What factors contribute to the fertility of soil?

Soil fertility refers to the ability of a soil to sustain agricultural plant growth, i.e. to provide plant habitat and result in sustained and consistent yields of high quality. The ability to supply essential plant nutrients and water in adequate amounts and proportions for plant growth and reproduction; and.

Soil fertility evaluation: Greenhouse and Field experiments. In these tests, which could be either greenhouse or field tests/experiments, the supply of nutrients for plant growth is quantified. Another way is the method of chemical analysis, whose aim is to quantify crop nutrient requirements by soil and plant analysis

Silty soil is considered to be one of the most fertile of soils. It can occur in nature as soil or as suspended sediment in water column of a water body on the surface of the earth. It is composed of minerals like Quartz and fine organic particles.

Soils lose fertility when the qualities that support plant growth and soil health are degraded: But they are also lost when soil erodes or when water leaches soluble nutrients through the soil.

Add Organic Matter

Add manures for nitrogen. All livestock manures can be valuable additions to soil — their nutrients are readily available to soil organisms and plants.

Try composting.

Tap chicken power to mix organic materials into the soil.

Plant cover crops.

There are majorly 12 factors influence Soil fertility

Infiltration of water.

Soil structure.

Active Soil life.

Content of organic matter.

Minerals present in the soil.

Acidity or Soil pH.

Water Retention capacity of soil.

Water draining ability of the soil.

SOIL FERTILITY. Crops need nutrients just like people do. A fertile soil will contain all the major nutrients for basic plant nutrition (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), as well as other nutrients needed in smaller quantities (e.g., calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum, nickel).

Soils form from the interplay of five main factors namely Parent material, Time, Climate, Relief and Organisms. Parent material: This refers to the mineral material, or organic material from which the soil is formed. This is probably the most important factor that can shape the formation of soils.

To improve sandy soil:

Work in 3 to 4 inches of organic matter such as well-rotted manure or finished compost.

Mulch around your plants with leaves, wood chips, bark, hay or straw. Mulch retains moisture and cools the soil.

Add at least 2 inches of organic matter each year.

Grow cover crops or green manures.

Soil is a vital part of the natural environment. It is just as important as plants, animals, rocks, landforms, lochs and rivers. It influences the distribution of plant species and provides a habitat for a wide range of organisms.

Explanation: Fertile means enriched with the nutrients for plants. The major nutrients are Nitrogen, Phosphorous Potassium and Calcium which are found in humus. So the soil having humus , minerals micro, organism and water is fertile.

Organic matter plays a key role in maintaining soil fertility. It holds nitrogen and sulfur in organic forms and other essential nutrients such as potassium and calcium. The loss of organic matter mainly occurs through continuous cropping with stubble removal or burning, and is accelerated by frequent tillage .

Structure is the amount of aggregation and pores in soil and texture is the proportion of clay and sand particles in soil. Both affect soil fertility by affecting water movement through soil, root penetration and water logging. Erosion is an important physical process that decreases soil fertility.

Soil conservation is the preventing of soil loss from erosion or reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination. Slash-and-burn and other unsustainable methods of subsistence farming are practiced in some lesser developed areas.

Fertile Soil Provides Plants with Additional Life-Supporting Nutrients. Plants not only absorb water, but also many other nutrients from the soil with their roots. Fertile soil provides plants with lots of additional “food” that supports plant life.

The measurement of the fertility of soils is usually done by chemical analysis for plant nutrients such as nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P) and trace elements, as well as physical measurements of soil structure.

Soil infertility is the result of a physical or chemical problem in the soil that inhibits or prevents the growth of plants. Soil with a poor physical structure can limit your plant’s access to oxygen and water, while chemical problems are the result of an imbalance in the naturally occurring elements in your soil.

Fertile soil has the following characteristics:

It is rich in nutrients necessary for basic plant nourishment.

It consists of adequate minerals such as boron, chlorine, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, sulphur and zinc.

It contains soil organic matter that improves the structure of the soil.

Loam soils are best for plant growth because sand, silt, and clay together provide desirable characteristics. First, the different-sized particles leave spaces in the soil for air and water to flow and roots to penetrate. The roots feed on the minerals in the suspended water.

Fertile soil has an abundance of plant nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, an abundance of minerals including zinc, manganese, boron, iron, sulfur, cobalt, copper, magnesium, molybdenum, and chlorine and an abundance of organic matter.