As for the fertility of the soil, my neighbor in the summer cottage, for example, is incredibly happy, unlike me, when weeds begin to rage in the garden in the spring. He explains his joy simply: If weeds grow, then the soil is fertile., then we will be with the harvest, unless, of course, - he adds, - do not be lazy. On the pavement, they say, weeds do not grow, but you can’t grow vegetables on it either! " In this way, the presence of weeds is a sign of fertility", - summarizes my neighbor, a homegrown philosopher. But let's leave our interlocutor alone with his reasoning and try to explain from a scientific point of view what soil fertility is.
What is soil fertility and what does it depend on
Soil fertility is its ability to provide plants with nutrition, moisture and air for their normal growth.
Fertility depends on the presence and percentage of humus in the soil, a kind of mineralized substance, where one part of the humus is involved in the exchange interaction with microorganisms, located in the soil, as well as plants, and the other is located, in the so-called stable form.
The more humus in the soil and the more massive its layer, the more space for the development of plant roots, which means that its fertility is higher.
The most fertile soils
direct answer - chernozems. Then in descending order are:
- loess or loamy soils;
- sandy soils;
- clay soils;
- sandy soils.
At the same time, clay and loamy soils are considered heavy soils, and sandy and sandy - light. This parameter is purely physical and is determined by the specific gravity of a unit volume of the soil layer.
Acidity, as one of the indicators of soil fertility
Another important parameter of fertility is soil acidity. The best conditions for plant growth are slightly acidic chernozems, slightly acidic sandy and loamy soils.
The quality and composition of the soil on the site are of great importance, because the yield of planted crops depends on this. Today we will look at the main types and types of fertility, as well as figure out how to determine the quality of land in a garden plot and what are the ways to improve its quality.
The soil, which can partially or completely satisfy the need of plants for nutrients, is considered to be fertile. This means that all the necessary components are balanced in it, which allows the planted crops to grow and develop. Infertile or less fertile soil is considered to be soil that lacks any substances. By type of soil are divided into:
- clay;
- sandy;
- sandy;
- loamy;
- calcareous;
- marshy;
- chernozem.
Important! Soil fertility is determined by the degree of interaction of all its components with each other.
Types of fertility
The earth can be saturated with useful substances through natural processes and by improving its quality with the help of agricultural practices. Fertility can also be viewed in terms of the yield or profit received from the harvested crop. Based on these criteria, fertility is divided into the following types.
Potential
This definition is typical for soils with intermittently high yields. In this case, everything depends on a combination of factors such as weather conditions and agricultural technology used on a particular land plot. 
For example, in a dry summer, the most fertile soil - chernozem - will yield a smaller crop than podzolic soil.
Natural
This is a type of fertility, which is due to the rich composition of the soil, regardless of the weather and economic activity.
artificial
The soil is saturated with the necessary substances due to human activities, that is, it is enriched not in a natural way, but due to fertilizers and planting.
Effective (economic)
Such fertility is a combination of qualitative properties of the landscape and agricultural technology used by man. In this case, the yield or its value acts as a unit of measurement. 
How to determine fertility on the site and what it depends on
The fertility of the land on the site determines the successful cultivation and yield of crops planted on it, so it is very important to determine the level of its fertility before planting plants.
Did you know? Initially, our planet was a bare rocky area, and it took centuries for the soil to form. This happened under the influence of climatic conditions - winds, rain, temperature changes and many other factors.
Physical Properties
One of the criteria for evaluating the soil is to determine its physical properties, namely: structure, composition, texture, as well as the location of groundwater. All this can be determined by eye, after a careful examination of the land on the site. Fertile soil should be loose, porous and textured.
Such a structure is considered ideal and contributes to good aeration, proper distribution and retention of moisture, as well as constant soil renewal, subject to proper planting, and, if necessary, various fertilizers. 
Chemical properties
Chemical analysis will allow you to learn much more about the quality of the soil, among the mandatory components that must be present in it, the following can be distinguished:
- humus;
- phosphorus;
- potassium.
If during the research it turned out that all these indicators are within the normal range, then such soil can be considered fertile.
Important! The high content of potassium, salts and easily soluble chemical elements automatically deprives the soil of the definition of fertile.
Even if the studies showed not the best results, and it turned out that there is a shortage of useful components, but harmful and toxic substances are in excess, you should not be upset, because this can be corrected. How to do this - we will consider a little later.
Biological properties
The presence of microorganisms and bacteria in the soil is not at all a negative characteristic, but, on the contrary, is necessary for its fertility. Microorganisms can significantly improve the quality of the soil through loosening, moisture retention, increased heating, oxygenation and ventilation. 
Soil with little or no micro-organisms and bacteria is considered poor.
