Postgraduate School
Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science
| Name | Status and Qualification | Research Interests |
| E. K. Eifediyi | Senior Lecturer HND, PGD (Portharcourt); M.Sc., Ph.D. (AAU, Ekpoma) | Crop Production, Underutilised Crops, Plant Nutrition |
| B. A. Raji | Professor B.Sc. (OAU, Ile-Ife); M.Sc., Ph.D.(ABU, Zaria) | Pedology, Soil Genesis andClassification, Soil Survey and Land Evaluation |
| Oluyemisi B.Fawole | Professor B.Sc. (Ilorin); M.Sc., Ph.D. (Ibadan) | Soil Microbiology and MicrobialBiotechnology |
| J. O. Olaniyan | Professor B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Ibadan) | Soil Pedology, Soil Survey andLand Evaluation |
| Olabisi F. Adekola | Professor B.Sc. (Ibadan); M.Sc., Ph.D. (Ilorin) | Horticulture and EnvironmentalLandscape Management |
| F. O. Takim | Reader B.Agric. (Calabar); M.Sc., Ph.D. (Ilorin) | Weed Science |
| Kehinde O. Affinnih | Senior Lecturer B.Agric., M.Sc. (Ilorin); Ph.D. (ABU, Zaria) | Soil Chemistry and Fertility |
| H. E. Ahamefule | Senior Lecturer B.Agric. (Calabar); M.Sc., Ph.D. (UNN, Nsukka) | Soil Physics and Conservation, Bioremediation, Remote sensing |
| I. Kareem | Senior Lecturer B.Agric., M.Sc. (Ibadan); Ph.D. (Serdang) | Plant Physiology |
| Folusho A. Bankole | Senior Lecturer B.Agric., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Ilorin) | Plant Breeding and Genetics |
B. Introduction
The programme is to cover the specialised areas in land and water management as well as soil management and land use planning. It is essentially to conduct meaningful researches that contribute to knowledge in the relevant areas. There are prescribed courses which have been structured to acquaint students with knowledge of current trends and best practices within each discipline. Consequently, students are expected to have acquired the necessary skills that will enable them to function either in research-based organizations and/or institutions of higher learning at the end of the programme.
C. Philosophy
The philosophy of the programme is to develop high-level manpower to pursue courses in academics and research. It is to provide the highest degree of specialisation in a particular field in the context of expanding knowledge globally and solving real-life problems.
D. Aim and Objectives
Objectives:
E. Admission Requirement
Students seeking admission into the programme must have an academic Master’s degree in Agronomy and relevant fields or related disciplines with a minimum CGPA 4.0 on a sacle of 5.0 from recognised institutions.
F. Duration of Programme
G Detailed Course Description
| SSC 901 | Seminar | 3 Credits |
| Each student will be required to present two seminars on current trends in any of the various disciplines of agronomy. Assessment of the seminar for a letter grade will be done by all academic staff of the department.135h (P); C | ||
| SSC 902 | Advances in PedologyProcesses of soil formation. Soils in landscape. Soil classification systems required of description and mapping soils. Soil stratigraphy and properties of soil.30h (T); 45h (P); E. | 3 Credits |
| SSC 903 | Advanced Soil Mineralogy Mineralogy of sand, silt and clay fractions of soil separates. Principles and use of x-ray. Differential thermal analysis. Electron microscopy and nicol prism in the study of minerals in soils. Extraction of soil clay samples for x-ray diffraction and fluorescence analysis. Quantitative estimation of clay minerals.30h (T); 45h (P); E. | 3 Credits |
| SSC 904 | Land Use Planning and Capability Land use planning. Land utilisation types. Environmental and ecological content. Residential use. Commercial and retail use. Transport and infrastructure. Public facilities. Smart growth. New urbanisms and sustainability strategies. Municipal comprehensive land use. Land suitability and capability.30h (T); 45h (P); E | 3 Credits |
| SSC 905 | Advanced Soil Fertility Soil sampling and soil testing. Kriging approach. Rectangular and triangular models. Strip sampling techniques. Growth empression. Mifsohevitidis laws. Physiological relationship. Growth law. Spiliman‘s equation. Boule unit correlation. Correlation process, quanti-mechanistic models. Field experiments. Use of relative yields. Continuity of calibration. Role of the response surface.30h (T); 45h (P); E | 3 Credits |
| SSC 906 | Advanced Crop Mineral Nutrition Biology and chemistry of nutrient availability in the rhizosphere. Kinetics of nutrient uptake by plant cells. Molecular biology of soil transporter in plant membranes. Long-distance nutrient transport in plants and movement into developing gains. Significance of root size for plant nutrition in intensive horticulture. Role of mineral nutrient in photosynthesis and yield formation. Role of nutrition in crop resistance to tolerance and diseases. Importance of seed mineral nutrient reserve in crop growth and development.30h (T); 45h (P); E | 3 Credits |
