MSc Soil Science is a two-year post-graduation course studying soil as a natural resource on the surface of the Earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils. This course provides knowledge about developing sustainable and manageable agricultural production strategies. It also concentrates on soil significance and importance as well as sustainable resources.
Know More About Agriculture Course
MSc Soil Science course admission is granted through both merit and entrance exams. To be eligible, candidates should have at least 60% in their graduation in the related subject area.
Admissions are mostly done through entrance exam qualifications or personal interview rounds. Some of the most popular MSc entrance exams in India are BITSAT, JNUEE, TISS NET, and many others.
Some top colleges offering the course are Himalayan University: Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, School of Forestry and Environment: Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHIATS), College of Agriculture, Padanakkad, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, etc.
See more: MSc Soil Science Top Colleges
The average fees to pursue an MSc in Soil Science ranges between INR 2000 to INR 1,80,000.
Throughout the MSc Soil Science course, students soak up knowledge on all aspects of soil highlights and features such as chemical, physical and biological properties. Some of the topics covered are Soil Formation, Soil Mineralogy, Soil Hydrology, Soil Ecology, Soil Genesis Fertilizer use, Soil Erosion, Radioisotopes, Soil Conservation, Crop Studies and Biofertilizers.
After the MSc Soil Science degree, students can either continue with their academic career by enrolling themselves for PhD or by opting for MSc Jobs. Graduates of the course are employed in the Agriculture industry, Forestry, Environmental assessment, Land use Mining, Oil & gas industries, Research for government or educational institutions, and such
Graduates of this course can work as a Crop Consultant, Wetland Specialist, County Conservationist, Crop Production Specialist, Watershed Technician, Hydrologist, Environmental Technician, etc. The average salary for such professionals ranges from INR 3 LPA to 5.2 LPA.
MSc Soil Science: Course Highlights
| Course | Master of Science in Soil Science |
| Level | Post-graduation |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Examination Type | Semester System |
| Eligibility | BSc with minimum 55% aggregate marks and 1-year experience |
| Admission Process | Entrance Exam, Personal Interview & Merit |
| Course Fee | INR 15,000 to 4 Lakhs for 2 years |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 2 to 8 lacs per annum |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Agriculture, Forestry, Environmental assessment, Land use Mining, Oil & gas industries, Research for government or educational institutions, and many more. |
| Job Role | Crop Consultant, Wetland Specialist, County Conservationist, Crop Production Specialist, Watershed Technician, Hydrologist with Board of Health, Environmental Technician, State Soil And Water Quality Specialist, Soil Conservationist, Country Agricultural Soil Scientist, Research Technician, Conservation Planner, District Marketing Manager, Research Scientist, among others. |
MSc Soil Science: Admission Process
The top institutes in the country that offer MSc Soil Science admit students either on the basis of an entrance examination or on the basis of previous academic records. To secure admission into MSc Soil Science, the following steps can be referred to.
- Step 1: Candidates must look out for the entrance examination notice of the College they choose to apply to. The Dates for registration will be announced in advance by the Colleges.
- Step 2: They must register for the examination and appear for it. Look for the syllabus and the previous year papers, if available. Practising in a timely manner will be helpful for the final examination.
- Step 3: If the candidate qualifies for the entrance examination and score above the minimum cut-off, then they will be invited for a personal interview round.
- Step 4: Candidates need to appear for the personal interview. Personal Interviews are usually conducted with the department heads of the institute or college.
- Step 5: Candidates who have passed the personal interview (PI) round, will be given an offer letter for admission by the college. They will have to pay the requisite admission fee within the provided time, to book their seat in the program.
MSc Soil Science: Eligibility Criteria
- The student must complete his/her graduation from a recognized institute in order to be eligible for the MSc Soil Science course.
- They should also have English and Mathematics as their main subjects in graduation.
- Some universities like Delhi University require a minimum of 60% marks in graduation degree to fulfil the eligibility criteria.
