservation and carbon dynamics
8. Biological diversity and ecosystem function in soils
9. Soil resilience and conservation: Concept, importance, classification,
indicators and management strategies to promote soil resilience
Books Recommended
1. Blanco-Canqui, H. and R. Lal. 2008. Principles of Soil Conservation and
Management. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany.
2. Frossard, E., W.E.H. Blum and B.P. Warkentin. 2006. Function of Soils for
Human Societies and the Environment. Geological Society, London, UK.
3. Fullen, M.A. and J.A. Catt. 2004. Soil Management: Problems and
Solutions. Arnold Publishers, London, UK.
4. White, R.E. 2005. Principles and Practice of Soil Science: The Soil as a
Natural Resource. 4th
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SES-723 NUTRIENT ACQUISITION AND TRANSPORT 3(3-0)
Objective and Learning Outcome
To elaborate the molecular and morphological perspectives of nutrient acquisition
by plant roots and their transport in soil and plants
Course Outline
1. Root architecture, soil-root interaction and nutrient acquisition
2. Relation between transpiration and nutrient uptake
3. Role of cell wall in nutrient uptake
4. Nutrient transport in root and nutrient uptake mechanism
5. Membrane transport of nutrients and different ion channels; P-type, F-type
and V-type
6. ATPases; Cation and anion channels
7. Plasma membrane H+-ATPase
8. Physiology and molecular biology
9. Role of plasma membrane H+-ATPase
10. Nutrient uptake, apoplastic pH and P acquisition
11. Plant approaches to acquire macro- and micronutrients
12. Sodium acquisition and transport in plant
13. Redox potential and nutrient acquisition
14. Plant nutrient-acquisition strategies and soil aging
Books Recommended 1. Ae, N., J. Arihara, K. Okada, and A. Srinivasan. 2001. Plant Nutrient
Acquisition. New Perspectives. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany.
2. Bassirad, H. 2005. Nutrient Acquisition by Plant: An Ecological
Perspective. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany.
3. Marschner, P. 2011. Marschner's Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants, 3rd
edition. Academic Press, London, UK.
4. Rengel, Z. 2002. Hand Book of Plant Growth. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New
York, USA.
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SES-724 BIOCHAR: CONCEPT AND APPLICATION 3(3-0)
Objective and Learning Outcome
After learning this course students will be able to: 1. Biochar and biochar production technology 2. Impact of biochar on climate change 3. Economics of biochar production and utilization 4. Biochar effects on soil nutrient transformations and soil fertility
Course Outline
1. Background and introduction of biochar
2. Physical, chemical and biological properties of biochar
3. Impact of biochar on soil properties
4. Change and stability of biochar in soil
5. Biochar and soil nutrient transformations
6. Biochar and climate change
7. Biochar and emission of greenhouse gases
8. Biochar production technology
9. Economics of biochar production and utilization
10. Socio-economic assessment of biochar projects
11. Some essential concepts for commercial success of biochar
Books Recommended
1. Bates, A. 2010. The Biochar Solution: Carbon Farming and Climate
Change. New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, Canada.
2. Lehmann, J. and S. Joseph. 2009. Biochar for Environmental
Management: Science and Technology. Earthscan, London, UK.
3. Sohi, S., E. Lopez-Capel, E. Krull and R. Bol. 2009. Biochar, Climate
Change and Soil: A review to guide future research. CSIRO Land and
Water Science Report 05/09. Centre for Bioenergy and Climate Change,
Harpenden, UK.
27
4. Verheijen, F.G.A., S. Jeffery, A.C. Bastos, M. van der Velde and I. Diafas.
2010. Biochar application to soils: A Critical Scientific Review of Effects on
Soil Properties, Processes and Functions. Official Publications, European
Communities, Luxembourg.
SES-725 WASTE WATER IMPACT ON SOIL HEALTH 3(2-1)
Course Outline
1. Definition and types of waste water
2. Sources of waste water
3. Chemical composition of waste water
4. Impact of waste water on physical properties of soil
5. Impact of waste water on chemical properties of soil
6. Impact of waste water on biological properties of soil
PRACTICAL
1. Collection of waste water from different sources
2. Analysis of waste water for heavy metals
3. Analysis of waste water for critical levels of deleterious pathogens.
Books Recommended 1. Ashfar, M. and M.A. Saleem. 2010. Environmental Pollution and Agriculture.
Pak Book Empire, Lahore.
2. Asthana, D.K. and M. Asthana. 2003. Environment Problems & Solutions. S.
Chand & Co. Ltd. New Delhi, India.
3. Cheremisioff, N.P. 2002. Handbook of Solid Waste Management and Waste
Minimization Technologies. Elsevier Science, Burlington, MA, USA.
4. Clinic, C., M. Ignazio and G.M. Lodovica. 2008. Sustainable Development
and Environmental Management: Experiences and Case Studies. 1st Ed.
28
Springer Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
5. Cunningham, W.P., M.A. Cunningham and B.W. Saigo. 2007. Environmental
Science: A global Concern. 9th Ed. McGraw Hill, NY, USA.
