Soil fertility
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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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81by Roy, R.N., FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, Expert Consultation on Soil and Nutrient Management in Sub-Saharan Africa in Support of the Soil Fertility Initiative eng 6-9 Dec 1999 Lusaka (Zambia), Burgos, W., Roy, R.N. (ed.), Nabhan, H. (ed.)
Published 2001Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
82by Bakan, K., FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, Expert Consultation on Soil and Nutrient Management in Sub-Saharan Africa in Support of the Soil Fertility Initiative eng 6-9 Dec 1999 Lusaka (Zambia), Bredoumy, S.K., Roy, R.N. (ed.), Nabhan, H. (ed.)
Published 2001Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
83by Nabhan, H., FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, Expert Consultation on Soil and Nutrient Management in Sub-Saharan Africa in Support of the Soil Fertility Initiative eng 6-9 Dec 1999 Lusaka (Zambia), Roy, R.N., Roy, R.N. (ed.), Nabhan, H. (ed.)
Published 2001Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
84Genotypic variation in nitrogen fixation by Phaseolus vulgaris L. Genotypic variation in nitrogen fixation by Phaseolus vulgaris L.by Hardarson, G., 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), Bliss, F.A., Cigales-Rivero, M.R., Henson, R.A., Kipe-Nolt, J., FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
85Use of the 15N isotope dilution technique to study the effect of mineral nitrogen on biological nitrogen fixation in red clover Use of the 15N isotope dilution technique to study the effect of mineral nitrogen on biological nitrogen fixation in red cloverby Reinhardt, R., 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), Russow, R. (Central Inst. of Isotope and Radiation Research, Leipzig (Germany). Academy of Sciences), Pranz, S., FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
86Uptake and balance of 15N labelled green manures and urea in tropical wetland rice culture Uptake and balance of 15N labelled green manures and urea in tropical wetland rice cultureby Rao, K.V., 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), Shinde, J.E. (Department of Soil Science, Hyderabad (India). Directorate of Rice Research), FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
87Application of 15N tracer studies in the investigation of higher plant inorganic nitrogen metabolism Application of 15N tracer studies in the investigation of higher plant inorganic nitrogen metabolismby Stewart, G.R., 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), Robinson, S.A., Slade, A.P. (University College London (UK). Dept. of Biology), FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
88Utilization of a 13C enriched tracer for carbon flux studies in a tropical Eucalyptus exserta forest Utilization of a 13C enriched tracer for carbon flux studies in a tropical Eucalyptus exserta forestby Insam, H. (Bundesforschungsanstalt fuer Landwirtchaft, Braunschweig (Germany). Inst. fuer Bodenbiologie), 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), Ding, M., Mariotti, A., FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
89Environmental influences on the stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope composition of plant leaf water Environmental influences on the stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope composition of plant leaf waterby Flanagan, L.B., 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), Ehleringer, J.R. (Utah Univ., Salt Lake City (USA). Dept. of Biology), FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
90Delabelling of 18 O (oxygen-18) enriched phosphate added to soil as a function of biological activity in the soil Delabelling of 18 O (oxygen-18) enriched phosphate added to soil as a function of biological activity in the soilby Saaby Johansen, H., 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), Middelboe, V., Larsen, S. (Royal Veterinary and Agricultural Univ., Copenhagen (Denmark). Dept. of Physics), FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
91Use of stable S isotopes in the assessment of turnover in experimental forested watersheds in the Black Forest, Southwest Federal Republic of Germany Use of stable S isotopes in the assessment of turnover in experimental forested watersheds in the Black Forest, Southwest Federal Republic of Germanyby Rolland, W. (Albert-Ludwigs-Univ., Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany). Inst. fuer Bodenkunde und Waldernaehrungslehre), 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 -
92Trends and variations in stable carbon isotopes of atmospheric carbon dioxide Trends and variations in stable carbon isotopes of atmospheric carbon dioxideby Roeloffzen, J.C. (Groningen Univ. (Netherlands). Centre for Isotope Research), 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), Mook, W.G., Keeling, C.D., FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
93by Saka, A.R., FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, Expert Consultation on Soil and Nutrient Management in Sub-Saharan Africa in Support of the Soil Fertility Initiative eng 6-9 Dec 1999 Lusaka (Zambia), Chilimba, A.D.C., Roy, R.N. (ed.), Nabhan, H. (ed.)
Published 2001Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
94by Subba Rao, A., FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, Expert Consultation on Soil and Nutrient Management in Sub-Saharan Africa in Support of the Soil Fertility Initiative eng 6-9 Dec 1999 Lusaka (Zambia), Srivastava, S., Kaore, S.V., Roy, R.N. (ed.), Nabhan, H. (ed.)
Published 2001Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
95by Nabhan, H., FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, Expert Consultation on Soil and Nutrient Management in Sub-Saharan Africa in Support of the Soil Fertility Initiative eng 6-9 Dec 1999 Lusaka (Zambia), Roy, R.N., Koohafkan, P., Roy, R.N. (ed.), Nabhan, H. (ed.)
Published 2001Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
96by Nanthambwe, S.J., FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, Expert Consultation on Soil and Nutrient Management in Sub-Saharan Africa in Support of the Soil Fertility Initiative eng 6-9 Dec 1999 Lusaka (Zambia), Mulenga, N.J., Roy, R.N. (ed.), Nabhan, H. (ed.)
Published 2001Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
97by Maatman, A., FAO, Rome (Italy). Land and Water Development Div. eng, Expert Consultation on Soil and Nutrient Management in Sub-Saharan Africa in Support of the Soil Fertility Initiative eng 6-9 Dec 1999 Lusaka (Zambia), Dangbegnon, C., Van Reuler, H., Roy, R.N. (ed.), Nabhan, H. (ed.)
Published 2001Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
98Evaluation of errors in the measurement of biological nitrogen fixation using 15N fertilizer Evaluation of errors in the measurement of biological nitrogen fixation using 15N fertilizerby Witty, J.F. (AFRC Inst. of Grassland and Environmental Research, Aberystwyth (UK). Welsh Breeding Station), 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), Giller, K.E., FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
99A 15N root bioassay to evaluate the interactive effects of N with P and K on tree growth A 15N root bioassay to evaluate the interactive effects of N with P and K on tree growthby Jones, H.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), Harrison, A.F., Quarmby, C. (Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Cumbria (United Kingdom). Merlewood Research Station), FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT -
100Application of H2 18O as a tracer of water flow in soil Application of H2 18O as a tracer of water flow in soilby Foerstel, H., 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), Frinken, J., Huetzen, H., Lembrich, D., Puetz, T. (Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH (Germany). Inst. fuer Radioagronomie), FAO, Rome (Italy) eng
Published 1991Texto bibliotecaFAO IT