Soil & Water Conservation Engineering Syllabus & Subjects 2023: Semester-wise List, Top Colleges Syllabus PDF

Updated on Jan 19, 2023 07:37 IST
Pragati Singh

Pragati SinghSenior Executive - Content

Soil and Water Conservation Engineering is a popular course offered as a stand-alone four-year B.Tech program or as a specialisation in four-year B.Tech in Agricultural Engineering program. This course offers exposure to the various methods of conservation of soil and water resources. Currently, Indian agriculture struggles with the issues of soil erosion, irregular rainfall, poor agricultural practices, lack of irrigation which impedes the agricultural growth of our country.

Soil and Water Conservation engineers are prepared to address these challenges through scientific interventions for conserving the soil and water resources in order to promote sustainable agriculture. They implement methods such as Terrace Farming, Contours, Bunds, Drop Spillways, Earthen Dams, Stream Bank Protection and other Agronomical measures to control water erosion in difficult terrains. They also study the soil quality and devise measures to prevent soil erosion through land surveys and levelling and grading of land. They analyse the climatic conditions affecting soil and water quality of a particular area and suggest measures for water harvesting and improving water quality.

Candidates who have completed this course can become lecturers, academicians and researchers in the field of sustainable agricultural practices. They can also work with research institutes such as Indian Institute of Water Management, Water Resources Department and Municipalities for short-term or long-term rehabilitation projects. Top agricultural institutes such as Indian Agricultural Research Institute, College of Agricultural Engineering, OUAT offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Soil and Water Conservation engineering.

Soil and Water Conservation Engineering- Important Facts

  • Course Duration- The duration of undergraduate course in Agricultural Engineering or Soil and Water Conservation Engineering is of four-years whereas postgraduate course is of two-years.
  • Eligibility Criteria- Candidates aspiring to pursue B.Tech must have cleared Class 12thwith passing percentage and from a recognised board. In addition to it, they must have also cleared any state or national-level entrance exams. For pursuing M.Tech, candidates must have cleared GATE and also pursued B.Tech in Agricultural Engineering/Soil and Water Conservation Engineering from a recognised university.
  • Course Fees- The cost of pursuing B.Tech in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering vary from INR 2 lakh to INR 5 lakhs per annum, whereas for pursuing M.Tech, it varies from INR 50,000 to INR 2.5 lakhs per annum.
  • Scope in India- Soil and Water Conservation Engineering offers a range of career prospects in the field of academics, policy making and rehabilitation work. Professionals can work as Irrigation Consultant, Agriculture Officer, Purchase Manager, Researcher and Professor.

Soil and Water Conservation Engineering Syllabus

Soil and Water Conservation Engineering is offered as a specialisation in B.Tech in Agricultural Engineering as well as in M.Tech in Agricultural Engineering. B.Tech course consists of core subjects, electives and other minor subjects which are skill development courses. Candidates need to complete the minimum number of credits in order to complete the undergraduate course. In addition to the credit courses, they have to also submit a dissertation and participate in a seminar for successfully completing the course. 

Similarly, in M.Tech, apart from finishing the credit courses, candidates must undergo industrial training and study specialised courses on areas such as Hydrology, Irrigation Systems, GIS ad Remote Sensing, Irrigation Water Management etc.

Core Subjects

The core subjects offered in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Construction Engineering are as follows:

UG Program

Subject

Details

Engineering Drawing

This is an introductory course for all engineering streams wherein students learn the skills to draw effective engineering designs.

Soil Mechanics

This course is a branch of soil physics wherein students study the soil behaviour, its porosity, tensile strength and phases of soil formation.

Engineering Mechanics

It deals with the application of mechanics in the soil and water conservation engineering.

Soil and Water Conservation structures

Students learn about the functioning and creation of soil and water conservation structures across various geographical regions.

Irrigation Engineering

This subject deals with the organisation, maintenance and designing of irrigation structures in water-deficit areas.  

Strength of materials

This subject deals with the mechanics of materials used in soil and water conservation structures, their ability to handle stresses and strains.

Surveying and Levelling

It is a practical subject which prepares candidates to make effective surveys which are precise and accurate with the help of levelling.

 PG Program

Subject

                                                         Details

Applied Hydrology

It deals with the principles of hydrological cycle, precipitation and estimation and control of flood situations.

Soil –Water Plant relationship

This subject deals with concepts such as soil water retention, soil water measurement and water exchange inside the soil. It also deals with solutions for water deficiency in soil.

Drainage of Agricultural Land

The candidates learn about drainage problems and construction and maintenance of effective drainage systems.

Watershed Development and Management

It deals with the characteristics of an effective watershed and its management and conservation practices.

Design of Soil and Water Conservation Structures

It introduces the learners to the methods of designing structures for soil and water conservation such as Bunds, Contours, Dams, Terrace etc.

