Master of Science in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry

Introduction

India is an agriculture-oriented country as over 1/3^rd population of India is engaged in agriculture. So agriculture is widely spread in India which means students having an interest in it or a relevant field like soil, they have plenty of educational opportunities. One of which is the Master of Science in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry also known as M.sc in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry. It is a 2-year long postgraduate course in the field of soil exploration and agriculture. It aims at preparing the students for soil and agriculture-related aspects like advancement, exploration, management and so on. The curriculum aims at providing knowledge regarding soil and agriculture at an advanced level. The course consists of 4 semesters covering topics like soil science like Soil Physics, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Management of Problematic Soils and Water, Theses Work for Research, etc.

The fee charged by both private and government institutes in India for offering this course varies depending upon the service they provide. However, the average fee ranges between ₹5,000 - ₹1,00,000. The graduates of this course get a chance to choose from two options which are pursuing further studies or obtain a job. They can be employed in various fields like environmental or resource management, agricultural industries, regional council, soil conservation, crop consultancies and so on. Posts available for such graduates in such areas are Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry graduates are Crop Consultant, Wetland Specialist, County Conservationist, Watershed Technician and relevant posts. They can expect an annual average salary ranging between ₹3,00,000 - ₹7,00,000 depending upon job profile and skills they possess.

Eligibility   

Candidates willing to the course of M.Sc in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry from an institute have to prove their eligibility for the course by fulfilling a list of requirements. Most institutes follow the standard requirement criteria while some institutes make changes in the standard list or create a new list altogether. The requirements may include an appropriate degree, minimum marks in the degree, etc. Given below are the standard requirements criteria accepted in most institutes.

• Candidates must have completed their bachelor's degree in either one of the relevant subjects like Agriculture, Forestry, Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry. 
• Candidates should secure a minimum score of 50% in aggregate at the level of graduation. Some institutes give relaxation to the SC/ST/OBC candidates which mean they have to secure 45% in aggregate. The scores may vary from college to college. 

Syllabus

M.Sc in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry is a 2-year long course. Examinations held in this course are on the semester-based system which means the course consists 4 semesters. The program's main objective is to provide knowledge about sustainable and manageable agricultural production strategies, agricultural advancements and so on. The curriculum covers various necessary topics for agricultural and soil science like Soil Physics, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Management of Problematic Soils and Water, Theses Work for Research and such topics. The curriculum of this course is showcased in the table below.

Institutes

Many institutes in India offer the course of M.Sc in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry. These institutes are administered by either private or government organisations. The primary difference both the types of institutes are the fees charged for the course and service they provide. Private institutes charge a high cost for offering this course and provide excellent services while government institutes charge a minimal fee and offer service accordingly. The average fee charged by institutes in India for offering this course ranges between ₹5,000 - ₹1,00,000. Some of the famous institutes in India offering this course are specified in the table below along with few details of them.

Future Prospects

M.Sc in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry brings a lot of job opportunities for students having this degree. They can choose a job position of their choice as there are plenty of jobs available in various fields like environmental or resource management, agricultural industries, regional council, soil conservation, crop consultancies and so on. Posts available for M.Sc in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry graduates are Crop Consultant, Wetland Specialist, County Conservationist, Watershed Technician and relevant posts. They can expect an annual average salary ranging between ₹3,00,000 - ₹7,00,000 depending upon various factors such as job profile, skills they possess and so on.