Did you know? It is the soil that is the most powerful and effective water filter on Earth. Such cleaning is three-stage and consists of biological, physical and chemical filtration.
How to improve soil fertility
Despite the fact that the formation and composition of the soil is an incredibly complex natural process, we still have the opportunity to influence fertility and adjust its level. To do this, it is necessary to take into account a lot of nuances, and the fundamental ones are the application of fertilizers, compliance with the rules of crop rotation and agricultural technology. 
No matter how fertile the soil you have on the site, there are general rules for saturating or maintaining it:
- planting annual green manure plants;
Lupine, oil radish, oats, rye and phacelia are considered the best green manure for the soil.
- soil rest every 4-5 years, that is, no crops are planted, the land “walks”, but at the same time it is plowed and fertilized with organic matter in spring and autumn;
- planting medicinal plants: it can be garlic, marigolds, wormwood or other plants that can disinfect the soil.
clayey
The clay substrate is classified as infertile due to:
- dense structure;
- poor warming;
- insufficient air circulation;
- improper distribution of moisture (it lingers on the surface and does not enter the lower layers).
But, with all this, clay soil is considered quite rich, and if it is properly processed, many plants can be successfully grown on it. 
Actions to improve soil quality should be as follows:
- It is necessary to loosen the earth to a depth of more than 25 cm and thereby provide aeration, this can be done by adding sand or peat, at the rate of 30 kg per 1 sq. m.
- In order to increase the number of microorganisms and bacteria, manure or compost is applied.
- Liming is used to reduce acidity.
Important!Plants should be planted shallowly in clay soil, this will help the root system develop well, receive the necessary moisture and nutrients.
Sandy
Such soil is considered poor, since it contains practically no useful substances. But its structure cannot but rejoice, because the sand warms up quickly and air circulates well in it.
It perfectly passes water, preventing its stagnation, but in hot summer this is more likely to be a disadvantage of this soil, since the moisture in it instantly evaporates, so peat, manure and compost should be added to it in order to ensure moisture retention.
This is best done in autumn. 
Regular fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers is very important.
Green manure is used to enrich the soil. They need to be sown to a depth of 13-15 cm so that they receive enough moisture.
Did you know? 95% of what humanity eats grows on earth.
sandy loam
Such soil is an excellent option, as it harmoniously combines a good structure and a large amount of nutrients. It is necessary to feed sandy loamy soil only when it is very depleted. For this, complex mineral fertilizers and organics are introduced. 
loamy
This soil has good characteristics and is suitable for growing most crops. There is no need to improve its quality, you just need to make sure that it does not deplete, and for this you need to regularly mulch and apply complex mineral fertilizers in a timely manner. 
lime
Very poor soil, in which there are a lot of rocky inclusions, but it can be easily improved if you apply a few tricks, namely:
- regularly loosen the soil;
- feed with mineral complexes;
- mulch the soil;
- plant green manure;
- regularly add urea and ammonium sulfate for acidification.
Find out why soil acidity is important for plants, how to determine the acidity of the soil on the site, and also how to deoxidize the soil.
Subject to these simple rules of agricultural technology, any crop can be grown on limestone. 
Bolotnaya
Such soils are classified as infertile, but at the same time it is quite simple to cultivate and enrich them, for this you need to perform the following steps:
- dig deep into the soil in order to raise the sandy layers;
- add manure, compost, slurry or bioadditives to normalize the number of microorganisms;
- feed the land with fertilizers high in phosphorus and potassium.
Important! Cultivated swamp soil is excellent for planting currants, gooseberries, strawberries and chokeberries, it has enough nutrients for their normal life, and they do not need additional feeding.
To normalize the acidity, lime is added. 
Chernozem
The real luxury is black soil - an ideal soil that does not require quality improvement, and its disadvantages can only be attributed to the fact that it is in short supply. If there is such land on your site, then it should be valued, namely: prevent its depletion, apply organic and mineral fertilizers in a timely manner, plant green manure and let it rest when necessary. 
The quality and composition of the soil on the site are of great importance, because the yield of planted crops depends on this. Today we will look at the main types and types of fertility, as well as figure out how to determine the quality of land in a garden plot and what are the ways to improve its quality.
The soil, which can partially or completely satisfy the need of plants for nutrients, is considered to be fertile. This means that all the necessary components are balanced in it, which allows the planted crops to grow and develop. Infertile or less fertile soil is considered to be soil that lacks any substances. 
By type of soil are divided into:
- clay;
- sandy;
- sandy;
- loamy;
- calcareous;
- marshy;
- chernozem.
Important! Soil fertility is determined by the degree of interaction of all its components with each other.
