SOIL FERTILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY
SOIL FERTILITY
It is the ability of soil to sustain plant growth and optimize crop yield through supplying the nutrients essential for plant growth. Fertility can be enhanced by adding organic and inorganic fertilizers to the soil.
A fertile soil possesses following properties:
- The ability to supply essential plant nutrients and moisture for plant growth and development; and
- The absence of toxic substances which may inhibit plant growth.
Soil fertility is mostly related to the factors like–
- Sufficient soil depth for optimum root growth
- Good internal drainage for sufficient aeration,
- Sufficient organic matter for healthy soil structure and moisture retention,
- Soil pH in the range 5.5 to 7.0 (required for most plants) and
- Essential plant nutrients in available form.
So the soil fertility typically requires the use of soil conservation practices for maintaining such properties. This is because soil erosion and/or degradation generally result in a decline in quality with respect to above mentioned properties.
Keeping in view the above, a fertile soil may not be productive, if physical, biological properties of soil and other agricultural management practices are not correct.
SOIL PRODUCTIVITY
Soil productivity includes soil fertility plus the inherent and management related factors affecting plant growth and development.
It is the capacity of a soil in its normal environment, for producing crops under a specified management system.
It is obvious that all productive soils are fertile and fertility is one of the parts of productive soil. Thus, a productive soil is one in which the chemical, physical, and biological conditions are favorable for plant growth.
Soil productivity is generally measured in terms of inputs versus outputs, so agronomically, it refers to water and/or nutrient input versus crop yield (output).
Factors Affecting Soil productivity
- Soil physical properties- Soil structure, texture, porosity, density, drainage etc.
- Chemical status, including nutrient status and pH, and;
- Biological characteristics- Soil microorganisms.
- Agricultural management practices such as, tillage, fertilization; crop rotation, irrigation, and drainage can significantly affect soil productivity by affecting soil nutrients, organic matter and moisture holding capacity.
- Soil erosion causes loss of soil fertility, loss of soil organic matter, deterioration of soil structure, and decreased water-supplying capacity.
KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOIL FERTILITY & PRODUCTIVITY
SOIL FERTILITY SOIL PRODUCTIVITY It is an index of available nutrients to plants. It is measured in terms of crop yield. It is an inherent property of soil represents the status of soil. It is not inherent property of soil, but represents capacity of soil. It is the function of available nutrients in the soil. It is the function of Soil fertility plus agricultural management practices and climates. The fertility of certain soil remains same in all the climatic condition. It changes when climate and location are changed. It is one of the factors of crop production. It is interaction of all the factors. All fertile soils are not productive. All productive soils are fertile.
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