This document discusses soil fertility and how to maintain it. A fertile soil has good drainage, moisture retention, organic matter, and nutrient levels. Soil fertility is affected by climate, topography, soil properties, parent material, and land management. To maintain fertility, farmers can add amendments like manures, composts, and fertilizers; employ crop rotations; and practice good soil and land management including irrigation and drainage.
This document discusses soil fertility and how to maintain it. A fertile soil has good drainage, moisture retention, organic matter, and nutrient levels. Soil fertility is affected by climate, topography, soil properties, parent material, and land management. To maintain fertility, farmers can add amendments like manures, composts, and fertilizers; employ crop rotations; and practice good soil and land management including irrigation and drainage.
This document discusses soil fertility and how to maintain it. A fertile soil has good drainage, moisture retention, organic matter, and nutrient levels. Soil fertility is affected by climate, topography, soil properties, parent material, and land management. To maintain fertility, farmers can add amendments like manures, composts, and fertilizers; employ crop rotations; and practice good soil and land management including irrigation and drainage.
This document discusses soil fertility and how to maintain it. A fertile soil has good drainage, moisture retention, organic matter, and nutrient levels. Soil fertility is affected by climate, topography, soil properties, parent material, and land management. To maintain fertility, farmers can add amendments like manures, composts, and fertilizers; employ crop rotations; and practice good soil and land management including irrigation and drainage.
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Slide 1
SOIL FERTILITY . What is soil fertility
This refers to the productive capacity of the soil in which,
soil conditions (nutrient supply and availability) are favourable for plant growth. A fertile soil has the following features: Moderately porous with good aeration and drainage Retains adequate moisture Contains a lot of organic matter and rich in nutrients Adequately permeable Slightly acidic (pH 5.5 to 6.5) Relatively free from toxins, pests and diseases Fertility is affected by: Climate Topography Physical and chemical properties of soil Type of parent material Fertiiser usage Soil management Topography – most Caribbean countries are hilly which affects fertility. Soils on slopes are shallow due to erosion. Use of machinery is restricted and cultivation is limited Parent material refers to the rocks that were weathered to form inorganic soil particles. Fertility depends on the nature and sizes of particles derived from the rock. Soils from limestone tends to be alkaline and from sandstone tends to be acidic Land management - the way in which the farmer manages the land impacts on soil fertility. Good management practices include: Agro-forestry (planting trees or shrubs among crops/pastures) to conserve soil water and topsoil Application of fertilisers, organic matter or lime Avoiding the burning of vegetation Pruning, tilling, draining, mulching, staking, cover cropping and shade trees on pastures improve soil conditions Minimal use of chemicals MAINTAINING SOIL FERTILITY The farmer can manage the fertility of the soil by : Addition of soil amendments Use of proper cropping systems Soil and land management Irrigation and drainage of fields Soil Amendments
These include any material that supplies ingredients and
nutrients to improve soil structure, increase water holding capacity, ensure adequate drainage and aeration and neutralize soil acidity and so maintain the fertility. They include: Manures Inorganic fertilisers Organic fertilisers Liming materials Manures
These include: Pen manures – partially decomposed solids from livestock pens e.g. dung, bedding, litter and slurry from washing the pen Compost Green manure – usually a legume crops that is grown and ploughed into the soil Guano – bird droppings Bonemeal – made by grinding bones from meat processing plants
Manures are spread evenly over the fields and ploughed into the soil. Liquid slurries are sprayed over the land using a slurry spreader Compost This refers to the process by which organic matter (leaves, soft stems, rejected fruits and vegetables) is decomposed to form compost that is added to plants to provide nutrients. Several components can be added to the heap: Organic matter - leaves, soft stems, rejected fruits and vegetables and peelings, lawn clippings, coffee grounds, egg shells Starter – pen manure or compost which adds micro-organisms to the heap Sulphate of ammonia – supplies nitrogen Ground limestone – provides suitable pH Water – provides moisture Siting the compost heap The site should be well drained and close to the garden. The base should concrete and measure 4m x 1.5m The area is divided into 3 equal compartments called phases Phase 3 needs to be covered to prevent loss of nutrients due to leaching Building the heap A layer of starter material consisting of pen manure is placed 10 cm thick A layer of organic matter is placed on top at 25 cm thick 1 kg of sulphate of ammonia is scattered over the heap 0.5 kg of limestone is spread on top The layers are repeated until the heap is 1.5 – 2 m deep The heap is watered and kept moist
After 3 to 4 weeks the heap is transferred from Phase 1 to
Phase 2 and then to Phase 3 after another 3 to 4 weeks. After an additional 3 to 4 weeks in Phase 3 the material is transferred to the storage area to await use The heap must be kept moist and the material loose to allow micro-organisms to properly carry out decomposition. Decomposition generates high heat in the heap Fertilisers
Fertilisers are substances that supply nutrients to the soil. There are two types: Organic fertilisers e.g. pen manures and compost Inorganic fertilisers e.g. urea, sulphate of ammonia and NPK. These are manufactured through chemical processes. Inorganic fertilisers are of two types: Simple e.g. urea, super phosphate and muriate of potash – these supply only one of the major nutrients. Mixed e.g. 12:24:!2. These provide more than one of the major nutrients and are written as a ratio e.g. 12:24:12 means 12% Nitrogen, 24% Phosphorous and 12% Potassium Fertiliser application
When selecting a type of fertiliser and time to apply,
the farmer needs to consider the following: Type of soil Type of crop Stage of growth of crop Weather conditions Methods of Application LIMING MATERIALS
These are applied to acidic soils to reduce acidity and
increase calcium and magnesium ions in the soil and promote the activity of soil micro-organisms. They are applied to the soil during land preparation and can be added as: Calcium oxide or quicklime Calcium hydroxide or slaked lime Calcium carbonate or chalk Calcium magnesium carbonate or dolomitic limestone
