SOIL SUITABILITY FOR CROPS
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A soil suitable for growing crops has to be fertile.
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Soil fertility refers to the capacity of the soil to provide nutrients in adequate amounts and in proper balance for the growth of plants.
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For a soil to be fertile, other growth factors such as light, moisture, and temperature should be favorable.
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To make a soil more fertile, some adjustments are done to its property. These adjustments are:
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Alteration of pH
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Alteration of air content (aeration)
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Addition of fertilizers
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Acidity or alkalinity (pH) affects the ability of plant roots to take up minerals from the soil.
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A fertile soil should have somewhat neutral pH.
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Lime (calcium carbonate) is added to acidic soils to raise the pH (make soil more alkaline).
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Peat is added to alkaline soils to lower the pH (make soil more acidic).
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Soils with low air content have high water content, and so are heavy and difficult to work.
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It can be improved by drainage of water from the soil of a given area and by ploughing.
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Fertilizers are added to soil which has low mineral content such as nitrate, phosphate, potassium, and magnesium.
