Unit 1 – Nature and Scope
of Soil Fertility
SSCI 201 – Advanced Soil Fertility
JD Villamor
A. Introduction
Soil Fertility
• Soil fertility - is the capability of the
soil to supply the nutrients in the right
amounts and proportions to meet the
nutrient requirements of crop, as
affected by soil properties and
conditions.
•.
Soil Productivity
➢is the ability of the soil to support or produced a
desired quantity of plant yield
➢capacity to produce plants that supply man with
essential food and fiber.
Productivity (crop yield) = f( crop, soil climate and
management practices)
Soil Productivity vs Soil Fertility
• Basically a productive soil must be fertile
• Fertile soil may not necessarily be productive because
of the other components of production that may
become unfavorable during the growth production
period
• It can not be assumed that a fertile soil is also
productive, due to other factors like poor drainage,
weeds, insect and diseases, drought and other factors
can limit productivity even when fertility is adequate
Soil Productivity vs Soil Fertility
Implications
• If a soil is fertile, as evaluated by yield and chemical
diagnosis, it can supply adequate amount of nutrients
needed for high yield.
• Soil productivity encompasses soil fertility, that is,
soil fertility is only one of the factors that makes a
soil productive.
Note!!!
There is no such thing as
‘miracle plant’ if the soil is
not fertile
The Soil as a Medium
for Plant Growth
Provides plants the following: 1. Anchorage
2. Nutrients
3. Water
4. Air
The Soil as a Medium for Plant Growth
Components of Soil, % by
volume
25%
15-35%
Pore 45%
40-45% Soil
spaces Solids
15-35%
25% 5-
5%
10%
Mineral matter Organic matter Water Air
The capacity of the soil to supply nutrients
determines soil fertility:
Soil Soil Soil
physical chemical biological
properties properties properties
Above properties interact in such a way that these serve as control
mechanisms to soil fertility
1. Soil physical properties
Soil physical properties such as soil texture, soil
structure, percentage porosity etc. influence plant
growth through their effects on:
➢ Soil moisture
➢ Nutrient supplying capacity
➢ Soil temperature
➢ Mechanical restriction to root systems
2. Soil Chemical Properties
A. Nutrient elements essential for optimum
growth and development are grouped into:
✓Macronutrients – those required by crops in relatively
large quantities (C, H, O, N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca)
✓ Micronutrients – those that used by crops in relatively
smaller amounts (Fe, Mn, Cu, B, Zn, Co, Mo, Cl, Na)
Soil Chemical…
B. The nutrient elements in the soil must satisfy
certain conditions so as to sustain good crop
growth
➢ Nutrient elements must be available forms;
➢ Each nutrient element must be in present in proper
amounts; and
➢ The nutrients must be in their proper balance or
concentrations
C. The next consideration is the growth of roots to the
solution and the diffusion or movement of the nutrients
into the area of active root growth.
3. Biological Properties
❑ Organic Matter content
❑ kind and amount of microbial population
B. Factors Affecting
Plant Growth
Plant Growth vs. Development
• Plant growth is the irreversible increase in its size (due to
cell division and enlargement).
• It is usually expressed as dry weight (total of the part we're
interested in such as grain), height, length, and diameter.
• Since plants, like other organisms, are made up of cells,
growth involves an increase in cell numbers by cell division
and an increase in cell size.
Plant Growth vs. Development
• Whole plant development is the orderly and
progressive change from seed germination through
juvenility, maturity, flowering and fruiting
Plant Growth vs. Development
• The processes of growth,
including the three major
functions that are basic plant
growth and development
are:
1. Photosynthesis
2. Respiration
3. Transpiration
Photosynthesis – The process of capturing light
energy and converting it to sugar energy, in the
presence of chlorophyll using carbon dioxide and
water.
Respiration – The process of metabolizing
(burning) sugars to yield energy for growth,
reproduction, and other life processes.
Transpiration – The loss of water vapor through
the stomata of leaves.
Photosynthesis
Process of capturing light energy and
converting it to sugar
6CO2 + 6H2O + 672Kcal C6H12O6 + 6O2
Carbon Dioxide + Water + Light Glucose Sugar + Oxygen
Respiration
Carbohydrates is broken down into CO2 and water
with the accompanying release of energy
Plants produce more O2 through photosynthesis than they use through respiration
Transpiration
The process by which plant roots lose water
from leaves and stems through evaporation
Plant Growth Factors
• Climate
• Biotic
• Soil
• Control of pests
• Soil conservation
Cultural • Fertilizer and lime application
• Irrigation & Drainage
Management • Tillage & cultivation
• Cropping systems
Genetic Factor
➢Yield potential is determined by genes of the plant.
➢A large part of the increase in yield over the years has
been due to hybrids and improved varieties.
➢Other characteristics such as quality, disease resistance,
drought tolerance are determined by the genetic
makeup.
➢ Genetic engineering and biotechnology is now
becoming an important tool in changing a plants
potential.
➢ Corn and rice hybrids are examples of dramatic
yield increase resulting from genetics
Environmental Factors
➢ Environmental factors include all external conditions
and influences affecting the life and development of
an organism.
➢ These determine gene expression and at same time
have direct effect on plant growth.
Environmental Factors
1. Temperature
2. Moisture supply/precipitation
3. Radiant energy
4. Composition of the atmosphere
5. Soil aeration and structure
6. Soil Reaction/pH
7. Biotic factors
8. Supply of mineral nutrients
9. Absence of growth restricting substances
Cultural Management
Cultural management, although could be considered an
external environment, is taken separately since the
component practices are implemented to modify the
effect of unfavorable environmental factors
Cultural Management
Absorption of nutrients
• Absorbed nutrients (and
manufactured food) are moved
within a plant from one plant part
to another – through the process of
translocation.
• Nutrients (and water) move from
the roots up to the leaves and food
moves from the leaves down to the
roots through the xylem and
phloem vessels, respectively.
Xylem vs Phloem
• The xylem distributes water
and dissolved minerals upward
through the plant, from the
roots to the leaves
• The phloem carries food
downward from the leaves to
the roots
Plant nutrition is confused with plant
fertilization
❑ Plant nutrition - the supply and absorption
of chemical elements or compounds
required by the plant.
❑ Fertilization is the term used when these
materials are supplied to the environment
around the plant.
Thank You
