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M.Sc. Soil Science is a postgraduate program that is designed to offer knowledge on the soil, its characteristics, and the manner in which it can be managed. The program deals with current issues in soil chemistry, soil fertility & plant nutrition, soil ecology & biology, soil physics, management, genesis and classification. The course and training duration of M.Sc Soil Science is two academic years, comprising of four semesters. Students get to take classes on the aspects of soil chemistry, management, fertility, and biotechnology.
The national level entrance tests considered for admission into M.Sc Soil Science programmes in India are CSIR-NET, IIT JAM, ICAR NET and university level test include DUET and other subject specific tests conducted by various states and deemed universities. The candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in science for one to be eligible for the program.
| Column | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Master of Science (Soil Science) |
| Duration | 2 Years (Full-time) |
| Course Level | Postgraduate |
| Eligibility | B.Sc. in Agriculture, B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, B.Sc. in Environmental Sciences (or related fields) with minimum marks (varies by institution) |
| Top Colleges (India) | Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, Punjab Agricultural University (Ludhiana), G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (Pantnagar) |
| Entrance Exams (India) | ICAR AIEEA PG (for ICAR institutes), Individual University Entrance Exams |
1. The candidate should possess Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or any other science stream which may include chemistry, botany, Environmental Science with minimum 50% marks in the aggregate from a reputed University.
2. The prospective must have completed their final year of bachelor or shall be provisionally admitted to the final year of the bachelor’s degree course and should have obtained minimum marks as prescribed by the university.
3. There are some universities which follows the entrance examination process to get into the university and there are universities which follow merit system.
4. It may be observed that some institutes may offer preferences to the candidates with prior work experience in the related fields.
5. Requisite relaxation in percentage for students belonging to the reserved category as per the government norms.
6. Additional IELTS or TOEFL scores may be needed where students have attended schools with medium of instruction in English only.
1. ICAR-JRF: Organized by ICAR for admission to various agriculture universities. Checks the competency in researching on areas such as agriculture, soil science, and many more.
2. IIT JAM: Commonly known as IIT Joint CSIR/UGC NET for M.Sc conducted for admissions in M.Sc course. There is also subject specific tests comprising multiple choice questions such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, biological sciences, etc.
3. State level exams: In most cases these trials are conducted under the state agricultural/horticultural universities. State syllabus based agriculture, soil science, horticulture test and result based on the test of general knowledge.
| Subject | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Soil Physics | Soil as a three-phase system, Soil texture, Soil structure, Soil water retention and movement, Soil aeration, Soil temperature |
| Soil Chemistry | Soil composition (mineral and organic), Soil reactions (pH, cation exchange), Soil fertility and plant nutrients, Soil solution chemistry, Micronutrients |
| Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition | Essential plant nutrients and their functions, Soil fertility assessment, Nutrient management practices, Integrated nutrient management, Fertilizer types and application methods |
| Soil Biology and Biochemistry | Soil microbial communities, Role of soil microorganisms in nutrient cycling, Soil organic matter decomposition and humification, Soil enzymes and their importance |
| Soil Classification and Survey | Soil classification systems (e.g., USDA Soil Taxonomy), Soil survey methods and techniques, Soil mapping and interpretation, Land suitability evaluation |
| Soil and Environmental Quality | Soil degradation processes (erosion, salinization, etc.), Soil pollution (sources and management), Soil remediation techniques, Sustainable soil management practices |
1. Check eligibility criteria; minimum qualifications and experience such as a bachelor’s degree with the right grades.
2. List out the universities offering the M.Sc Soil Science course and also the admission procedure
3. Online application is possible or a can be made offline with the required documents.
4. Sit for an entrance examination if the course of study requires it.
5. If called for a counselling session, attend it if your name was selected.
6. Payment of fees on the occasion of selection and filling all admission requirements.
| Rank | College Name | Location | Fees (1st Year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) | New Delhi | ₹ 43,150 |
| 2 | Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) | Ludhiana | ₹ 86,280 |
| 3 | Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) | Hisar | - |
| 4 | G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) | Pantnagar | ₹ 49,110 |
| 5 | Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) | Guntur | ₹ 29,830 |
| 6 | Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) | Thrissur | - |
| 7 | Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV) | Mohanpur | - |
| 8 | Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHUATS) | Allahabad | - |
| 9 | Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology (NDUAT) | Faizabad | - |
| 10 | Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) | Ranchi | Information Not Available |
| Rank | College Name | Location | Fees (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences | Solan | ₹ 1.2 - 1.5 Lakh |
| 2 | Amity School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Amity University | Noida | ₹ 1.8 - 2.2 Lakh |
| 3 | SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRM IST) | Chennai | ₹ 1.5 - 2.0 Lakh |
| 4 | The Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM) | Visakhapatnam | ₹ 1.0 - 1.3 Lakh |
| 5 | Lovely Professional University (LPU) | Phagwara | ₹ 0.8 - 1.0 Lakh |
| College Name | Location | Average CTC (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) | New Delhi | ₹ 5-7 Lakhs |
| Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) | Ludhiana | ₹ 3-5 Lakhs |
| G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) | Pantnagar | ₹ 4-6 Lakhs |
| Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) | Guntur | ₹ 3-4 Lakhs |
| Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences | Solan | ₹ 3-5 Lakhs |
| Amity School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Amity University | Noida | - |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRM IST) | Chennai | - |
| Specialization | Job Title | Average Salary (₹ Lakhs/Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition | Soil Scientist, Crop Consultant, Fertilizer Sales Representative | 4-6 |
| Soil Physics & Chemistry | Soil & Water Conservation Specialist, Environmental Consultant, Research Scientist (Soil Science) | 5-7 |
| Soil Biology & Biochemistry | Soil Microbiologist, Compost Facility Manager, Bioremediation Specialist | 4-6 |
| Soil Classification & Survey | Land Resource Scientist, Soil Survey Specialist, GIS Analyst (Agriculture) | 4-5 |
| Soil & Environmental Quality | Soil Pollution Remediation Specialist, Environmental Impact Assessment Specialist, Sustainability Consultant | 5-7 |
