Soil fertility

Question 1

What is soil fertility

Answer 1

The ability of soil to sustain plant growth

Question 2

What are the nine features of soil that affect soil fertility and productivity

Answer 2

• Water content
• Soluble materials
• Air content
• DOM
• pH
• Soil biota
• Soil texture
• Soil structure
• Soil depth

Question 3

How does water content effect soil fertility and soil productivity

Question 4

How dso soluble materials effect soil fertility and soil productivity

Question 5

How does air content effect soil fertility and soil productivity

Question 6

How does DOM effect soil fertility and soil productivity

Question 7

How does pH effect soil fertility and soil productivity

Question 8

How does soil biota effect soil fertility and soil productivity

Answer 8

No soil biota = less decomposition = no nutrients

Question 9

How does soil texture effect soil fertility and soil productivity

Answer 9

Affects how well nutrients and water are retained in the soil due to proportions of sand, silt and clay in the soil

Question 10

How does soil structure effect soil fertility and soil productivity

Answer 10

Affects water movement through soil if not enough pore space e.g in platey clay soil

Question 11

How does soil depth effect soil fertility and soil productivity

Answer 11

• Deeper soils generally provide more water and nutrients to plants than shallow soil
• More space for roots (able to support large plants with large root systems)
• Less likely to become waterlogged or dry out