The Earth Contents

5. Soils

The fertility of a soil is defined as the ability of the soil to provide plants with essential nutrients

Soil fertility is dependent on the chemical compostion and textural properties of the soil

Soil fertility is dependent on the chemical composition and the textural properties of the soil. In general, soils which have a high proportion of clays and of organic matter are very fertile, as they have a higher capacity to store and release nutrients for plant growth. In contrast, sandy soils have a lower level of fertility as they retain far lower proportions of nutrients from organic decomposition and have poorer chemical properties.

Define soil fertility.