soil fertility
Earth's productive capacity
Soil fertility is the capacity of soil to support plant growth by providing essential nutrients, moisture, and physical structure.
Fertile soil contains adequate nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic matter.
Farmers build soil fertility through crop rotation, composting, and fertilizer application.
Years of intensive farming had depleted the soil fertility.
Decayed organic soil matter
- compostDecayed organic fertilizer
- manureAnimal waste as fertilizer
- mulchProtective plant bedding
- peatWaterlogged decomposed vegetation
vermicompost · green manure · leaf mold · guano · bone meal · blood meal · seaweed · biochar
Element seven, colorless gas
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
- potassiumNineteenth element, symbol K
- calciumElement twenty, builds bones
- magnesiumAlkaline earth metal
trace elements · minerals · micronutrients · iron · zinc · boron · sulfur · manganese
Soil-dwelling segmented invertebrates
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- nematodesCylindrical unsegmented worms
protozoa · nitrogen fixation · beneficial insects · decomposers · biofertilizer · inoculant · symbiosis
Fertile soil mixture
- aggregationCombined collection of items
- aerationInfusing with oxygen
- porosityVoid space density
- water retentionBody storing excess fluid
drainage · compaction · texture · clay · sand · silt · percolation · friability
Decomposing organic matter deliberately
- mulchingCovering soil protectively
- cover cropsPlants shielding fallow fields
- crop rotationAlternating field plantings yearly
- no-tillUndisturbed-soil cultivation
tillage · intercropping · fallowing · liming · amendment · topdressing
Able to renew itself
- permacultureSustainable ecosystem design method
- agroforestryTrees integrated with farming
- polycultureMulti-species crop system
- biodynamicAgriculture following cosmic cycles
carbon sequestration · conservation · biodiversity · ecosystem health · land stewardship · closed-loop · resilience · agroecology
humus
Decayed organic soil matter
peat · vermicompost · green manure · leaf mold · guano · bone meal · blood meal · seaweed · biochar · decomposition
nitrogen
Element seven, colorless gas
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
- potassiumNineteenth element, symbol K
- calciumElement twenty, builds bones
magnesium · trace elements · minerals · micronutrients · iron · zinc · boron · sulfur · manganese · copper
earthworms
Soil-dwelling segmented invertebrates
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
nematodes · protozoa · nitrogen fixation · beneficial insects · decomposers · biofertilizer · inoculant · symbiosis
loam
Fertile soil mixture
- aggregationCombined collection of items
- aerationInfusing with oxygen
- porosityVoid space density
water retention · drainage · compaction · texture · clay · sand · silt · percolation · friability · perlite
composting
Decomposing organic matter deliberately
- mulchingCovering soil protectively
- cover cropsPlants shielding fallow fields
- crop rotationAlternating field plantings yearly
no-till · tillage · intercropping · fallowing · liming · amendment · topdressing
regenerative
Able to renew itself
- permacultureSustainable ecosystem design method
- agroforestryTrees integrated with farming
- polycultureMulti-species crop system
biodynamic · carbon sequestration · conservation · biodiversity · ecosystem health · land stewardship · closed-loop · resilience · agroecology
- farming termsfarmland, cropland, field, harvest, tillage
- Soildirt, loam, earth, ground, humus
- vegetable gardeningtomatoes, carrots, lettuce, peppers, cucumbers
- farm ecologyagroforestry, beneficial insects, biological control, companion planting, cover crops
- fertilizer effectsplant growth, crop yield, root growth, green leaves, micronutrients
- Growing Conditionssunlight, moisture, drainage, climate, shade
soil fertilitybarrenness
Inability to bear fruit
depleted soil · poor soil · dead soil · nutrient deficiency · hardpan
soil fertilitywasteland
Uninhabitable barren region
desert · badlands · desertification · dust bowl · desolation
soil fertilitysoil depletion
Loss of ground fertility
desertification · soil erosion · salinization · soil compaction · acidification
soil, fertile, fertilize, fertility, fertilizer, infertile, topsoil, infertility, fertilizing