The soil also hosts a complex fauna and microbial web involved in many different biological processes, which also affects its physical and chemical properties, and ultimately the productivity of agricultural ecosystemsįor a given soil, its properties depend on the history of the soil formation Sometimes soil chemistry can have a direct impact on soil physical conditions as in the case of sodic soils with high exchangeable sodium content. Understanding soil chemistry is of paramount importance, since it is the basis of soil fertilityĪnd provides the needed knowledge to understand the differences in fertility among different soils and their response to fertilization. Soil chemistry is dominatedīy the interaction between its solid components (primarily the insoluble compounds of silica, calciumĪnd aluminum) and its water phase. Of the seeds and the growth of the roots, and must have characteristics that enhance the storage and supply of water, nutrients, gases and heat to the crop. Soils directly and indirectly affect agricultural productivity, water quality, and the global climate through its function as a medium for plant growth, and as regulator of water flow and nutrient cycling However, in addition to being a physical medium, the soil may be considered a living system, vital for producing the food and fiber that humans need and for maintaining the ecosystems This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.įrom the point of view of agriculture, the soil offers support to plants and acts as a reservoir of water and nutrients.
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. Land use and management can have a profound impact on many soil properties, thus indirectly affecting soil quality which can result in improvements or constraints for productivity of agricultural lands and for agricultural sustainability in the long term. One of the most used definitions of soil quality is the capacity of a soil to function within ecosystem boundaries to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health ( ). All these components and properties determine the functioning of the soil for different purposes this functioning is included in the concept of “soil quality”. This chapter provides a basic description of soil properties and processes, stressing the concept that the soil is a dynamic entity where complex interactions among its biological, chemical and physical components take place.
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