SOIL FERTILITY AND

PRODUCTIVITY
Soil fertility is the inherent capacity of soil to supply
the plant nutrient in balanced and adequate amount.

Soil productivity is the capacity of soil to produce

crops under a given set of management practices.
 SOIL FERTILITY LOSSES AND MAINTENANCE
Soil fertility is depleted due to the removal of nutrients by the crops and weeds,
Leaching of nutrients,
Soil erosion and
Gaseous losses of nutrients either by volatilization or by de-nitrification.

MAINTENENCE
Soil fertility restoration is a constant problem
Maintenance of soil fertility should be done on temporal as well as long term
basis.
Temporary measures- cultural practices, addition organic matter, green-manures,
bio-fertilizer and fertilizer.
Long term basis-reclamation of soil and adopting soil conservation practices.
 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

16 elements were considered as essential for plant growth.

They are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, iron, manganese,
zinc, copper, molybdenum, boron and chlorine. Recently,
sodium, is added to the above list.

Criteria of essentiality
Arnon and Stout (1939) refined by Arnon (1954)
 CLASSIFICATION OF ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
Essential elements needed for the crop growth are broadly classified:
Based on the relative Quantity that is normally present in Plants
Basic nutrients (Major Nutrients): C, H, O.
Macro nutrients: C, H, O, N, P, K
Primary nutrients: N, P, K
Secondary nutrients: Ca, Mg, S
Micro Nutrients (Minor/Tertiary/Trace elements): Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo, B, Cl, Al
and Na.
Based on their Chemical Nature
Metals: K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Co and V etc.
Non-Metals: C, H, O, N, P, S, B, Mo, C1, Si, etc.
Cations: NH4+, K+, Ca2+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Zn2+
Anions: NO3−, HPO42−, H2PO4−, SO42−, BO33−, MoO42−, C1− etc.
 Based on the Mobility in Plants
• Highly mobile : N, P, K-Deficiency symptoms on the older leaves
• Moderately mobile : Zn- def. symptoms at the old and young leaves.
• Less mobile : S, Fe, Cu, Mn, Cl, Mo- def. symptoms at the younger leaves
• Immobile : Ca, B- def. symptoms at the growing tips.

Based on the Mobility in Soils

• Mobile : Highly soluble and not absorbed by clay: NO 3-,SO42-, BO32-, Cl-, Mn2+
• Less mobile: soluble but absorbed on clay: NH 4+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+
• Immobile : Highly reactive and get fixed in the soil: H 2PO42-, HPO42-, Zn2+
 Based on General Function
• Provide basic structure-C, H, O
• As a constituent of either organic or inorganic compounds–N, S, P,
Ca, B, Fe and Mg.
• As an activator, co-factor in of enzyme systems–K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn,
Mn, Cu, Mo, Na and Cl.
• As a charge carrier in oxidation–reduction reactions–P, S, Fe, Mn,
Cu, Mo.
• As an osmosis regulator and for electron chemical equilibrium in
cells–K, Na and Cl
NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY
NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY AND pH
 NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
Plant symptoms can be grouped into five types as follows:

Chlorosis: Yellowing, either uniform or interveinal of plant tissue due

to reduction in the chlorophyll formation process.

Necrosis: Refers to death of plant tissue leading to dead spots.

Lack of new growth or terminal growth resulting in rosetting”.

Accumulation of anthocyanin and an appearance of a reddish colour.

Stunting or reduced growth with either normal or dark green colour or

yellowing.
 NUTRIENTS–ROLE, DEFICIENCY, METHOD OF CONTROL AND TOXICITY
Deficiency Control of Symptoms under
Nutrient Role of nutrients symptoms deficiency excess nutrients
Lower leaves turn Use of nitrogen
Nitrogen It is constituent of yellow fertilizer in the Blackening around
(N) chlorophyll. soil tips of older leaves
N makes plant dark Growth of plant is Foliar spray of Delays maturity
green It increases stunted urea
vegetative growth,
protein content and
cation exchange
capacity in plant roots

Encourage the Shedding of leaves Encourages Lodging

formation of good and fruits
quality foliage
Makes plant more
susceptible to pests
and diseases Poor root
growth
 Deficiency Control of Symptoms
Nutrient Role of nutrients under excess
symptoms deficiency
nutrients
Phosphorus Stimulates root growth and Leaves become Application of Necrosis and tip
Formation smaller in size phosphatic dieback
fertilizers in the
soil
(P) Helps in cell Division

Hasten maturity Leaves and Interveinal

stems become chlorosis in
purple younger leaves

Makes plant more tolerant to Delay in Marginal scorch

drought, cold, insects and maturity of older leaves
diseases

Increase P and Ca in plants Growth is

Increase tillers and ratio of grain stunted
to straw in crop
 Deficiency
Nutrient Role of nutrients symptoms Control of Symptoms under
Potassium K–helps in Translocation Imparts, Margin of leaves Use of potassic Plants have luxury
(K) vigour and growth to plants turn brown and fertilizer in the soil consumption
dry up e.g., hence not
murate of potash toxic

Makes plant more tolerant to The older leaves

drought, cold, insects and diseases develop brown
infestation. colour
Reduces lodging Stunted growth
Increases the availability of N and P.