6. Ghafoor, A. 2010. Environmental Pollution: Types, sources and
management. Allied Book Centre, Lahore.
7. Pepper, I.L., C.P. Gerba and M.L. Brusseu (eds.). 2006. Environmental and
Pollution Science. 2nd Ed. Elsevier / Academic Press, San Diego, CA, USA.
STAT-701 STATISTICAL METHODS FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH-I 3(3-0)
Objectives of the course
1. To impart the knowledge of statistical software used to analyze the data.
2. To improve the students’ skills for selecting appropriate tools for analysis of
their research data.
Theory
Basic principles of experimental design. Layout analysis of CRD, RCBD, Latin
Square Designs. Estimation of Missing Observations in RCBD and Latin Square
Design. Split plot Designs and its variations. Multiple comparison tests. Effect of
violation of assumptions of underlying ANOVA. Simple and Multiple regression.
Logistic Regression and Odd Ratios. Survival Analysis. Dose Response Curves.
Simple correlation, Multiple Correlation and Partial Correlation. Analysis of Count
and Frequency data. Contingency Tables. Diversity Indices.
Books Recommended
1. Mead,R. The Design of Experiments. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
(1995)
2. Steel,R.G.D., J.H. Torrie and D.A. Dicky. Principles and Procedures of Statistics: A
Biometerical Approach. Third Edition. Mc Graw Hill, New York, USA.
3. Box,G.E.P., W.G. and Hunter, J.S. Statistics for Experimenters. New York: Wiley
(1978).
29
4. Tabachnick, B. G., and Fidell, L. S. (1996). Using Multivariate Statistics. New York:
HarperCollins College Publishers.
5. Dillon, W. R. and Goldstein, M. Multivariate Analysis: Methods and Applications.
New York: Wiley. (1984)
6. Agresti. A. An Introduction to Categorical Data Analysis. New York: Wiley (2002)
7. S.Chatterjee, Ali.S.Hadi. Regression Analysis by Example. fourth Edition. l, New
York, Wiley (2004)
8. Jerrold H. Zar. Biostatistical Analysis, fourth edition ,Dorling Kindersley India,2009.
9. Cox D.R. The Theory of the Design of Experiments Chapman and Hall (2000)
10. Gomez.K.A and Gomez A.A. Statistical procedures for agricultural research. The
international Rice Research Institute (1976)
11. Richard A. Johnson, Dean W. Wichern. Applied multivariate statistical analysis. 6th
Edition. Pearson Education International (2007).
STAT-702 STATISTICAL METHODS FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH-II 3(3-0)
Objectives of the course
1. To impart the knowledge of statistical software used to analyze the data
2. To improve the students’ skills for selecting appropriate tools for analysis of their
research data
Theory
Factorial Experiments, 2n, 3n… Pn and mixed levels factorial experiments.
Confounding and its types. Fractional replication. Multiple comparison tests.
Application and construction of contrasts. Analysis of Count and Frequency data.
Contingency Tables. Introduction of multivariate analysis. Principle component
analysis, Factor analysis, Cluster Analysis, Correspondence analysis, Simple
and multiple Regression and Correlation, Logistic Regression and Odd Ratios.
Survival Analysis. Diversity Indices.
30
Books Recommended
1. Kempthrone.O, Hinkelmann.K. Design and Analysis of Experiments Vol I:
Introduction to Experimental Design,second edition New York, Wiley (2005)
2. Kempthrone.O, Hinkelmann.K. Design and Analysis of Experiments Vol II:
Advanced Experimental Design,second edition New York, Wiley (2008)
3. Mead,R. The Design of Experiments. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge (1995)
4. Steel,R.G.D., J.H. Torrie and D.A. Dicky. Principles and Procedures of
Statistics: A Biometerical Approach. Third Edition. Mc Graw Hill, New York,
USA.
5. Box,G.E.P., W.G. and Hunter, J.S. Statistics for Experimenters. New York:
Wiley (1978).
6. Tabachnick, B. G., and Fidell, L. S. (1996). Using Multivariate Statistics. New
York: HarperCollins College Publishers.
7. Dillon, W. R. and Goldstein, M. Multivariate Analysis: Methods and
Applications. New York: Wiley. (1984)
8. Agresti. A. An Introduction to Categorical Data Analysis. New York: Wiley
(2002)
9. S.Chatterjee, Ali.S.Hadi. Regression Analysis by Example. fourth Edition. l,
New York, Wiley (2004)
10. Cox D.R. The Theory of the Design of Experiments Chapman and Hall (2000)
11. Gomez.K.A and Gomez A.A. Statistical procedures for agricultural research.
The international Rice Research Institute (1976)
12. Richard A. Johnson, Dean W. Wichern. Applied multivariate statistical
analysis. 6th Edition. Pearson Education Internation (2007).
13. Jerrold H. Zar. Biostatistical Analysis, fourth edition, Dorling Kindersley
India,2009.