- There is no minimum age limit required to pursue an MSc Soil Science course.
- In some cases, the students will also have to clear the entrance test. They may also be called for a personal interview (PI) round.
MSc Soil Science: Entrance Examinations
Below are listed some of the entrance examinations that provide admission into this undergraduate course in Soil science:
- DUET: is conducted by the University of Delhi in order to shortlist students for various postgraduate degree programs. One should know that DU offers 50% seats on merit basis, the rest 50% are filled on the basis of the scores obtained by students in the entrance test
- JNUEE: is conducted by the Jawaharlal Nehru University in order to shortlist students for various Masters (PG) degree programs.
- IPU CET: is a university level entrance exams conducted by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. It is an online exam for various Undergraduate and Postgraduate admissions.
- OUCET: is conducted by Osmania university in order to shortlist students for various Masters (PG) degree programs.
- BITSAT: is a national level exam conducted by BITS, Pilani in order to shortlist students for various Masters (PG) degree programs.
- BHU PET: is a postgraduate entrance examination for admission in various PG courses in Banaras Hindu University.
| Entrance Exams | Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| CUET PG | Check Here |
| BITSAT | Check Here |
| NEST | Check Here |
| IIT JAM | Check Here |
| DUET | Check Here |
| TISS NET | Check Here |
Read More: Master of Science Entrance Exams
How to prepare for MSc Soil Science Entrance Exams?
The first step while preparing for any entrance test is to do thorough research about the latest exam pattern of the selected exam. This not only gives a clear idea about the exam pattern but also helps one in managing time for the candidates. Apart from this, candidates should know the full syllabus of the entrance exam.
Refer to the tips given below while preparing for the entrance examinations.
- The MSc Soil Science entrance exam paper generally consists of multiple-choice questions. These questions revolve around the various domains of the subject studies at the Undergraduate level.
- The questions asked in the exam are generally of the undergraduate level. Hence it is very important for the candidates to brush up on their fundamental concepts in order to perform well in the exam.
- Studying concepts from class 11th and 12th NCERT books can be of great help for the exam. Candidates must make sure that they cover each and every section while preparing for the entrance exam.
- One of the great ways of succeeding in any entrance exam is by preparing notes of the topics studies. Jot down all the important points while reading for the exam. This will help the candidate in revising all the concepts very quickly before the exam.
- One of the most important parts of preparation is solving the previous year question papers and solving at least 20-25 mock test papers before appearing for the entrance exam.
- On the exam day, Candidates must avoid reading any new topic. They should be confident about whatever they have learned.
How to get Admission to a Top MSc Soil Science College
To get admission to a top MSc Soil Science Colleges, the candidates must keep in mind the following points.
- The candidates must score as high as possible in the entrance exams as well as the UG level, as these courses are very reputable courses, and hence the demand for seats is very high.
- The cutoffs in top colleges like DU, etc are cutthroat. So, the candidates must prepare exceptionally well to get a seat in such colleges.
- The candidates should also look to score as high as possible in the Bachelor’s degree, as it may offer them some added advantages for the admission.
- The candidates with sufficient work experiences must highlight their work and academic experience in their CV. This will help them in getting selected during the counselling process.
- The candidates must have good communication and Behavioural skills, which may get tested during the Personal Interview during the counselling process.
MSc Soil Science: What is it about?
Below given are the points about MSc Soil Science in a brief for the convenience of students to understand this course with much ease.
- MSc Soil Science is a 2-year post-graduation course that studies soil’s physical attributes, biological composition and chemical makeup.
- This course studies the outer shell of the Earth in which vegetable life can develop if nutrients are present.
- Throughout the course, students research and monitor the properties of soils and use their findings to help solve a wide range of soil-management issues.
- They work to replenish endangered ecosystems by finding ways to increase soil fertility.
- MSc Soil Science students are involved in agricultural production, the assessment of environmental quality and product toxicity.
