Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry sciences: Admission 2025, Eligibility, Fee, Colleges

A Ph.D in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry is a study for people who want to learn more and add to studies in the areas of crop productivity, soil health, environmental sustainability, and new ideas in agriculture. Students who are interested in soil fertility, nutrient management, land decline, sustainable farming, and agri-environmental science.

To get into a Ph.D. program in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, you need to have a Master's degree (M.Sc., M.Tech., or M.E., or an equivalent) from a recognised university in Soil Science/Agricultural Chemistry/Agronomy/Environmental Science/Chemistry, or a related field with at least 55% overall marks. Admission to this course is based on the national-level tests like ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF, CSIR-NET, UGC-NET, or university-specific research admissions exams.

The total cost of the Ph.D. study varies by school but is usually between INR 50,000 – INR 3,000,000 for the whole course. SGT University, University of Calcutta, Rabindranath Tagore University, Lovely Professional University, College of Agriculture Bhubaneswar, Kaveri University, University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore, and Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University are all well-known institutes offering the course.

Students who have earned a Ph.D in Agricultural Chemistry or Soil Science can work in universities, agrochemical companies, government agencies, environmental consulting businesses, and foreign development groups. Some of the famous job titles are soil scientist, study partner, agronomist, environmental advisor, fertiliser expert, land restoration manager, and junior professor. The average salary students can earn after earning the degree is between INR 7 LPA – 15 LPA.

Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry Sciences Highlights

Below are the key highlights of the Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry course in India:

What is a Ph.D in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry?

Students pursuing a Ph.D. in Soil Science or Agricultural Chemistry do original research and write a doctoral thesis on specific topics like soil carbon sequestration, fertiliser use efficiency, biochar applications, land degradation, salinity management or sustainable crop-soil interactions. While most of the research is done by students on their own, they also do advanced coursework, lab analysis, joint research projects and workshops with the help of experienced teachers.

They look into the biological, chemical, and physical features of soil, use modern instruments to test soil samples, figure out how farming methods affect the health of soil and make models of fertiliser cycles and poisoning processes.

Why Study Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry?

Ph.D in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry is a great choice for students who want to learn about soil fertility, nutrient management, organic matter dynamics, agrochemicals, biogeochemical cycles and sustainable land use practices through this course.

Here are some of the points on why one should pursue the course:

• As issues like climate-resilient agriculture, global food security, and land degradation become more important, there is a greater need for highly educated soil scientists and agricultural chemists in India and around the world.
• There are a lot of jobs for graduates in the fields of soil science, agrochemistry, land use, teaching, and politics. In addition to leading studies on climate-smart agriculture, carbon farming and soil restoration methods, they help make farming systems that last and encourage the use of fertilisers that work well.
• Students learn advanced techniques in nutrient models, geospatial mapping, analytical instruments, and working together with people from different fields. The school prepares them to make a useful contribution to global efforts to improve the health of soil, restore damaged lands, and make farming more sustainable at the local and global levels.

Who should study Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry?

A Ph.D. in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry is for people who are really interested in soil ecosystems, sustainable farming, and scientific ways to make food output and land use better.

• This program is great for graduates in agriculture, agronomy, soil science, environmental science, chemistry, microbiology or related fields who want to focus on areas like soil fertility, nutrient cycling, agrochemical interactions, land degradation, or organic farming. It will also help them in their careers.
• This PhD program is perfect for workers and researchers who want to teach at agricultural universities, technical colleges, or global research institutions as academic directors, subject matter experts, or faculty members. Because it focuses on both theory and practice, it is a good starting point for people who want to work as teachers or lead schools.
• People who want to be leaders in agri-tech companies, international development agencies, or government agricultural departments will learn the research and analysis skills they need to create sustainable farming systems that improve soil health and help with food security and climate-resilient farming.
• This school is also good for people who want to study, lead agronomic innovation, and improve knowledge around the world in areas like managing soil carbon, precise agriculture, biofertilizer development, or planning for sustainable land use.

Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry Eligibility Criteria

To enroll in a Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry in India, candidates have to meet some educational and admission requirements. Without fulfilling these criteria, it is not possible to enter the course. Mentioned below are the Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry eligibility criteria:

• Pass with 65% aggregate marks in M.Sc. Agriculture (Soil Science) or Agriculture Chemistry or Agriculture Physics or Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry or Agriculture Physics (Soil Physics and Soil and Water Conservation) or Soil Chemistry or Water Science and Technology, Subject to qualifying approval of the Research Proposal, Online Interview.

Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry Entrance Exams 2025

For pursuing a Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry in India, various national/state/university-level entrance examinations are required to be taken. Some of the top Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry entrance examinations in India are given below:

Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry Colleges in India

Various institutions in India are offering a Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry course. Some of the best colleges in India for Ph.D oil Science and Agriculture Chemistry have been mentioned below, along with their approximate course fee:

Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry Admission Process 2025

Admission to the PhD in Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry course is based on the valid entrance exam score; students need to have a valid entrance exam score in the entrance exams.

Given below is the step-by-step admission process for the LPU, Phagwara, for the PhD Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry course:

Step 1: Go to the official Lovely Professional University website and fill out the online application form with information about yourself, your colleges, and how to reach you. You can upload scanned copies of your signature, a passport-sized picture, and all of your important academic records. To finish registering, pay the application fee online.

Step 2: Take the Lovely Professional University Entrance Test or show a valid (UGC/CSIR) number if you have one. It checks how good you are at studying, how much you know about the subject and how analytical you are.

Step 3: People who do well on the written test will be asked to come in for a personal interview (PI). You might be asked to talk about your long-term goals, academic background and study plan during the interview.

Step 4: A honour list will be posted on the official website based on the entry test, PI and colleges record as a whole. Those who were shortlisted will be contacted again about the next steps.

Step 5: If you are chosen, you will get an offer of provisional admission. Accept the offer online and pay the fee to confirm your entry through the payment site by the due date.

Step 6: Go to the Lovely Professional University site in person to go through the paper proof process. Bring original things like grade reports, degree awards, photo IDs, entrance test scores and passport-sized photos to prove who you are.

Step 7: Follow the Lovely Professional University fee system and pay the rest of the college fees. As soon as the university confirms receipt of your payment and checks your papers, you will be officially accepted into the Ph.D. Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry program.

Required Documents:

• 10th and 12th mark sheets
• UG Certificates
• ID proofs
• Transfer certificate
• Character certificate
• Medical certificate
• Category Certificate (if applicable)

Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry Syllabus

The syllabus for Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry in India is more or less the same in the colleges offering the course. The syllabus may slightly differ depending on the curriculum followed by the institute.

For reference, the syllabus for one such specialisation in Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry at the College of Agriculture, Bhubaneswar is given below:

Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry Job Opportunities in India

Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry graduates can have job roles in multiple fields, including Soil Scientist / Soil Chemist, Assistant Professor / Lecturer, Agricultural Research Scientist, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Specialist, Climate-Soil Impact Analyst and others. Some of the common job roles for Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry graduates in India are given below:

Ph.D Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry FAQs