What is soil fertility?

1 Answer
Apr 13, 2018

Soil fertility refers to the ability of a soil to sustain agricultural plant growth so as to provide plant habitat and result in sustained and consistent yields of high quality.

Explanation:

Soil is a natural medium for plant growth and it supplies nutrients to plants.

A fertile soil contains all the major nutrients for basic plant nutrition (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) as well as other nutrients needed in small quantities (calcium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, zinc, copper boron, molybdenum and nickel). Usually fertile soils also have organic matter, that improve soil structure, soil moisture retention, nutrient retention and a pH between 6 and 7.

Maintainance of soil fertility is an important aspect of agriculture.