- Post COmpleting this course, students can become an expert in the improvement and manipulation of land productivity, waste management, agro-meteorology, rehabilitation and preservation of soil, water management, and much more.
MSc Soil Science: Course Advantages
Below given are the points that would attract the students to opt for this course:
- MSc Soil Science blends an in-depth theoretical knowledge of processes and properties of the soil environment, with field surveys and lab work.
- This course borrows methods and knowledge from other earth sciences, such as geology, but also from biochemistry, natural resource management and sustainable development.
- High Demand: Soil Science is one of the most demanding and high paying career streams among the candidates who are interested to follow their passion.
- Decent pay packages: Average packages for MSc Soil Science graduates are on the higher side for both private and public organizations.
- Great Scope: MSc Soil Science Syllabus is designed in such an effective way that helps the students to become technically strong, empowered to meet the challenges, and have a wide-ranging career.
- Throughout the course, MSc Soil Science students are involved in agricultural production, the assessment of environmental quality and product toxicity.
MSc Soil Science: Top Colleges
| Name of Institute | Average Fees |
|---|---|
| BFIT Group of Institutions | INR 65,000 |
| Himalayan University: Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture | INR 35,000 |
| School of Forestry and Environment: Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences (SHIATS) | INR 1 lakh |
| College of Agriculture, Padanakkad | INR 40,790 |
| College of Agriculture, Vellayani | INR 20,000 |
| University of Calcutta | INR 10,000 |
| University of Agriculture Science | INR 50,500 |
MSc Soil Science: College Comparison
Below given is a comparison between the top colleges offering MSc Soil Science courses in India on the basis of a few parameters that will help the students to select their desired subject with ease.
| Parameter | BFIT Group of Institutions | University of Agriculture Science |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Dehradun | Bangalore |
| College Overview | BFIT was established by the shadow of Kartar Educational & Cultural Society in 2002 and is affiliated to H.N.B Garhwal Central University. It is one of the few Self-financed institutes that has a beautiful campus in the lap of the Himalayas providing a peaceful and healthy atmosphere to the students and faculty. | UAS Bangalore was established in 1964 and this University offers 8 undergraduate programmes in the Agriculture sectors. It provides good placement opportunities to students of all fields. |
| Admission Process | Merit-Based | Merit-Based |
| Average Fees | INR 65,000 | INR 50,500 |
| Top Recruiters | Dell, GE, Samsung, Phillips, HCL, HSBC, HDFC, ICICI, TCS, Infosys, Wipro, IndiaMart.com, Times of India, Johnson & Johnson, Zee Group, Maruti Suzuki Ltd., | NABARD, Modicare Ltd., Karvy Group, Vegenza, Axis Bank, Vivo Mobiles, Modi Care Ltd, etc. |
| Average Salary | INR 3 LPA | INR 3.9 LPA |
MSc Soil Science: Distance Education
MSc Soil Science is not offered in distance education mode. However, there is other agriculture course offered in distance learning mode.
MSc Soil Science: Syllabus
Below given is the semester wise syllabus of the MSc Soil Science course. However, this syllabus may differ from institutes to institutes.
| Semester I | Semester II |
|---|---|
| Classification and importance of organic manures, properties and methods of preparation of bulky manures. | Soil fertility and soil productivity |
| Green/leaf manuring. | Soil Physics |
| Soil Mineralogy, Genesis, Classification and Survey | Soil Structure |
| Soil Erosion and Conservation | Soil Biology and Biochemistry |
| Semester III | Semester IV |
| Geomorphology and Geochemistry | Radioisotopes in soil and Plant Studies |
| Remote Sensing and GIs Techniques for Soil and Crop Studies | System Approaches in Soil and Crop Studies |
| Fertilizer Technology | Land Degradation and Restoration |
MSc Soil Science: Recommended Books
Below given is a list of books that will be helpful for the students to study the MSc Soil Science course.