Types of fertility
The earth can be saturated with useful substances through natural processes and by improving its quality with the help of agricultural practices. Fertility can also be viewed in terms of the yield or profit received from the harvested crop. Based on these criteria, fertility is divided into the following types.
This definition is typical for soils with intermittently high yields. In this case, everything depends on a combination of factors such as weather conditions and agricultural technology used on a particular land plot. 
For example, in a dry summer, the most fertile soil - chernozem - will yield a smaller crop than podzolic soil.
Natural
This is a type of fertility, which is due to the rich composition of the soil, regardless of the weather and economic activity.
artificial
The soil is saturated with the necessary substances due to human activities, that is, it is enriched not in a natural way, but due to fertilizers and planting.
Such fertility is a combination of qualitative properties of the landscape and agricultural technology used by man. In this case, the yield or its value acts as a unit of measurement. 
How to determine fertility on the site and what it depends on
The fertility of the land on the site determines the successful cultivation and yield of crops planted on it, so it is very important to determine the level of its fertility before planting plants.
Did you know? Initially, our planet was a bare rocky area, and it took centuries for the soil to form. This happened under the influence of climatic conditions - winds, rain, temperature changes and many other factors.
One of the criteria for evaluating the soil is to determine its physical properties, namely: structure, composition, texture, as well as the location of groundwater. All this can be determined by eye, after a careful examination of the land on the site. Fertile soil should be loose, porous and textured.
Such a structure is considered ideal and contributes to good aeration, proper distribution and retention of moisture, as well as constant soil renewal, subject to proper planting, and, if necessary, various fertilizers. 
Chemical properties
Chemical analysis will allow you to learn much more about the quality of the soil, among the mandatory components that must be present in it, the following can be distinguished:
- phosphorus;
- potassium.
If during the research it turned out that all these indicators are within the normal range, then such soil can be considered fertile.
Important! The high content of potassium, salts and easily soluble chemical elements automatically deprives the soil of the definition of fertile.
Even if the studies showed not the best results, and it turned out that there is a shortage of useful components, but harmful and toxic substances are in excess, you should not be upset, because this can be corrected. How to do this - we will consider a little later.
The presence of microorganisms and bacteria in the soil is not at all a negative characteristic, but, on the contrary, is necessary for its fertility. Microorganisms can significantly improve the quality of the soil through loosening, moisture retention, increased heating, oxygenation and ventilation. 
Soil with little or no micro-organisms and bacteria is considered poor.
Did you know? It is the soil that is the most powerful and effective water filter on Earth. Such cleaning is three-stage and consists of biological, physical and chemical filtration.
Despite the fact that the formation and composition of the soil is an incredibly complex natural process, we still have the opportunity to influence fertility and adjust its level. To do this, it is necessary to take into account a lot of nuances, and the fundamental ones are the application of fertilizers, compliance with the rules of crop rotation and agricultural technology. 
No matter how fertile the soil you have on the site, there are general rules for saturating or maintaining it:
- landing of annual plants -;
- soil rest every 4-5 years, that is, no crops are planted, the land “walks”, but at the same time it is plowed and fertilized with organic matter in spring and autumn;
- planting medicinal plants: it can be garlic, wormwood or other plants that can disinfect the soil.
The clay substrate is classified as infertile due to:
- dense structure;
- poor warming;
- insufficient air circulation;
- improper distribution of moisture (it lingers on the surface and does not enter the lower layers).
But, with all this, clay soil is considered quite rich, and if it is properly processed, many plants can be successfully grown on it. 
Actions to improve soil quality should be as follows:
- It is necessary to loosen the earth to a depth of more than 25 cm and thereby provide aeration, this can be done by adding sand or, at the rate of 30 kg per 1 sq. m.
- In order to increase the number of microorganisms and bacteria, manure or compost is applied.
- Liming is used to reduce acidity.
Important!Plants should be planted shallowly in clay soil, this will help the root system develop well, receive the necessary moisture and nutrients.
Such soil is considered poor, since it contains practically no useful substances. But its structure cannot but rejoice, because the sand warms up quickly and air circulates well in it.
It perfectly passes water, preventing its stagnation, but in hot summer this is more likely to be a disadvantage of this soil, since the moisture in it instantly evaporates, so peat, manure and compost should be added to it in order to ensure moisture retention.
This is best done in autumn. 
Regular feeding with complex is very important.
They are used to enrich the soil. They need to be sown to a depth of 13-15 cm so that they receive enough moisture.
Did you know? 95% of what humanity eats grows on earth.
Such soil is an excellent option, as it harmoniously combines a good structure and a large amount of nutrients. It is necessary to feed sandy loamy soil only when it is very depleted. For this, complex mineral fertilizers and organics are introduced. 
