Soil health and biological indicators

Question 1

Soil health

Answer 1

The continued capacity of a soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.

Question 2

Soil tilth

Answer 2

It refers to the overall physical character of the soil in the context of its suitability for crops production.

Question 3

Sufficient depth

Answer 3

It refers to the extent of soil profile to which roots are able to grow and function. Shallow depth is a result of a compaction layer or past erosion.

Question 4

Soil indicators

Answer 4

Soil quality indicators are processes and characteristics that can be measured to monitor changes in the soil that gives the clues about how well a soil can function.

Question 5

Organic matter

Answer 5

It is any material that is derived from living organism including plants and soil fauna.

Question 6

PMN

Answer 6

Potentially mineralizable Nitrogen is an indicator of the capacity of soil microbial community to convert (mineralize) nitrogen tied up in complex organic residues into the plant available form of the ammonium and then nitrate.