Soil fertility
Soil fertility refers to the ability of soil to sustain agricultural plant growth, i.e. to provide plant habitat and result in sustained and consistent yields of high quality. It also refers to the soil's ability to supply plant/crop nutrients in the right quantities and qualities over a sustained period of time. 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 e.g. Fe2+ which leads to nutrient toxicity.The following properties contribute to soil fertility in most situations: * Sufficient soil depth for adequate root growth and water retention; * Good internal drainage, allowing sufficient aeration for optimal root growth (although some plants, such as rice, tolerate waterlogging); * Topsoil or horizon O is with sufficient soil organic matter for healthy soil structure and soil moisture retention; * Soil pH in the range 5.5 to 7.0 (suitable for most plants but some prefer or tolerate more acid or alkaline conditions); * Adequate concentrations of essential plant nutrients in plant-available forms; * Presence of a range of microorganisms that support plant growth.
In lands used for agriculture and other human activities, maintenance of soil fertility typically requires the use of soil conservation practices. This is because soil erosion and other forms of soil degradation generally result in a decline in quality with respect to one or more of the aspects indicated above.
Soil fertility and quality of land have been impacted by the effects of colonialism and slavery both in the U.S. and globally. The introduction of harmful land practices such as intensive and non-prescribed burnings and deforestation by colonists create long-lasting negative results to the environment. The institution of slavery reproduced distress to the natural world and crop production.
Soil fertility and depletion have different origins and consequences in various parts of the world. The intentional creation of dark earth in the Amazon promotes the important relationship between indigenous communities and their land. In African and Middle Eastern regions, humans and the environment are also altered due to soil depletion. Provided by Wikipedia
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21Soil organic matter dynamics and sustainability of tropical agriculture Soil organic matter dynamics and sustainability of tropical agricultureby Mulongoy, K. (ed.), International Inst. of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan (Nigeria) eng, Merckx, R. (ed.), Katholieke Univ. Leuven (Belgium). Lab. of Soil Fertility and Soil Biology oth
Published 1993Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
22by Waugh, D.L., North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (USA). International Soil Fertility Evaluation and Improvement Program eng, Cate, R.B. Jr., Nelson, L.A.
Published AugTexto bibliotecaFAO IT -
23by Wilde, S.A., North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (USA). International Soil Fertility Evaluation and Improvement Program eng, Voigt, G.K., Iyer, J.G., Chesters, G.
Published 1972Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
24Soil Fertility Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa. Proceedings Soil Fertility Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa. Proceedingsby FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, SFI/FAO Consultation on the Soil Fertility Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa eng 19-20 Nov 1998 Rome (Italy)
Published 1999Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
25Combined use of inorganic and organic plant nutrients in a West European arable farming system Combined use of inorganic and organic plant nutrients in a West European arable farming systemby Neeteson, J.J. (Research Inst. for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility, Haren (Netherlands)), FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, Dudal, R. (ed.), Roy, R.N. (ed.)
Published 1995Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
26Stable isotopes in plant nutrition, soil fertility and environmental studies. Proceedings Stable isotopes in plant nutrition, soil fertility and environmental studies. Proceedingsby International Symposium on the Use of Stable Isotopes in Plant Nutrition, Soil Fertility and Environmental Studies eng 1-5 Oct 1990 Vienna (Austria), 179970 IAEA, Vienna (Austria) eng, FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
27Genotypic differences in N uptake and use by several winter wheat varieties Genotypic differences in N uptake and use by several winter wheat varietiesby Kiss, E., IAEA, Vienna (Austria) eng, International Symposium on the Use of Stable Isotopes in Plant Nutrition, Soil Fertility and Environmental Studies eng 1-5 Oct 1990 Vienna (Austria), FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
28Efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers for rice. Proceedings Efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers for rice. Proceedingsby Banta, S.J. (ed.), International Rice Research Inst., Los Banos, Laguna (Philippines) eng, International Network on Soil Fertility and Fertilizer Evaluation for Rice. Meeting eng 10-16 Apr 1985 Griffith (Australia) 13402
Published 1987Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
29Natural and artificial methods of 15N labelling of soil to estimate biological nitrogen fixation: review of symposium papers Natural and artificial methods of 15N labelling of soil to estimate biological nitrogen fixation: review of symposium papersby Danso, S.K.A., IAEA, Vienna (Austria) eng, International Symposium on the Use of Stable Isotopes in Plant Nutrition, Soil Fertility and Environmental Studies eng 1-5 Oct 1990 Vienna (Austria), FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
30The effects of elevated CO2 and temperature change on transpiration and crop water use The effects of elevated CO2 and temperature change on transpiration and crop water useby Van de Geijn, S.C. (Research Inst. for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility, Wageningen (Netherlands)), FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, Goudriaan, J., Bazzaz, F.A. (ed.), Sombroek, W.G. (ed.)
