Soil Fertility

1. Soil Fertility
Soil Fertility

2. •Soil fertility is critical for the development of plants and
influences their yield.
•Fertile fields are a great asset to farmers.
•But improper agricultural management can lead to land
depletion.
•It is critical to remember the importance of fertilizers and
environmentally friendly cultivation methods in increasing
field fertility.
•High yields can be obtained from poor fields with appropriate
soil fertility management practices.
•Hence, growers who understand how to preserve soil fertility
can maximize farmland productivity and maintain it over
time.

3. What Is Soil Fertility And Why Does It Matter?
• Soil fertility refers to a soil’s potential to create favorable chemical, physical,
and biological conditions and provide all the essential nutrients to support
plant growth.
• It is necessary to understand that mineral nutrients are not food for plants
(because plants produce food on their own through photosynthesis), but
rather a supplement that provides more energy for plants’ development.
• Nutrients can speed up plant growth, strengthen their immune systems
against pests and diseases, and increase fertility.
• Fertile soil is perfect for growing crops because it retains an average or high
level of valuable micro- and macroelements, ensuring plant strength and
health throughout the development cycle.
• The importance of fertile soil cannot be overstated. Therefore, fertility is
one of the first considerations for agricultural producers when planning
fieldwork.

5. •Inherent or Natural Fertility- The soil in nature contains
nutrients referred to as “inherent fertility.” Plants require
nitrate, phosphorus, and potassium nutrients for typical
crop growth and production. The percentages of nitrogen
in Indian soil are between 0.3 and 0.2, phosphorus is
0.03 and 0.3, and potassium is 0.4 and 0.5. Therefore,
natural fertility has a limiting factor that prevents Fertility
from falling.
•Acquired Fertility- This refers to the fertility produced by
using manures and fertilizers, tillage, irrigation, and
other methods. In acquired fertility, there is also a limiting
factor. The experiment’s findings demonstrate that
increasing the amount of fertilizer used has no
appreciable impact on yield. Therefore, it is necessary to
use fertilizer in accordance with the nutritional

6. What Makes Soil Fertile
•Factors that affect soil fertility are classified as
direct and indirect.
•The amount of organic matter, moisture, and field
aeration are direct factors.
•The indirect ones include soil biota activity, tillage
methods, and many others. Let us take a look at
the most important soil fertility factors.

7. Humus Content
•Land fertility is proportional to the amount of humus present.
Humus contains nutrients, particularly nitrogen and
phosphorus, necessary for most plants. Humus increases soil
fertility, creating an ideal microclimate for crop development
with a favorable temperature, adequate moisture, and air.
Humus content is closely related to types of soil.
•What type of soil is most fertile?
•Loam is considered the most fertile soil type, as it is
composed of an optimal proportion of clay, sand, and silt,
combining their best chemical and physical properties.

8. Soil Texture
•Particle sizes and their ratios in the ground determine its
texture. Soils with small particles, namely clay, have a dense
structure that acts as a nutrient container. At the same time,
such a structure can make it difficult for plant roots to access
nutrients dissolved in water.

9. Mineral Composition
•The ground’s mineral composition can be used to assess the
ground’s ability to store nutrients; it contributes to the
stabilization of organic substances in the ground and
influences the distribution of microbiota. Chemical and
organic fertilizers can alter the mineral composition,
increasing soil fertility.
Soil pH
•Why is pH such an important aspect of soil fertility? The pH of
soil indicates its alkalinity or acidity, which influences the
availability of nutrients to plants. The majority of crops prefer
a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5
•Such limits are referred to as the acidity of fertile soil.

10. Moisture Content
•Because plants take nutrients directly from water rather than
the solid phase of the soil, fertility is heavily dependent on
the amount of moisture in the ground. As a result, growers
should select lands that provide sufficient hydration to plants.
Aeration
•Aeration is an essential factor in ensuring field fertility. Plant
roots require oxygen to thrive. Furthermore, oxygen
promotes the vital activity of beneficial microorganisms in the
ground, such as aerobic denitrifying and nitrogen-fixing
bacteria.