Calcium (Ca) Promotes early root growth Terminal bud dies Use of CaCO3

Ca is constituent of cell Leaves become or Ca(OH)2

Wrinkled in the soil
Increases stiffness of straw (stem) new leaves shows Use of gypsum
symptoms

Improves soil structure Keeps soil

neutral
 Deficiency Control of Symptoms under
Nutrient Role of nutrients
symptoms deficiency excess nutrients
Magnesium Constituent of Vein of leaves Foliar application May induce K
Chlorophyll remain green and of magnesium deficiency
inter-veinal chlorosis sulphate (Epsum)

(Mg) Increases Symptoms on older

Photosynthesis leaves
Regulates uptake of
nutrients
Promotes the
formation of oils
and fats
Sulphur (S) Helps in chlorophyll The whole leaf Foliar application Reduction in leaf
formation size

Stimulates root in plant has light of sulphur or

growth seed green colour sulphate
formation and
nodule formation
Encourages plant
growth
S is constituent of
enzymes and
proteins
Iron (Fe) Helps in chlorophyll Yellowing of new Spraying of 0.5% Bronzing of older leaves
formation check leaves Ferrous sulphate on is common in low land
foliage rice grown under acid
Acts as an oxygen Chlorosis
carrier
Helps in protein
synthesis
Manganese 1. Acts as a catalyst in 1. Brown patch on 1. Soil or foliar Spots on the veins of the
(Mn) oxidation reduction leaves application of leaf blade and leaf sheath
reaction

Act as activator of many Reddening of leaves Manganese Stunted plant

enzymes in cotton sulphate
Helps in chlorophyll
synthesis
Boron (B) The leaves thicken Inter-veinal chlorosis at
Helps in uptake and and margin roll Foliar spray of the tips of the older
utilization of calcium upward boric acid or borax leaves along the margins
Helps in protein Younger leaves are Use of boron in Leaves turn brown and
synthesis dwarf soil dry up
Top-rot diseases of
tobacco
Molybdenum (MO) Helps in absorbing Petiole of the leaves Soil or foliar --
atmospheric nitrogen remain intact but application of
by nodule bacteria in shedding of margin sodium molybdate or
legume and other part of ammonium
leaves molybdate

Helps in protein Curling of leaves

sythesis
Chlorine (Cl) Essential for Yellowing of leaves Potassium chloride Burning of leaf tips or
photosynthesis (white plant) application in the margins
process soil
Keeps osmotic Reduce leaf size
pressure normal in
cell sap
Zinc (Zn) Constituent of a White leaf become Soil application of Induces iron chlorosis
number of enzymes rusty-brown in colour Zinc sulphate @ 25-
50 Kg/ha.
Helps in formation of Stunted growth Foliar application
growth hormones of 0.5% zinc sulphate

Act as catalyst in
chlorophyll
formation
 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - N

• General chlorosis.
• Chlorosis progresses from
light green to yellow.
• Entire plant becomes
yellow under prolonged
stress.
• Growth is immediately
restricted and plants soon
become spindly and drop
older leaves.
 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - P

• Leaves appear dull, dark

green, blue green, or red-
purple, especially on the
underside, and especially
at the midrib and vein.
• Petioles may also exhibit
purpling. Re­striction in
growth may be noticed.
 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - K

• Leaf margins tanned, scorched,

or have necrotic spots (may be
small black spots which later
coalesce).
• Margins become brown and cup
downward.
• Growth is restricted and die
back may occur.
• Mild symptoms appear first on
recently matured leaves.
 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - Ca

• Growing points usually

damaged or dead (die
back).
• Margins of leaves
developing from the
growing point are first to
turn brown.
 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - Mg
• Marginal chlorosis or chlorotic
blotches which later merge.
• Leaves show yellow chlorotic
interveinal tissue on some
species, reddish purple
progressing to necrosis on
others.
• Younger leaves affected with
continued stress.
• Chlorotic areas may become
necrotic, brittle, and curl
upward.
• Symptoms usually occur late in
the growing season.
 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - S

• Leaves uniformly light green, followed by yellowing

and poor spindly growth.
• Uniform chlorosis does not occur
 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - Cu

• Leaves wilt, become

chlorotic, then necrotic.
• Wilting and necrosis are
not dominant symptoms.
 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - Fe

• Distinct yellow or white

areas appear between
veins, and veins eventually
become chlorotic.
• Symptoms are rare on
mature leaves.
 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - Mn

• Chlorosis is less marked

near veins.
• Some mottling occurs in
interveinal areas.
• Chlorotic areas eventually
become brown, transparent,
or necrotic.
• Symptoms may appear
later on older leaves.
 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - Zn
• Leaves may be abnormally small and necrotic.
• Internodes are shortened.
 DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - B

• Young, expanding leaves

may be necrotic or
distorted followed by
death of growing points.
• Internodes may be short,
especially at shoot
terminals.
• Stems may be rough,
cracked, or split along the
vascular bundles.