Dear Students,

The Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of Agricultural Engineering. It is a department that examines in detail topics such as soil, plant nutrition, how essential nutrients required for plant growth are taken up from the soil, and how these nutrients are utilized within plant metabolism. Agricultural production is divided into two main branches—plant and animal production—and in order to achieve healthy, high-quality production and obtain high-quality products in both branches, it is first and foremost necessary to have a thorough understanding of soil. Without a complete and detailed knowledge of the soil in which plant production takes place, it is not possible to achieve improvements in either the quality or quantity of yield. One of the most critical problems arising from the uncontrolled increase in population and the continuous decrease in agricultural land is the food security crisis. As a solution, the primary requirement for increasing yield per unit area is the detailed determination of soil fertility and productivity levels. In our department, undergraduate and graduate education provides comprehensive instruction on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil—the fundamental and natural input of agriculture—as well as its productivity potential.

Today, achieving the desired yield in fruit, vegetable, field crop cultivation, and in the production of forage crops that are vital for animal husbandry is only possible through a detailed determination of the characteristics of the soils in which these plants are grown and by identifying which types of crops the soil is suitable for cultivating. This is because determining the fertility and productivity capacities of soils—an indispensable natural resource with virtually no alternative and almost impossible to renew—is of great importance. Otherwise, both the quantity and quality of the products to be cultivated will fall short of expectations. As a result, humanity’s hunger problem will continue to increase day by day.

Graduates of the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition can find employment opportunities in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Agricultural Credit Cooperatives, all banks engaged in agricultural banking, the State Hydraulic Works, municipalities, public and private analysis laboratories, fertilizer factories, private farms, and greenhouses. They may also directly operate seed, fertilizer, and agrochemical dealerships. Furthermore, under Law No. 5403 on Soil Conservation and Land Use, the preparation of Soil Survey and Mapping as well as Soil Conservation and Land Use Projects is legally authorized exclusively to Agricultural Engineers who are graduates of the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.

The rehabilitation of problematic soils and their reintegration into agricultural production can only be achieved through the detailed analysis and identification of their properties. This process can be carried out solely by Agricultural Engineers specialized in Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. In addition, our department maintains continuous communication with its graduates to support their career planning.

Agricultural Engineers who graduate from the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition can work in positions that contribute to solving humanity’s problems of food shortage and famine. They may work in fields related to soil and plant health and serve as consultants in areas such as plant nutrition, soil fertility, plant diseases, soil and water pollution, combating climate change, and the creation of agricultural land productivity maps. Graduates can advise farmers on proper plant nutrition and efficient crop production by working in soil and plant health. These recommendations may include soil and plant analyses, fertilizer application methods, and soil water-holding capacity. Additionally, graduates of the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition may work in various agricultural research projects or as academic staff at universities. Such research may focus on plant nutrition technologies, soil fertility, environmental protection, plant metabolism, recycling of organic waste, and other related fields. Graduates may also work in the private sector in areas related to soil and plant health, such as companies producing fertilizers and plant protection products or as consultants for agricultural product companies. They may also work on waste management and organic fertilizer production, such as composting, in livestock farms. Graduates of the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition are a highly effective workforce in the agricultural sector, specializing in soil and plant health. As “green-collar” engineers, they can provide consultancy services to farmers on current topics such as plant nutrition and soil fertility, interpretation of soil analyses using artificial intelligence–supported programs, water management, soil management, fertilizer management, land-use planning, soil and water conservation, soil erosion, organic farming practices, soil ecology, soil classification, and waste management.

Prof. Dr. Korkmaz BELLİTÜRK
Head of Department