11. Soil Temperature
• The temperature of the ground influences the activity of beneficial bacteria,
nutrient solubility, and plant uptake. Temperatures ranging from 18 to 24°C
(65 to 75°F) are ideal for most plants. All processes slow down at low soil
temperature, while high temperatures cause pathogens and pests to
reproduce quickly and plants to dry out.
Soil Biota
• The biota of soil is exceptionally diverse, containing viruses, bacteria, fungi,
and lichens. Microbes can be either plant pathogens or plant growth
promoters. So how do microbes contribute to soil fertility? Microorganisms
increase land fertility, especially by helping plants to assimilate mineral
compounds and participating in the decomposition and decay of organic
substances.
Which layer of soil is most fertile?
• Because of its high organic matter and microorganism content, topsoil is the
most fertile layer.

12. How To Measure Soil Fertility
• For evaluating the overall quality of the land and its productivity, in
particular, it is necessary to conduct soil testing.
• As a result, the farmer will receive data on the composition, type,
mineral content (e.g., nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus), pH level, and
other soil fertility indicators. Testing laboratories can also provide an
interpretation of these values and general recommendations for
adding nutrients to the soil.

13. Why are soil fertility tests important for farmers?
•First and foremost, soil fertility analysis reveals
deficiencies and missing elements, allowing
agricultural producers to understand what needs to
be done to boost yields.
•Notably, the balance of microelements varies
depending on the type of soil. Furthermore, each
culture has unique trace element requirements.
Matching a field’s micronutrient content to crop
needs helps determine how fertile the land is for a
specific crop.

14. Causes And Consequences Of Decreased Soil
Fertility
•Declining soil fertility occurs when the amount of nutrients
removed from the ground exceeds the amount added. Plants
will then extract nutrients from ground reserves. Reserves are
depleted until no more resources are available for plant
development.
•The following are the primary causes of loss of soil fertility:
•the use of fertilizers without regard for field conditions;
•unsuitable cropping system;
•continuous cultivation of crops;
•intensive tillage;
•monoculture cultivation;

15. •complete clearing of crop residues;
•soil erosion and land degradation;
•unfavorable climate and extreme weather
conditions.
•Loss of soil fertility has a significant negative
impact not only on agricultural production but
also on the surrounding ecosystems. Land
depletion causes desertification, biodiversity loss,
pollution of water bodies, and potentially
dangerous changes in waterways.

17. 1. Summer ploughing
• Usually done in the summer when the field is empty, ploughing the farms across
the slope has many advantages for the soil since it allows for aeration, reduces
erosion, and increases the soil’s ability to retain water. Additionally, it destroys
the eggs, larvae, and pupae of pests and the fungus growing on the field.
2. Regular Soil Testing
• Regular soil testing can educate you on the nutrients lacking in your soil and the
crops that will grow best there. In addition, knowing the actual state of your soil
will enable you to provide it with the nutrients it needs to keep the balance of
nutrients.
3. Use organic fertilizers and pesticides
• By replacing inorganic matter with organic matter, you can avoid the negative
impacts of artificial pesticides and fertilizers that slowly contaminate and
deteriorate your soil.
4. Growing cover crops along with crops
• You can maintain the soil’s quality, water, and fertility by growing cover crops

18. 5. Crop Rotation
• Crop rotation on the same field can promote soil self-sufficiency by
preventing the depletion of one set of nutrients and controlling weeds
and pests. The crop set is specially created according to season and
soil needs, reducing its reliance on external fertilizers, the chance of
developing resistant weeds, and improving the soil texture.
6. Intercropping
• Growing different crops side by side to support one another and
increase output is known as intercropping. You have to select crops
carefully to complement one another depending on their size, roots,
nutritional needs, and potential pest attacks. You can use it to
improve your soil’s yield and organic matter.
7. Proper use of tillage
• Improper tillage can reduce yield and degrade the soil. However,
when used correctly, it can help reduce erosion, eliminate pests and
weeds, and boost your soil’s water-holding capacity. So be cautious
while using tillage in your field.