Fluid Mechanics & Open Channel Hydraulics

It introduces the learners to the concept of fluid flow and instability in uniform flow and how it can be used to understand the water flow in soil.

Advanced Soil &Water Conservation Engineering

It introduces the basic principles of soil erosion and practices to control soil erosion. It also prepares professionals to select the right water and soil conservation strategy.

Elective Subjects

UG Program

Subject

Details

Micro irrigation system design

It introduces the learners to the various structures and designs of micro irrigation systems in dry and arid areas for water conservation.

Remote sensing and GIS Applications

It deals with the application of Remote Sensing in assessing the degradation of water and soil resources and monitoring rehabilitation process through data.

C Programming

Candidates are introduced to C Programming and the application of algorithms and flow charts in making designs.

PG Program

Subject

Details

Hydrological Modelling

It introduces to the principles of modelling hydrological cycle and studying water distribution patterns across a geographical area.

Watershed Hydrology

Candidates learn about the various components and methods of hydrological cycle and watershed modelling.

Flow Through Porous Media

It deals with the principles related to water movement and movement of soil water in mountainous areas.

Land Reclamation

It deals with the reasons for land degradation and the methods for re-claiming land and maintaining salt levels in soil.

Soil Salinity and Water Quality

It deals with the importance of soil salinity and the methods to manage salinity in order to control leaching and protect crops.

Air Photo Interpretation & Remote Sensing

It introduces the learners to the methods of aerial photography and its application in agricultural and water resource management.

Popular Books and Authors for Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

Book

Author

Details

Applied hydrology

Dr. Ven Te Chow

The author explains the principles of hydrological cycle such as hydrological processes and modelling and hydrology of large rivers and lake basins.

Irrigation Engineering

R.N.Reddy

The book acts a manual for agricultural engineers and conservationists on the techniques of irrigation and challenges posed to irrigation systems.

Strength of Materials

S.S. Bhavikatti

It deals with the concepts of strength and stresses of various materials and how to choose the right material for constructing irrigation structures.

Soil Salinity and Water Quality

R. Chhabra

It covers various topics such as soil salinity, areas affected by soil salinity and its management and saline water treatment.

Watershed Hydrology

R. Suresh

It introduces the learners to the concept of watershed, management and rehabilitation and principles of hydrology.

Surveying and Levelling

K.N. Basak

It teaches the readers on the methods of levelling and determining heights as well as making accurate surveys of any geographical area.

Entrance Exams for Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

Candidates who wish to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate course in Construction Engineering must appear in state-level or national-level entrance examinations. Some of the top entrance exams are as follows:

  • OUAT CET- Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology conducts entrance examination for admissions to undergraduate courses in Agricultural Engineering and Soil and Water Conservation Engineering courses.
  • CCMT- This is the counselling conducted on behalf of various NITs, IIITs and other Agricultural Institutes for admissions to M.Tech courses in Agricultural or Soil and Water Conservation Engineering. It is a centralised counselling for postgraduate courses which accepts the scores secured in GATE.
  • AP PGECET- Andhra Pradesh Postgraduate Engineering Common Entrance Test is a state-level entrance exams conducted for admissions to postgraduate courses in the engineering colleges in Andhra Pradesh. It is a computer-based test and it will take place in the month of June, 2023.
  • GATE- GATE is conducted for admissions to postgraduate courses in top IITs and IISc. Candidates scoring good ranks can get admission in M.Tech or M.Tech-Ph.D courses in various disciplines.
  • ICAR AIEEA- All India Entrance Examination for Admission to ICAR is a national-level entrance exam which is conducted for admissions to various undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses offered by ICAR.

Top Colleges for Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

Some of the top colleges offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Construction Engineering are as follows:

College

Syllabus 

Anna University

Download Here

Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati

To be uploaded soon

National Institute of Technology,  Jamshedpur

Download Here

MANIT

To be uploaded soon

National Institute of Technology, Warangal

Download Here

Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore

Download Here

Delhi Technological University

Download Here

VNIT, Nagpur

Download Here

Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

Download Here

Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

Download Here

Also Read: Top Colleges for Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

Q. Why is Soil and Water Conservation Engineering popular course?

A. Soil and Water Conservation is a popular course due to the multiple problems faced by Indian Agriculture such as soil erosion, land degradation, lack of irrigation, soil salinity etc. Professionals who have completed this course are trained in addressing these problems and finding the right solutions for sustainable agriculture. Therefore, this is a very popular course in the Agriculture and Engineering domain.

Q. What is the eligibility for pursuing Soil and Water Conservation Engineering?

A. For pursuing B.Tech in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, candidates must have completed Class 12 th from recognised board and also cleared a national-level or state-level entrance exam to secure admission in popular colleges. Similarly, for postgraduate admissions, candidates must have completed B.Tech in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering or Agricultural Engineering from a recognised university.

