Question

A soil is said to be fertile when

• A. It is rich in organic matter
• B. It has capacity to hold water
• C. It has a capacity to hold nutrients
• D. It holds water and all essential nutrients in a definite proportion
• E. All of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is E All of the above

Fertile soil has the following characteristics:

1. It is rich in nutrients necessary for basic plant nourishment. This includes nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. It consists of adequate minerals such as boron, chlorine, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, sulphur and zinc. These minerals promote plant nutrition.

2. It contains soil organic matter, that improves the structure of the soil. This enables the soil to retain more moisture. The soil pH is in the range 6.0 to 6.8.

3. It has a good soil structure, which results in well-drained soil.

4. It consists of a variety of microorganisms, that support plant growth. It often contains large amounts of topsoil.