Soil fertility (2024)

FAQs

What is the fertility of the soil answer? ›

Soil fertility is the ability of soil to sustain plant growth and optimize crop yield. This can be enhanced through organic and inorganic fertilizers to the soil. Nuclear techniques provide data that enhances soil fertility and crop production while minimizing the environmental impact.

Soil fertility is defined as “the function of the soil to act as a mediator of nutrients, water and air for plants and edaphon (soil life)” (Ottow, 2011: 421).

Usually a fertile soil will also have some organic matter that improves soil structure, soil moisture retention, and also nutrient retention, and a pH between 6 and 7.

Alluvial soil is formed by deposition of alluvium and sediments carried by rivers and sea waves over many years, which make this soil very fertile. It consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay. It is also rich in organic nutrients.

The correct answer is The right mix of minerals and organic matter. The right mix of minerals and organic matter makes the soil fertile. Soil fertility is the ability of soil to sustain plant growth by providing essential plant nutrients.

Soil fertility refers to the ability of soil to sustain agricultural plant growth, i.e. to provide plant habitat and result in sustained and consistent yields of high quality. It also refers to the soil's ability to supply plant/crop nutrients in the right quantities and qualities over a sustained period of time.

(fɜːʳtaɪl , US -təl ) adjective. Land or soil that is fertile is able to support the growth of a large number of strong healthy plants.

Soil fertility is the ability of a soil to sustain plant growth by providing essential plant nutrients and favorable chemical, physical, and biological characteristics as a habitat for plant growth. Plant nutrients include the macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, sulfur, calcium and magnesium.

In addition to the use of animal manure to add organic matter, any composted plant material such as leaves, cotton burrs, hay, or straw will do. Composted materials can either be spread on, mixed with the soil, or used as a mulch around growing crops.

How to know if soil is fertile? ›

The acidity and alkalinity of soil is measured as pH. For the most fertile soil most crops prefer, the cation saturation is nearly balanced and the pH will fall into a range of 6.3 – 6.8. Outside this optimal pH range many nutrients start to become unavailable and soil biology is suppressed.

Water and Its Effects on Fertile Soil:

We understand that water is necessary for plants to grow in fertile soil, but water can also lower the fertility of soil through multiple methods. There is such a thing as having too much of a good thing.

Porous loamy soils are the richest of all, laced with organic matter which retains water and provides the nutrients needed by crops. Sand and clay soils tend to have less organic matter and have drainage problems: sand is very porous and clay is impermeable.

The basic method for measuring soil fertility consists of mixing a soil sample with water and chemically extracting the N, P, and K as nitrate, phosphate, and potassium. The N, P, and K amounts in the sample are determined by comparing the solution to a color chart.

Soil is the thin layer of material covering the earth's surface and is formed from the weathering of rocks. It is made up mainly of mineral particles, organic materials, air, water and living organisms—all of which interact slowly yet constantly.

A fertile soil has the following properties: The ability to supply essential plant nutrients and water in adequate amounts and proportions for plant growth and reproduction; and. The absence of toxic substances which may inhibit plant growth e.g. Fe²⁺ which leads to nutrient toxicity.

“Soil fertility refers to the ability of the soil to sustain plant growth.” Fertile soil results in high yield and better quality of plants. Fertile soil is rich in fundamental elements and minerals, has good aeration, water holding capacity, and good texture.

Fertilization is supplementing the existing soil with additional, needed nutrients. Fertilizing wisely increases yield, quality (nitrogen content and digestibility), and profits. There are three basic ways to replenish the nutrients removed from the soil. One way is to recycle nutrients, mainly by way of animal waste.

Sources of soil fertility are manure, fertilizers etc. Plants absorb water and minerals from the soil, which is essential for growth, flowering, crop yield and other vital activities. The soil itself is a storehouse for organic and inorganic plant nutrients.