Published 1996Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
31Some basic principles of the evaluation and calibration of soil testing methods (for phoshorus) Some basic principles of the evaluation and calibration of soil testing methods (for phoshorus)by Paauw, F. van der (Institute for Soil Fertility, Haren, Groningen (Netherlands)), FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, Expert Consultation on Soil and Plant Testing and Analysis eng 13 Jun 1977 Rome (Italy)
Published 1980Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
32Applications of 15N isotope techniques in Azolla-rice studies Applications of 15N isotope techniques in Azolla-rice studiesby Kumarasinghe, K.S., IAEA, Vienna (Austria) eng, International Symposium on the Use of Stable Isotopes in Plant Nutrition, Soil Fertility and Environmental Studies eng 1-5 Oct 1990 Vienna (Austria), Eskew, D.L., FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
33Efficiency in uptake and use of nitrogen by plants Efficiency in uptake and use of nitrogen by plantsby Bowen, G.D., IAEA, Vienna (Austria) eng, International Symposium on the Use of Stable Isotopes in Plant Nutrition, Soil Fertility and Environmental Studies eng 1-5 Oct 1990 Vienna (Austria), Zapata, F., FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
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35Nitrogen turnover in the soil - crop system modelling of biological transformations, transport of nitrogen and nitrogen use efficiency, proceedings of a workshop Nitrogen turnover in the soil - crop system modelling of biological transformations, transport of nitrogen and nitrogen use efficiency, proceedings of a workshopby Groot, J. J. R., De Willigen, P., Verberne, E. L. J., Institute for Soil Fertility Research, Nitrogen Turnover in the Soil - crop Ecosystem: Modelling of Biological Transformations, Transport of Nitrogen and Nitrogen use Efficiency 5-6 June 1990:
Published c199Texto bibliotecaUBA FA -
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37Nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency of legumes and cereals grown in pure stands or in mixtures Nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency of legumes and cereals grown in pure stands or in mixturesby Papapstylianou, I. (Agricultural Research Inst., Nicosia (Cyprus)), IAEA, Vienna (Austria) eng, International Symposium on the Use of Stable Isotopes in Plant Nutrition, Soil Fertility and Environmental Studies eng 1-5 Oct 1990 Vienna (Austria), FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
38Contribution of nuclear techniques to the assessment of nutrient availability for crops Contribution of nuclear techniques to the assessment of nutrient availability for cropsby Hera, C. (Joint FAO/IAEA Div. of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna (Austria). Soil Fertility, Irrigation and Crop Production Section), FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, Dudal, R. (ed.), Roy, R.N. (ed.)
Published 1995Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
39Malawi, an investigation into the presence of a cultivation hoe pan under smallholder farming conditions Malawi, an investigation into the presence of a cultivation hoe pan under smallholder farming conditionsby Douglas, M.G., FAO, Rome (Italy). Investment Centre Div. eng, Mughogho, S.K., Saka, A.R., Shaxson, T.F., Evers, G., Soil Fertility Initiative, Rome (Italy) eng, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Lilongwe (Malawi) eng
Published NovTexto bibliotecaFAO IT -
40Errors related to the 15N dilution method for estimating nitrogen fixation Errors related to the 15N dilution method for estimating nitrogen fixationby Watanbe, I. (International Rice Research Inst., Manila (Philippines)), IAEA, Vienna (Austria) eng, International Symposium on the Use of Stable Isotopes in Plant Nutrition, Soil Fertility and Environmental Studies eng 1-5 Oct 1990 Vienna (Austria), FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT