Soil fertility refers to the status and availability of essential nutrients in soil under various conditions, while evaluation involves assessing the level of availability and balance of these nutrients.
This process includes methods such as soil tests, plant analysis, soil surveys, and consideration of climatic conditions. Following evaluation, recommendations are made, involving the addition of amendments like fertilizers, farmyard manure (FYM), poultry litter, and other materials.
These amendments are applied in recommended quantities at specific times during the season to provide an optimal nutritional environment for plant growth. Thus, soil fertility evaluation and recommendations are site-specific and condition-specific.
Definition of Soil Fertility Evaluation in Agriculture
Soil fertility evaluation is the process of diagnosing nutritional deficiencies in soil and providing recommendations for improvement.
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Importance of Soil Fertility Evaluation in Crop Production
Soil test results from Soil Fertility Evaluation (SFE) offer several benefits:
- Results are obtained quickly, identifying soil needs before planting.
- Results help maintain the soil’s fertility level.
- Evaluation predicts the likelihood of a profitable response to fertilizer application.
- It provides a basis for recommending the amount of fertilizer or soil amendment to apply.
- It assesses the fertility status of the soil.
Distinction Between Soil Fertility and Soil Fertility Evaluation
Soil fertility primarily concerns mineral nutrient elements and their soil conditions, whereas evaluation focuses on the availability, status, or level of nutrients and their balance, including various methods for assessing these factors.
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Criteria for Assessing Soil Fertility Levels
Soil fertility is rated using the following criteria:
- Low: Fertility status is below the critical level.
- Medium: Above the critical level, with varied responses to fertilizer application expected.
- High: Response to fertilization is unlikely, and it may not be necessary.
Below are soil fertility ratings for key soil parameters:
Soil Fertility Rating for Nutrient Parameters
| Parameters | Low | Medium | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (Total N g kg⁻¹) | 0.6 – 1.0 | 1.6 – 2.0 | 2.1 – 2.4 |
| Available Phosphorus (Bray-1 P mg kg⁻¹) | 3.0 – 7.0 | 8.0 – 20.0 | > 20 |
| Potassium (Exchangeable K⁺) | 0.21 – 0.3 | 0.31 – 0.6 | 0.61 – 0.73 |
| Organic Carbon (g kg⁻¹) | 4.0 – 10.0 | 10.0 – 14.0 | 14.0 – 20.0 |
| Exchangeable Ca²⁺ | 2.0 – 5.0 | 5.0 – 10.0 | 10.0 – 20.0 |
| Exchangeable Mg²⁺ | 0.3 – 1.0 | 1.0 – 3.0 | 3.0 – 8.0 |
| Exchangeable Na⁺ | 0.1 – 0.3 | 0.3 – 0.7 | 0.7 – 2.0 |
| Organic Matter (%) | < 2.0 | 2.0 – 3.0 | > 3.0 |
| Available Micronutrients (mg kg⁻¹) | |||
| Zinc (Zn) | < 1.0 | 1.0 – 5.0 | > 5.0 |
| Available Boron (B) | < 0.35 – 0.5 | 0.5 – 2.0 | > 2.0 |
| Available Copper (Cu) | < 0.2 | 0.2 – 10.0 | > 10.0 |
| Available Manganese (Mn) | < 1.0 | 1.0 – 5.0 | > 5.0 |
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