| SSC 907 | Advances in Fertilizer Technology and Use Review of fertilizer use locally and globally. Physical and chemical properties of various fertilizers and types. Principles of manufacture of nitrogen. Phosphorus of manufacture of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and fertilizer handling and storage. Residual effects of various fertilizer types. Use of fertilizers on varying soil types. Economics of fertilizer use. Comparative analysis of fertilizer and non-fertilizer types of farming.30h (T); 45h (P); E | 3 Credits |
| SSC 908 | Environmental Microbiology Sewage pollution and stabilization systems. Purification system. Microbiological analysis of sewage: domestic, agricultural andindustrial wastes. Treatment and disposal methods. Bioremediation. 30h (T); 45h (P); E | 3 Credits |
| SSC 909 | Environmental Impact AssessmentProtected areas. Natural habitat. Critical ecosystems. Land tenure issues. Plant and livestock genetic resources. Management of biological diversity food and agriculture. Agricultural chemicals. Natural resources. Climate change impact and land degradation.30h (T); 45h (P); E | 3 Credits |
| SSC 910 | Pesticides in SoilMajor groups of pesticides. Processes affecting pesticides in soils: sorption, degradation and elimination. Transport of pesticides in soil and uptake by plants. Pesticide persistence effects on soil organisms and crop damage. Techniques involving analysis of pesticide residue in soils.30h (T); 45h (P); E | 3 Credits |
| SSC 911 | Advances in Soil Microbial EcologyCurrent research methods and applications in microbial ecology. Genomics and metagenomics microbial processes and importance of microbial heterogeneity.30h (T); 45h (P); E | 3 Credits |
| SSC 912 | Advances in Soil PhysicsSoil water content. Soil water potential. Water flow in saturated and unsaturated soil. Solute transport in soil. Spatial variability of soil properties.30h (T); 45h (P); E | 3 Credits |
| SSC 913 | Crop-Weather RelationshipsClimate and crop production. Energy and water balance. Phonological stages of some tropical crops. Weather influence on phonological stages and crop yields. Models for predicting their relationships for selected crops. Application of growth degree days and heat units in crop production.30h (T); 45h (P); E | 3 Credits |
| SSC 914 | Advances in Waste Management and Resource Recovery Municipal water and wastewater systems. Waste treatment. Hazardous wastes. Treatment technologies. Land disposal. Lifecycle assessment. Source rednation. Collection and transferoperations. Recycling. Composting. Discarded materials. Waste-to-energy combustion. Landfills.30h (T); 45h (P); E | 3 Credits |
| SSC 915 | Advances in Soil Management and ConservationWater and wind control. Watershed management. Irrigation and drainage. Organic matter management of problem soils.30h (T); 45h (P); E | 3 Credits |
| SSC 999 | ThesisEach student will be expected to choose and execute a thesis topic under a supervisor. It is expected to contribute to knowledge of the emerging trends in each discipline. The final assessment shall be based on an open defence attended by a specified number of academic staff including the external examiner.690h (P); C | 16 Credits |
H. Graduation Requirements
A candidate must have passed a minimum of 48 Credits made up of the following to be awarded the Ph.D. degree in Soil Science:
| Core Courses | 18 Credits | |
| Courses transferred from M.Sc. | 21 Credits | |
| Elective Courses | 9 Credits | |
| Total | = | 48 Credits |
I. Summary
i. Pedology/Soil Survey and Land Use Planning/Soil Mineralisation Option:
Core Courses: SSC 901 (2), SSC 999 (16) 18 Credits
Transferred Credits from M.Sc.: 21 Credits
Elective Courses: SSC 902 (3), SSC 903 (3), SSC 904 (3), SSC 905 (3),
SSC 906 (3), SSC 907 (3) 9 Credits
Total = 48 Credits
ii. Soil Microbiology and biochemistry Option:
Core Courses: SSC 901 (2), SSC 999 (16) 18 Credits
Transferred Credits from M.Sc.: 21 Credits
Elective Courses: SSC 908( 3), SSC 909 (3), SSC 910 (3), SSC 911 (3) 9 Credits
Total = 48 Credits
iii. Soil Physics/Soil Management and Conservation Option:
Core Courses: SSC 901 (2), SSC 999 (16) 18 Credits
Transferred Credits from M.Sc.: 21 Credits
Elective Courses: SSC 912 (3), SSC 913 (3), SSC 914 (3), SSC 915 (3) 9 Credits
Total = 48 Credits
© 2025 University of Ilorin