Table of Contents
The following factors affect the soil fertility: Mineral Composition. The mineral composition of the soil helps to predict the ability of the soil to retain plant nutrients. Soil pH. Soil Texture. Organic Matter. Adding Manures and Fertilizers. Leguminous Crops.
What are the factors affecting soil fertility and productivity?
Edaphic or Soil factors: Soil moisture, soil air, soil temperature, soil mineral matter, inorganic and organic components, microorganisms, soil reaction.
What are the two factors that determine soil fertility?
Soil fertility is influenced by the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. These are the two factors that determine soil fertility Adequate nitrogen and phosphorus content in the soil makes the soil more fertile. Organic materials also play an important role in increasing soil fertility.
What are 5 ways to increase soil fertility?
Soil fertility can be further improved by incorporating cover crops that add organic matter to the soil, which leads to improved soil structure and promotes a healthy, fertile soil; by using green manure or growing legumes to fix nitrogen from the air through the process of biological nitrogen fixation; by micro-dose.
What are the types of soil fertility?
Types of Soil Fertility: (i) Inherent or Natural Fertility: (ii) Acquired Fertility: (i) Natural Factors: (ii) Artificial Factors:.
How can we maintain soil fertility?
Here are some farming methods and activities that can help you achieve healthy soils. Mulching. READ MORE. Cover crops. Cover crops help feed with the decomposing leaves from the crops hence improving its fertility. Adding organic matter. Minimum tillage. Use fertilisers wisely. Soil testing.
What is soil fertility What are the sources of soil fertility?
Complete answer: Soil fertility is the criteria that judges if the soil is fit for the growth of plants or not. It is the measure of the ability of the soil which determines its growth ability. Soil fertility has many sources like manure, fertilizers, absorbing water, and minerals, etc.
How can we make poor soil fertile?
Add Organic Matter Try composting. Composting is a means of recycling almost any organic wastes. Tap chicken power to mix organic materials into the soil. “Mine” soil nutrients with deep rooted plants. Plant cover crops. Cover the soil with mulch. Use permanent beds and paths. Try low-tech tillage.
How can you make soil fertile?
You can increase the amount of organic matter in your soil by adding compost, aged animal manures, green manures (cover crops), mulches or peat moss. Because most soil life and plant roots are located in the top 6 inches of soil, concentrate on this upper layer.
What are the three ways of making soil fertile?
MANURING: use of manure and fertilizer will give the soil nutrient and make it productive. MULCHING: it makes soil fertile by covering the top surface of the soil and plant with palm fronds, leavers to prevent air or winds from blowing the soil particles away and thereby adding nutrient to the soil when it decay.
Which type of soil is more fertile?
Alluvial soil is the most fertile soil because it has loamy texture and is rich in humus. It has good water absorbing capacity and water retention capacity.
What are the 6 types of soil?
There are six main soil groups: clay, sandy, silty, peaty, chalky and loamy.The Six Types of Soil Clay Soil. Clay soil feels lumpy and is sticky when wet and rock hard when dry. Sandy Soil. Silty Soil. Peaty Soil. Chalky Soil. Loamy Soil.
What is fertile soil called?
Fertile soils teem with life. 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.
What is the best method to evaluate soil fertility?
Soil testing is an excellent method for estimating the fertility status of a soil, and it provides valuable information for developing a sound fertility management program. There are four critical steps to a soil test: sampling, analysis, interpretation and recommendation.
What are the natural methods of retaining soil fertility?
To maintain the fertility of the soil following natural methods are used: Field fallow: The land is left free or fallow for one or more seasons to naturally regain the nutrients. Mixed cropping: It is the practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of field.
Why do we study soil fertility?
A fertile soil also provides essential nutrients for plant growth, to produce healthy food with all the necessary nutrients needed for human health. Soil fertility is crucial for agricultural productivity and therefore for food security.
What soil property is most important for determining soil fertility?
Several soil properties are important in determining a soil’s inherent fertility. One property is the adsorption and storage of nutrients on the surfaces of soil particles. The quantity of nutrient cations a soil can adsorb is called its cation exchange capacity (CEC).
What is soil fertility and productivity?
Soil fertility is a complex quality of soils that is closest to plant nutrient management. Soil productivity is the ability of a soil to support crop production determined by the entire spectrum of its physical, chemical and biological attributes.
How do you fix bad soil?
The first step in repairing damaged soil is to begin adding nutrients and structure back into the ground. This will take you from “dirt” to real “soil”. Some of the best and easiest soil amendments are compost and aged manure (just don’t use cat or dog feces).
How can we enrich soil and maintain soil fertility?
MANURING: use of manure and fertilizer will give the soil nutrient and make it productive. MULCHING: it makes soil fertile by covering the top surface of the soil and plant with palm fronds, leavers to prevent air or winds from blowing the soil particles away and thereby adding nutrient to the soil when it decay.
How do I know if my soil is fertile?
Signs of healthy soil include plenty of underground animal and plant activity, such as earthworms and fungi. Soil that is rich in organic matter tends to be darker and crumbles off of the roots of plants you pull up. A healthy, spread-out root system is also a sign of good soil.
How do you know if soil is fertile?
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.
