Department of Soil Science is in the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola and was separated from the department of crop production in 1992. By 1994, the first set of students graduated with the degree of B. Tech. Agric, Soil Science. The department also runs M. Tech. and Ph’D programmes in various fields of endeavour since the year 2000. Agricultural activities in the world revolve around soil and are a key natural resource whose care and management while in use plays a decisive role in the economy of any nation. Soils have many properties and attributes which are used in assessing their potential agricultural productivity. The soils of the tropics have their inherent peculiarities and in particular the soils of arid and semi arid region in which the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola is located. The soils are predominantly sandy in nature, kaolinitic, variably charged, poorly buffered and low organic matter content. These characteristics coupled with continuous cultivation and mismanagement compounds the problems of moisture availability and sustained crop productivity. Consequent upon this, the soils are prone to declining soil fertility, degradation and general low agricultural production. In order to holistically reduce these inherent soil problems, increase and sustain crop production in a healthy environment, the programme was set with the philosophy to give students a broad-based practical and functional training in various fields of Soil Science: Soil Chemistry, Soil Physics, Soil Fertility, Soil Microbiology, Pedology, Soil Conservation, Soil Survey and Land Evaluation and Fertilizer management and Plant Nutrition. This training is aimed at developing competent manpower especially in the field of soil science that will be required at national and local level for achieving national food security, poverty reduction, industrial and economic growth. The philosophy of the post graduate programme is to provide specialized post-graduate training in selected areas of Soil Science such as Soil chemistry,Soil microbiology, Soil Fertility and plant nutrition, Soil conservation and water management, Pedology and soil physics.

1. The main objectives of the under graduate studies is to produce high skill manpower in agriculture with special emphasis on soils and translate same to the lager society for sustainable soil productivity and increased crop production. 2. The post-graduate programme through taught courses and research on the other hand is to provide the nation and indeed the rest of the world experts in Soil Science with advanced skills in current agricultural technologies, soil resource management and agricultural land use planning.

Carrier Oppotunitiies

Postgraduate Programme

Candidates seeking admission in any of the programmes must meet the University’s general admission requirement and also the Departmental requirements. An applicant for (B. Agric) Crop or Soil Science option must have passed a.UME and PUME Entry Requirement b.WASCE/GCE O’ Level/NECO with five credits obtained in not more than two sittings in English Language, Chemistry, Biology/Agric Science, Mathematics or Physic and any other subject. At least a pass in Physics and credit pass in Agric Science must be backed up by a pass in Biology. Direct Entry (A).Admission into year one requires: (1)Matriculation requirement plus two (2) ‘A’ Level passes in Chemistry and Biology. (2)OND/ND/UD (UPPER CREDITS) In Related Discipline plus matriculation requirements. (B)Admission into year two (2) requires: (1)NCE in related discipline plus matriculation requirements (1)HND in related discipline plus matriculation requirements (C)Admission into year three (3) requires: (2)BS.c degree in any Science discipline plus matriculation requirements POST GRADUATE ADMISSIONS (A) POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA Candidates should possess either of the following: (1)2nd Class (Lower Division) Bachelor Degree in a non-Agricultural based discipline. (2)A Third Class Degree in Crop or Soil Science (3)HND/NND (Lower Credit) or equivalent qualification in relevant fields like Botany, Biology, Biochemistry etc. (B) MASTERS DEGREE (MSc., MPET, MPEMS) (1)2nd Class (Lower Division) Bachelor Degree in Agriculture (2)A PGD in Crop Science, Soil Science, Environmental Crop Science and Pedo-Environmental Science with at least a ‘B’ grade average pass. (C) DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PhD) Candidate must possess MSc ., M. Phil degree of this or any other University. N/B Matriculation requirements are 5 Credits passes in WASCE/GCE O’ Level/NECO as listed for UME students.

Duration

Minimum passing grade for all courses taken by a postgraduate student is a grade of ‘C’ with a GPA of 4.0 (“B” Average) per semester. To graduate, a student must obtain not less than 24 units of core courses with a “B” average in relevant graduate level courses offered in the Department. This is in addition to the research project for which at least a “B” grade must also be obtained.