BCS written syllabus

SYLLABUS FOR BCS (WRITTEN) EXAMINATION     
       
129/235 
 
SOIL, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE 
(POST RELATED) 
Subject Code: 621 
Total Marks-200 
 
Part-I 
Marks- 100 
Soil formation: Soil forming materials –rocks and minerals primary and secondary minerals; silicate and 
non minerals; clay minerals – their formation and importance weathering of rocks and minerals; soil profiles 
and pedons; formation of soil horizon s; master horizons and diagnostic horizons; factors of soil formation; 
important soil forming processes; major soil groups of the world. 
Physical properties of soil:  Soil as a three – phase disperse system; mass and volume relationship of soil 
constituents; soil texture; soil structure – classification, evaluation, management and importance; soil water 
– energy state of soil water, soil water potential; retention and movement of water in soil; concepts of 
available water; soil air and soil temperature. 
Irrigation and drainage:  Sources and quality of irrigation water; methods of irrigation; irrigation 
requirements of major crops of Bangladesh; irrigation projects in Bangladesh; drainage – types and benefits. 
Soil survey and soil classification:  Different types of soil survey; techniques of soil survey; agricultural 
and non agricultural uses of soil survey data; soil Taxonomy; properties and uses of soil orders. 
Land evaluation:  Concept of land evaluation; techniques and importance of land evaluation; land use 
planning. 
Soil of Bangladesh:  General condition of soil formation in Bangladesh; nature of soil forming factors; 
dominant soil forming processes; characteristics of major soil groups; agro ecological zones of Bangladesh. 
 
 
SOIL, WATER AND ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE 
Part-II 
Marks- 100 
 
Chemical properties of soil:  Chemical composition of inorganic components of soil; humus – its 
characteristics and importance; soil solution – composition and importance; ion exchange in soil – origin of 
ion exchange properties, ion exchange capacities of various soil constituents, importance; soil reaction – 
measurement of soil acidity, importance of soil pH; liming of acid soil; non – biological fixation of N, P, and 
K in soil.  
 
Biological properties of soil:  Macro microorganisms in soil – their morphology, structure and 
classification; factors affecting microbial growth in soil; nitrogen and sulphur transformation in soil; 
biological N2- fixation; bio-fertilizer.   
 
Soil fertility and plant nutrition: Concepts of soil fertility and soil productivity; essential nutrient elements 
– macro – and micronutrients; physiological function of N,P and K; fertilizers – sources, types and grades; 
fertilizer law; diagnosis of fertilizer needs in soil; methods of fertilizer application; residual effects of 
fertilizer; manures and compost; nutrient status and fertilizer needs of different AEZ of Bangladesh. 
 
Soil pollution:  Sources of pollutants in soil; effects of s oil pollution on ecosystem and food quality; 
permissible limits of heavy metals in soil, plants, sewage sludge, city wastes, irrigation water, industrial 
wastes and effluents; waste management. 
Soil degradation and conservation:  Types and processes of soil  degradation; assessment of soil 
degradation; soil quality – concept and assessment; soil conservation and reclamation – principles of soil 
conservation; agronomic and mechanical practices of soil conservation.