Q. What are the popular colleges offering Soil and Water Conservation Engineering?

A. Candidates select colleges on the basis of the placement support, fees structure and overall effectiveness of course curriculum. Some of the top colleges offering Soil and Water Conservation Engineering course are:
  • College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology
  • Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth College of Agriculture
  • Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College
  • Allahabad Agricultural Institute
  • Anna University, Centre of Biotechnology
  • IIT Kharagpur
  • Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore

Q. What are the specialisations offered in Agricultural Engineering?

A. Agricultural Engineering is a demanding course which produces consultants and researchers who are trained in addressing the issues faced by farmers and other stakeholders such as soil erosion, watershed management, drying up of wells and rivers etc. Therefore, candidates are offered specialisations in Watershed Management, Water and Soil Conservation, Applied Hydrology, Environmental Engineering etc.

Q. What are the common entrance exams for Soil and Water Conservation Engineering?

A. Some of the popular entrance exams for Soil and Water Conservation Engineering are conducted for admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate courses are as follows:
  • OJEE
  • ICAR AIEEA
  • GATE
  • OUAT CET
  • AP PGECET
  • AP EAMCET

Q. What is the course curriculum for Soil and Water Conservation Engineering?

A. The course curriculum for Soil and Water Conservation Engineering is very challenging in terms of the various credit courses which a candidate needs to complete. It includes core subjects, minor subjects and other electives which prepares the students to address to the various issues of Soil and Water Conservation. Apart from the theory classes, candidates have to mandatorily complete practical lessons as well as submit a dissertation for the successful completion of the course.

Q. What is the fee structure for Soil and Water Conservation Engineering?

A. The cost of pursuing B.Tech in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering vary from INR 50,000 lakh to INR 4 lakhs per annum, whereas for pursuing M.Tech, it varies from INR 50,000 to INR 3 lakhs per annum.

Q. What is the application of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering course?

A. Candidates after pursuing Soil and Water Conservation Engineering can work as Agricultural Consultants, Research Scientists, Academicians, Field Engineers, Irrigation Engineers, Agriculture Officers. They are recruited by top agricultural research institutes and other fertilisers and irrigation companies which address the issues related to soil and water conservation.

Q. Is distance programme in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering course valid?

A. As per the requirements of AICTE and UGC, engineering courses are not offered through distance mode as it is a technical subject which requires laboratory activities and practical training as a part of the curriculum.

Q. What are the various elective subjects offered under Soil and Water Conservation Engineering?

A. The various electives subjects offered under the Soil and Water Conservation Engineering are as follows:
  • Micro irrigation system design
  • Applied Hydrology
  • GIS and Remote Sensing
  • Soil Salinity and Water Quality
  • Land Reclamation

Q. What are the core subjects offered under Soil and Water Conservation Engineering?

A. The popular core subjects offered under the Soil and Water Conservation Engineering are as follows:
  • Engineering Mechanics
  • Engineering Drawing
  • Watershed Development and Management
  • Soil Mechanics

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Soil & Water Conservation Engineering. Students interested in pursuing a career on Soil & Water Conservation Engineering, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

22 Jan ' 25 - 24 Jan ' 25

JEE Main 2025 Exam Date Session 1 - Paper 1

28 Jan ' 25 - 29 Jan ' 25

JEE Main 2025 Exam Date Session 1 - Paper 1

7 Jan ' 25

GATE 2025 Admit Card

1 Feb ' 25

GATE 2025 Exam (CS1 | AG | MA | CS2 | NM | MT | T...

30 Dec ' 24 - 15 Feb ' 25

MHT CET 2025 Application Form

16 Feb ' 25 - 22 Feb ' 25

MHT CET 2025 Application Form with late fee

Popular Soil & Water Conservation Engineering Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Soil & Water Conservation Engineering Colleges in India. Learn more about these Soil & Water Conservation Engineering colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1 Course
3 L
14 LPA

#1 India Today

2 Courses
20 K

#4 India Today

2 Courses
9.6 K - 14.4 K
9.02 LPA

#14 The Week

24 K
15 LPA

Top 25 in India

4 Courses
20 K - 70.5 K
12 LPA

#5 India Today

2 Courses
1.4 L - 3.21 L
11 LPA

#10 The Week

Popular Private Soil & Water Conservation Engineering Colleges in India

1 Course
1.18 L
2.8 L
1 Course
3 L
14 LPA

#1 India Today

2 Courses
20 K

#4 India Today

2 Courses
9.6 K - 14.4 K
9.02 LPA

#14 The Week

24 K
15 LPA

Top 25 in India

Most Popular Courses

Following are the most popular Soil & Water Conservation Engineering courses, based on alumni reviews. Explore these reviews to choose the best course in Soil & Water Conservation Engineering.

Popular Soil & Water Conservation Engineering UG Courses

Following are the most popular Soil & Water Conservation Engineering UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Soil & Water Conservation Engineering PG Courses

Following are the most popular Soil & Water Conservation Engineering PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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