Soil fertility, nutrients, and water

Soil fertility

ability of soil to support plant growth

Nutrients

important parts of soil that help plants grow, like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and sodium (Na). Here’s how nutrients can be added or taken away from the soil

Things that increase soil nutrients

Organic matter

This comes from dead plants and animals and releases nutrients into the soil

Humus

This is a rich part of soil that holds onto nutrients and helps release them when plants need them

Decomposer activity

Tiny organisms break down dead things, recycling nutrients back into the soil

Clay, increase soil nutrients

It has a negative charge that helps hold onto positively charged nutrients

Bases (like limestone)

These can add important nutrients to the soil

Things that decrease soil nutrients

Acids

They wash away positively charged nutrients from the soil

Excessive rain

Too much rain can wash away nutrients, which is called leaching

Too much farming

Growing crops too often can take away nutrients from the soil

Erosion

When the top layer of soil washes or blows away, it takes nutrients with it