Question
What are the characteristics of a fertile soil?
Solution
The characteristics are:
i. It is rich in nutrients necessary for basic plant nourishment. This includes nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
ii. It consists of adequate minerals such as boron, chlorine, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, sulphur and zinc. These minerals promote plant nutrition.
iii. It contains soil organic matter that improves the structure of the soil. This enables the soil to retain more moisture.
iv. It has a good soil structure which results in well-drained soil.
v. It consists of a variety of micro-organisms that support plant growth.
vi. It often contains large amounts of topsoil.
