Fertile soil
Fertile soil or Soil fertility is
soil that can support abundant plant life, in particular the term is used to describe agricultural and garden soil.
Fertile soil typically arises from the use of
soil conservation practises, and fertile soil has the following properties:
*It is rich in nutrients necessary for basic plant nutrition including
nitrogen,
phosphorus and
potassium.
*It contains sufficient minerals (trace elements) for plant nutrition including
boron,
chlorine,
cobalt,
copper,
iron,
manganese,
magnesium,
molybdenum,
sulfur and
zinc.
*It contains organic matter, that improves
soil structure and water retention.
*
pH is in the range 5.5 to 6.2.
*Good structure, creating well drained soil.
*A range or microorganisms that support plant growth.
*It often contains large amounts of
topsoilSoil depletion occurs when the components which contribute to fertility are removed and not replaced, and the conditions which support soil fertility are not maintained. This leads to poor crops, which may in turn affect the health of the animals that consume those crops. In agriculture, depletion is often due to inadequate soil management. One of the most widespread occurrences of soil depletion as of 2006 is in tropical zones where nutreint content of soils is low, and where
slash-and-burn techniques deplete soil through rapid and almost total nutrient removal. Depletion may occur through a variety of other effects, including overtillage which damages soil structure, and overuse of inputs such as synthetic fertilizers and herbicides, which leaves residues and buildups that inhibit microorganisms.
*
Plaggen soil*
Shifting cultivation*
Soil contamination*
Terra preta*
Building Fertile Soil
