Pedology
What is agricultural soil?
Agricultural soil is a support and housing for the plant as well as a bed to supply minerals and nutrients and a reservoir to supply the water it needs. Although there are alternatives such as water cultivation today, soil-based agriculture is still suitable.
Definition of soil
Soil Science Society of America :
It is a natural mass that is composed of minerals and organic matter and covers most of the earth’s surface and can hold the roots of plants.
Definition from a geological point of view:
The solid and soft part (discontinuous particles) of the upper part of the earth’s crust, which is formed by the destruction and decomposition of minerals and water and the formation of new compounds (clay minerals and soil). This aerated and discontinuous cortex is able to contain animal and plant life.
Soil formation (soil formation) takes place through the following processes
- Weathering of bedrock and shrinkage of particles of rocks
- Formation of new minerals
- Decay and decomposition and increase of organic matter transformations
- Formation of inorganic-organic compounds by combining minerals
Soil resources limiting factors in agriculture
These factors are divided into two categories of immutable constraints and modifiable constraints. Immutable constraints are related to soil texture. Modifiable limitations include the presence of rocks and gravel, salinity, alkalinity, drainage, etc., which can be reduced or eliminated by special measures.
The soil texture is derived from the bedrock and it takes many years for the soil to form. Water and wind erosion, improper operation of heavy machinery are among the causes of soil degradation and leaching.
Organic soils
In advanced agriculture, plant residues are used to improve soils with the aim of environmental sustainability and soil protection. Today, experts recommend preserving crop residues from land crops. For example, incineration of grain residues that were common in the past but are now mixed with soil as organic matter and stored in the ground.
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