Soil is an important natural resource of the world and a major component of the crop production system. The objectives of this course are: (1) to understand soil as a natural resource and its interactions with the environment; (2) to understand the basic characteristics and properties of soils; (3) to understand the principles of soil formation, degradation and restoration; (4) to understand the concept of nutrient cycling and the interactions between soil and plant; and (5) to become familiar with soil fertility and the management of fertiliser application.