19. How To Improve Soil Fertility
• Even fertile land depletes over time, so fertility must not only be
preserved but also improved.
• Crop rotation, fertilization, mixed planting, sowing green manure,
mulching, and fallowing help to increase field fertility.
• The impact of living organisms on farmland fertility is also hard to
overestimate: earthworms, beneficial fungi, bacteria, and
protozoan unicellular organisms are extremely helpful to the soil.
• They improve its structure and water-holding capacity by
processing organic residues or parasitizing microorganisms.
• Natural pest enemies, such as birds that eat insect larvae or
weed seeds, also indirectly increase soil fertility.

21. 1. Crop Rotation
• Repeated cultivation of the same crops in the same field, season
after season, reduces field fertility by removing the same chemical
elements from the ground. Crop rotation is a viable solution to this
problem, as it not only slows land depletion but also aids in
improving soil fertility. Because each plant has different
microbiological preferences, crop rotation promotes microflora
diversity. Crops that improve soil fertility include hay plants and
legumes.
How do legumes improve land fertility?
• The association between legumes, such as soybeans and alfalfa, and
nitrogen-fixing bacteria Rhizobium adds nitrogen to the farmland.
The nitrogen-fixing properties of legumes are determined by plant
size and age; the older and larger the crop, the greater the
enrichment.

22. 2. No-Till Farming
• The rejection of tillage allows for the strengthening of soil
structure and the slowing of erosive processes.
• At the same time, the amount of organic matter in the ground
increases, carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere
decrease, and the life of beneficial microorganisms and
worms is preserved.
• Furthermore, farm workers can devote time previously spent
on tillage to other, more useful activities.
• Thus, no-till farming benefits everyone: it improves soil
fertility, saves farmers time and resources, and positively
impacts the environment.

23. 3. Fertilization
• Legumes naturally compensate for the plant’s lack of nitrogen,
but this is not always sufficient. Besides, the fertility of the field
depends on the presence of other vital nutrients. Therefore,
fertilizers are required.
What Minerals Make Soil Rich And Fertile?
• Mineral content is one of the vital characteristics of fertile soil.
• Plants require six essential elements to grow.
• There are three critical minerals and three additional ones, each
with its own unique role.
• In addition to the minerals listed, plants also need trace amounts
of the following eight micronutrients: iron (Fe), copper (Cu),
manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), boron (B), zinc (Zn), nickel
(Ni), chlorine (Cl).

26. How Does Fertilization Enhance Soil Fertility?
• A bountiful harvest is directly proportional to the availability of micro and macro
elements required by plants. Fertilization of fields is thus one of the farmers’
primary and ongoing tasks.
• Fertilizers are classified into two types:
• Organic fertilizers are safe and environmentally friendly because they are
obtained from natural (organic) substances, such as manure and compost.
Organic fertilizers assist in restoring soil fertility in the long run. Their
disadvantage is that they do not dissolve in water, minerals are slowly released
from them, and the participation of microorganisms is required to acquire a form
that can be assimilated by plants.
• Synthetic (chemical) fertilizers are a product of the chemical industry. They
dissolve quickly in water and are rapidly absorbed, providing an immediate effect.
Excessive use of these fertilizers, however, can harm crops, field health, and the
environment by infiltrating and contaminating water bodies.

27. For high-quality fertilization, farmers must carefully choose not
only the type and quantity but also the timing. Different
fertilizers serve different purposes and must be used at various
stages of fieldwork. Organic fertilizers work best in the fall
because they have more time to rot and release nutrients.
Synthetic fertilizers are especially suited to achieve faster crop
development in the spring and throughout the season.