| Name of the Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Essential Soil Science: A Clear and Concise Introduction to Soil Science | Geeta Puri and Mark Ashman |
| Soil Science for Gardeners: Working with Nature to Build Soil Health | Robert Pavlis |
| Fundamentals of Soil Science | H. D Foth |
| Encyclopedia of Soil Science | W. Chesworth |
| Dirt to Soil: One Family’s Journey Into Regenerative Agriculture | Gabe Brown |
MSc Soil Science: Course Comparison
Below given is a course comparison between MSc Soil Science and MSc Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry on the basis of a few parameters. This comparison will help the students to select their desired subject with much ease.
| Parameters | MSc Soil Science | MSc Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Level | Masters | Masters |
| Duration | 2 Year | 2 Year |
| Course Overview | This course studies the outer shell of the Earth in which vegetable life can develop if nutrients are present. It blends an in-depth theoretical knowledge of processes and properties of the soil environment, with field surveys and lab work. | This course aims at providing knowledge about developing sustainable and manageable agricultural production strategies. It equips candidates with a strong establishment in soil development and sustainable agricultural production. |
| Admission Process | Merit-Based/ Entrance Based | Merit-Based/ Entrance Based |
| Average Fee | INR 10,000 to INR 2,00,000 | INR 5,000 to INR 2,00,000 |
| Top Job Profiles | Environmental Technician, State Soil And Water Quality Specialist, Soil Conservationist, Country Agricultural Soil Scientist, Research Technician, Conservation Planner, District Marketing Manager, etc. | Crop Consultant, Wetland Specialist, County Conservationist, Crop Production Specialist, Watershed Technician, Hydrologist, etc. |
| Average Salary Package | INR 4 LPA | INR 3.5 LPA |
Also Checkout: MSc Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry Top Colleges
MSc Soil Science: Future Scope
- After completion of the MSc Soil Science, a student may go on to pursue research in various fields related to education. They may also go for an M.Phil as There are numerous colleges that offer MPhil and PhD courses to MSc Agriculture students.
- Competitive examinations: Another route that MSc Soil Science graduates can go for is to prepare for competitive examinations. These examinations are meant for job opportunities in Government sector organizations.
MSc Soil Science: Job Profiles
Below given are the various job profiles along with their average salary for the MSc Soil Science graduates.
| Job Profiles | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Horticulture Consultant | INR 5 LPA |
| Farm Manager | INR 4.2 LPA |
| Plant Geneticist | INR 3 LPA |
| Conservation Planner | INR 4 LPA |
| Landscape Professional | INR 4.8 LPA |
| Soil Technical Auditor | INR 3.5 LPA |
| Food Production Personnel | INR 5.3 LPA |
MSc Soil Science: FAQs
Ques. What is soil science?
Ans. Soil Science is The science dealing with soil as a natural resource on the surface of the earth, including Pedology (soil genesis, classification and mapping) and the physical, chemical and biological and fertility properties of soil and these properties in relation to their management for crop production.
Ques. What are the fields of study in MSc soil science?
Ans. Fields of application in the MSc soil science are:
- Climate change.
- Ecosystem studies.
- Pedotransfer function.
- Soil fertility / Nutrient management.
- Soil management.
- Soil survey.
- Standard methods of analysis.
- Watershed and wetland studies.
Ques. What is a soil scientist called?
Ans. They are called oil conservationists, or pedologists, they study the soils of the Earth. Some people might also call soil mud or dirt, but the soil is more than that.
Ques. Who is the Father of Soil Science?
Ans. Vasily Vasilevich Dokuchaev developed soil science in Russia and was perhaps the first person to make wide geographical investigations of different soil types in the world.
Ques. How do you become a soil scientist?
Ans. A bachelor's and Master’s degree in chemistry, crop science, soil science, biology or a related field, such as horticulture, plant physiology or environmental science is required to become a soil chemist or soil scientist.
Ques. How much money does a soil scientist make?
Ans. INR 4 LPA at the starting of their career and the amount will gradually grow as per their expertise and experience in the field of soil science.
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