1. Fertility and Soil Quality
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Fertility
It is the ability of the soil to provide plants with the physical, chemical and biological conditions suitable for their growth
or
It is the ability of the soil to supply plants with mineral nutrients in the most appropriate quantities and proportions.
Quality
It is the ability of the soil to perform essential functions in the environment.
It is not limited only to the productive capacity of agricultural or forest soils. It is referred to as “soil health” and can be defined as the capacity of the soil to function continuously as an ecosystem that can sustain plants, animals and humans.
2. Soil functions
- Food, fiber and fuel production
- Carbon sequestration
- Water purification and contaminant degradation
- Climate regulation
- Nutrient cycling
- Habitat of organisms
- Flood regulation
- Source of genetic resources
Continued in PDF - ESAC_Manage fertility in AB
Daniela Santos and Filomena Miguens
November 7, 2019