28. 4. Green Manure Seeding
• Green manures cover the field with vegetation, preventing
erosion and retaining moisture.
• However, the advantages of green manure go beyond this.
• They are high in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, starch, and
protein.
• Green fertilizers include buckwheat, radish, mustard, barley,
wheat, rye, and legumes.

29. • A green manure crop’s main job is to prepare the soil for succeeding
plantings.
• Green manures function by absorbing soil nutrients and storing them
within their bodies.
• These crops are not harvested and removed from the land because
this would deplete the soil’s nutrients, but you can plant them into
the soil while still green.
• When plants return to the soil, they gradually decay and deliver
these nutrients to the following crop.
• Several soil species and microorganisms use green manure as a
food supply constantly.
• For the health of the soil, soil fauna is widespread.
• Their movement and activity contribute to forming a good soil
structure, and their feeding on organic matter allows for its
distribution in soils.
• Green manuring is a technique that may use on big and small
agricultural fields.

30. 5. Earthworms
•The presence of nutrients in the ground does not
imply that its physical conditions are plant-friendly.
•Because ground compaction makes it difficult to
deliver necessary chemical elements to crop roots,
fertility is also determined by the number of
earthworms.
How do earthworms improve soil fertility?
•The role of earthworms in soil fertility is enormous:
they loosen the ground, digest organic residues,
increase oxygen supply, and produce humus.

31. 7. Organic matter
• The best method for increasing soil fertility is by adding various
organic materials.
• To start, manure must be added to provide nitrogen, a crucial
element of fertile soil.
• Farm animal manure, such as that from pigs and cows, is an
excellent option in this situation. However, dung from healthy,
free-range animals is better to manure from factory-farmed
creatures.
• Manure from unhealthy animals contains more pathogens that
can infect your crops.
• Thus, you must wait at least 3 months before spreading the
animal waste on the garden bed or harvesting your crops, even
if it is in good condition. By doing this, contamination can be

32. 8. Biochar
• Biochar improves soil fertility by acting as a direct nutrient source or changing
the soil’s physicochemical properties.
• The nutritional value of biochar is determined by the feedstock used.
• To guarantee low volatilization of vital nutrients, optimal pyrolysis conditions
must be used.
• Furthermore, most of the nutrients in biochar have to be in bio-available forms.
• When applied to soil, biochar provides an effective slow-release nitrogen source.
However, it does not make sustained assistance to soil fertility.
• When biochar is applied to acidic soils, the pH of the soil rises, increasing
agricultural production.
• Additionally, biochar can increase soil CEC and serve as a stable carbon source
in the soil, protecting numerous micro- and macronutrients.
• Biochar particle macropores control soil aeration, water infiltration, and water
holding capacity (WHC).
• In addition, the overall soil enzyme, which originates from MO, plants, and
animals, is also improved by biochar treatment.

33. 9. Mulching
• Mulch is a substance spread over the soil’s surface which you can use for
several reasons, including-
• Soil moisture conservation.
• Enhancing the soil’s Fertility and health.
• Reducing the weed’s growth.
• Improving the area’s aesthetic attractiveness.
• Mulch is usually, but not always, organic. It may be both temporary and
permanent. You can utilize it on bare soil or in plant-surrounded areas.
• Compost or manure mulches will naturally absorbed into the soil by worms
and other creatures.
• When carried out correctly, the process can significantly increase soil
productivity and is utilized in commercial crop production and gardening.

34. 10. Mixed Cropping
•Sowing various crops in the same area to
prevent soil erosion and spreading soil-borne
plant diseases is a lesser-known approach to
improving soil fertility.
•Additionally, adding nitrate to the soil will help
the legumes grow better. Finally, utilize deep-
rooted veggies wherever possible to
improve soil fertility organically.
•These are the five tips that will help you
increase your soil fertility.