Soil and productivity

Soil and productivity

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  Soil Fertility andProductivity Dr. Mohinder Singh Assistant Professor (Agronomy) Faculty of Agricultural Sciences SGT University, Gurgoan, 9466310014 1
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  Importance of Soil •Soil: The layer of material that covers the land – Where plants anchor and grow – Made of weathered rock, decomposing plant and animal matter – Has spaces for air and water movement – Soils differ in organic content which effects the ability to support plant life. 2
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  Layers of composition •3 major types of soil – Horizon A: Topsoil – Horizon B: Subsoil – Horizon C: Parent Rock – Horizon D: Bedrock • Each layer has different characteristics depending on where it is found. 3
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  Soil productivity: Thecapability of soil to produce specified crop yield under well defined and specified systems of management of inputs and environmental conditions. Soil Fertility: Factors Governing • Parent material: Fertility of a soil depends on the chemical composition of parent material from which it derived. • Topography: Soils on the upper slope are less fertile than the soils on lower slope because high leaching and erosion on upper slope. • Climate In tropical climate decomposition of organic matter is faster than temperate climate. Thus soils of tropical regions are less fertile when compared to temperate region. • Depth of Soil Profile: Deep soils are more fertile than the shallow soils and the roots are spread well enough in deep soils than the shallow soils. • Physical Condition of Soil: The soil texture and soil structure influence the soil fertility. • Artificial Factors: I. Water logging ii. Cropping system iii. Toxic chemicals and pesticides in the soil.
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  Soil Fertility Chemical Physical Biological Bacteria (Living)plant roots Fungi,actinomycetes Other organisms Agronomic/ Cultural practices Improved soil fertility and productivity Sustainable agriculture Rhizospher e Soil Fertility Chemical Physical Biological Importance of soil fertility
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   Biological soilfertility: The capacity of organisms living in soil to contribute to the nutritional requirements of plants and foraging animals for productivity, reproduction and quality while maintaining biological processes that contribute positively to the physical and chemical state of the soil.  Chemical soil fertility: The capacity of soil to provide a suitable chemical and nutritional environment for the plants and foraging animals for productivity, reproduction and quality in a way that supports beneficial soil physical and biological processes, including those involved in nutrient cycling.  Physical soil fertility: The capacity of soil to provide physical conditions that support plant productivity, reproduction and quality without leading to loss of soil structure or erosion and supporting soil biological and chemical processes. Importance of soil fertility
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  Components of soilfertility  Soil depth (determining the volume of soil accessible to the root system). Most arable crops prefer about one metre without any obstructing layer.  Soil structure (based on size distribution and aggregation of particles). This determines the distribution of pore sizes which is decisive for the supply of air and water to the roots. 7 Importance of soil fertility
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  8  Content ofnutrients with different degrees of availability.  Storage capacity for soluble nutrients from the soil and fertilizers.  Soil pH/ reaction (an indicator and regulator of chemical processes and equilibrium). Components of soil fertility Picture shows the availability of nutrients at different soil pH Importance of soil fertility
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  Components of soilfertility Nutrient gain as a result of N fixation from the air. It influences promotion or retardation of growth through growth hormones. Soil Organic Matter (SOM) It promotes soil structure improvement by plant residues and humic substances leading to higher WHC, better soil aeration and protection of soil against erosion. Helps in keeping the nutrients in available forms and protecting them against losses. Nutrient mobilization from decomposed organic nutrient sources and mineral reserves: N, P, S, Zn, etc. Importance of soil fertility
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  A highly productivesoils with high fertility:  mobilize soil nutrients from the reserves;  transform fertilizer nutrients into easily available forms;  store water-soluble nutrients in easily available forms, thus preventing leaching;  offer the plants a balanced nutrient supply due to its self- regulating system;  store and supply sufficient water; 03/17/17 10 Importance of soil fertility
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  A highly productivesoils with high fertility:  maintain good soil aeration for the oxygen requirements of roots;  not 'fix' nutrients, i.e. convert them into available form;  Improve crop use efficiency of nutrients and resources such as water and light; and  Provide nutrients throughout the growing season and especially during critical peak periods of plant development 03/17/17 11 Importance of soil fertility
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  • Difference betweenSoil Fertility and Productivity: Soil Fertility Soil • 1. It is an index of available nutrient to plants • 2. Influenced by the physical, chemical and biological factors of the soil. • 3. It is the function of available nutrients of the soil. • 4. All fertile soils are not productive. • 5. It is an inherent property of the soil. Soil Productivity • 1. It is used to indicate crop yields • 2. Depends upon fertility and location. • 3. It is the function of soil fertility, management and climate. 4. All productive soils are fertile. • 5. It is not the inherent property of the soil.
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  Productivity of Ecosystems •Ecosystems have different productivities, based on light availability, soil types, precipitation, temperature, nutrients. • Productivity: the quantity of biomass of plants produced each year on a given area (g/m2 ) 13