This soil has good characteristics and is suitable for growing most crops. There is no need to improve its quality, you just need to make sure that it is not depleted, and for this you need to apply complex mineral fertilizers regularly and in a timely manner. 
Very poor soil, in which there are a lot of rocky inclusions, but it can be easily improved if you apply a few tricks, namely:
- regularly loosen the soil;
- feed with mineral complexes;
- mulch the soil;
- plant green manure;
- to make regularly and for acidification.
Subject to these simple rules of agricultural technology, any crop can be grown on limestone. 
Such soils are classified as infertile, but at the same time it is quite simple to cultivate and enrich them, for this you need to perform the following steps:
- dig deep into the soil in order to raise the sandy layers;
- add manure, compost, slurry or bioadditives to normalize the number of microorganisms;
- feed the land with fertilizers high in phosphorus and potassium.
To normalize the acidity, lime is added. 
The real luxury is black soil - an ideal soil that does not require quality improvement, and its disadvantages can only be attributed to the fact that it is in short supply. If there is such land on your site, then it should be valued, namely: to prevent its depletion, to make mineral supplements in a timely manner, to plant green manure and give it a rest when necessary. 
Video: 8 Ways to Improve Soil Fertility
Dear user, in the previous article, information was provided to your attention on how. Let's find out now what determines soil fertility on your site.
Fertility directly depends on the presence and amount of humus in it. Soils with a high humus content are characterized by: friability, excellent water absorption, good air permeability and, most importantly, a high content of substances necessary for plants. Humus is formed as a result of the vital activity of microorganisms, when they come into contact with various organic compounds, it has the ability to glue soil particles into lumps, which gives it structure. According to the degree of fertility, the soil is divided into rich, medium or poor in humus.
In order to determine the presence of humus in the soil, we turn again to plants. Using the table below, you will be able to map out the placement of compact growing groups of plants on your plot of land. Pay attention to plants that grow in a group (at least three individuals) and have a healthy appearance. It should be borne in mind that quite often on inconveniences that are allocated for garden plots, the soil has a heterogeneous composition: on the same 6 acres of land, you can have all types of acid-base balance, and mechanical composition, and fertility.
Plants-determinants of poor soil by humus content:
Lingonberry Heather Clover plowed Cranberry
Meadow sivets Blueberry Lesser sorrel Hawkweed hairy
Plants-determinants of the average soil by humus content:
Butterfly anemone Wintergreen round-leaved Bedstraw real Strawberry
Fern shieldwort White cinquefoil Marsh marigold Clover medium
Plants-determinants of rich soil by humus content:
Kopyten Ivan-tea Oxalis Nettle
The soil is such a biological ecosystem, thanks to which the vital activity of living organisms is possible. Its most important characteristic is fertility.
Every farmer knows that the quality and properties of the future crop depend on the composition and characteristics of the soil.
soil fertility
On cultivated, well-maintained land, crops grow healthy and strong, and produce rich, high-quality crops. Soil fertility is its ability to provide the plant with the necessary nutrients, water and air. Cultivated land plots, which are at a high level in terms of agricultural technology, are suitable for growing various plants.
Soil fertility depends on many factors.
The natural climatic conditions of the area, the presence and level of occurrence, the degree of soil pollution are natural factors that form soil fertility.
Chernozem is the most fertile layer of soil, which has been formed over several hundred years. It is possible to destroy the life-supporting layer of the earth in just a few years. When the normal conditions of agriculture are violated, the chernozem undergoes leaching of humus, disturbance of the soil structure, the death of many microorganisms, and deterioration of the flow of water and air. The soil loses its ability to supply the right amount of nutrients to the roots of plants, the immunity of the plant world weakens - and the yield drops.
How to improve soil fertility
There are areas with a dense structure, clayey, poor, they have little nutrients necessary for plants. To restore soil fertility, many agricultural practices are used: loosening with peat, lime, sawdust, wood ash. The science of soils, their formation, composition, structure and properties helps to conduct agriculture correctly. It is important to understand that soil formation has its own patterns of geographical distribution. There is a certain relationship between the soil and the external environment, which determines the formation and development of fertility. Scientists are studying the ways of a rational approach to the use of soils in agriculture, to changing the soil cover in agricultural conditions.
The concepts of "soil and fertility" are inseparable
The result of the course of the natural process of formation of soil and soil cover, the influence of human cultivation of soils is their fertility. Development and improvement of economic and social conditions have a positive effect on soil formation.
First of all, green plants and microorganisms play a special role in the soil-forming phenomenon. In turn, the soil, due to its special properties, is of great importance in the life of the organic world. It is a product and element of the landscape, a special natural body, an important natural environment of the entire globe. The task of mankind is to preserve and improve the fertile qualities of soils on Earth.
