It is important to understand the relationship between chemical, physical, and biological properties in the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum that control nutrient uptake, and the ability of the soil to supply adequate/sufficient nutrient elements for plant productivity.
Soils are known to be poor in fertility, and if fertility status is not improved, they cannot continue to support crop productivity, especially in this era of intensive continuous cropping due to increasing human population demand.
If the productive ability of poor soils is not improved and sustained, they cannot continue to support the food demand of the growing population.
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Definition of Soil Productivity in Agricultural Terms
Soil productivity can be defined as the ability of a soil to produce a succession of crops on a sustained basis under a specific management system. This involves the chemical, biological, and physical properties affecting the soil. A productive soil must be fertile, but not all fertile soils are productive. This is because productivity depends on other factors that provide extra support.
Difference Between Soil Fertility and Soil Productivity
Productivity of a soil does not depend solely on its fertility, because a fertile soil may not be productive due to constraints such as lack of irrigation facilities, presence of toxic substances, soil pH conditions, poor drainage, and so on.
On the other hand, the fertility of a soil can be improved to make that soil productive by employing adequate/sufficient management practices such as the addition of fertilisers and manures.
Some soils are high in fertility but not productive due to environmental factors. However, these soils can be made productive by proper management practices such as provision of adequate soil moisture through irrigation or drainage, adoption of suitable cultural methods, or the use of corrective measures that overcome problems of root penetration and toxicity conditions.
Hence, from the above discussion, soil fertility in combination with environmental factors and suitable management practices make up soil productivity. That is:
Soil Productivity = Soil Fertility + Environmental Factors + Management Practices
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Factors Affecting Soil Productivity in Agriculture
The factors that affect soil productivity include those that influence soil formation and the management activities of humans in efforts to produce crops. These factors include:
- Climate (temperature and precipitation)
- Vegetation (especially native vegetation)
- Activities of Living Organisms
- Nature of Parent Material (in relation to soil texture, structure, chemical and mineralogical composition)
- Topography
- Cultivation
- Cultural Practices (use of fertilisers)
- Grazing (example: overgrazing)
The ability of the soil to produce a succession of crops on a sustainable basis depends on the use of proper adequate/sufficient management practices such as the use of fertiliser or manure, and environmental factors such as adequate moisture, temperature, soil pH, and so on.
Therefore, in conclusion, soil productivity is a combination of soil fertility and suitable management and environmental practices.
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