Difference Between Soil Fertility And Soil Productivity
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This article will explain the basic meaning of soil fertility and soil productivity and the difference between soil fertility and soil productivity.Thus continue to read the whole article !
Meaning- Difference Between Soil Fertility And Soil Productivity
To know the difference between soil fertility and soil productivity, it is important first to understand the basic essence of soil fertility and productivity.
Soil Fertility
- Firstly, Physical properties include texture, structure, porosity, density, drainage, and soil surface hydrology.
- Secondly, Chemical properties can include the nutritional status and pH level.
- Thirdly, biological properties may include helpful living organisms found within the soil. For example mycorrhizae, other fungi, bacteria and worms.
(Also Read- Factors affecting soil fertility)
Soil Productivity
As the name implies, soil productivity refers to the soil’s capacity to generate whatever you cultivate in it.
More precisely, it is the soil’s capacity to produce a specified level of agricultural production or to support a specified rate, level, or volume of plant or crop growth.
For instance, the more overall agricultural product per square metre than soil on a plot of land can generate, the more productive that soil is.
Additionally, the term “productive soil” could refer to the growth rate or any other indicator of productivity.
Moreover, Fertile soil is frequently productive, and productive soil is always fertile.
However, soil fertility may be more concerned with the soil’s chemical, physical, and biological qualities and properties. And, of course, these features result in a result (which is the level of productivity).
Besides, Soil productivity may be less concerned with the soil’s physical properties (although these are obviously necessary for the soil to be productive). Furthermore, It is more concerned with the end product that the soil produces, e.g. what is the yield per square meter or total yield in terms of weight of product produced ?
A productive soil must be fertile, but a fertile soil may not be productive. Difference between soil fertility and soil productivity
Whenever the discussion of soil fertility and productivity comes , the statement is important. Let’s discuss it to comprehend the difference between soil fertility and soil productivity.
Factors Affecting Soil Fertility And Productivity
Firstly, Understanding various natural and artificial factors affecting them helps in a deeper understanding of the difference between soil fertility and soil productivity.
Factors Affecting Soil Fertility | Factors Affecting Soil Productivity |
Topography | Soil Fertility |
Climate | Soil/Farm Location |
Nutrient status in soil | Soil Physical conditions |
Cropping System | Weather condition |
Soil Microorganisms | Insect-Pest and Disease Attack |
Difference between soil fertility and soil productivity
Following lies the brief Difference between soil fertility and soil productivity in tabular form.
Parameter | Soil Fertility | Soil Productivity |
General definition | Index of available nutrients to plants | The broader term used to indicate crop yields |
Factor | One of the factors for crop production; the others are water supply etc. | On the other hand, It is the interaction of all the factors. |
Precise definition | Potential status of the soil to produce crops. | Resultant of various factors influencing soil management. |
Measurement | Can be analyzed in the lab. | Can be assessed in the field under particular climate conditions. |
Factors affecting | Depends upon physical, chemical and biological factors of soil. | Whereas it, depends upon location, fertility, physical conditions etc. |
Soil property | It is an inherent property of soil. | On the contrary, It is not an inherent property of soil. |
Climate variation | The fertility of a certain soil is the same in all climates. | In contrast, Soil productivity differs according to the variations in climate and location. |
Fertility and productivity | All fertile soils are not productive. | But, All productive soils are certainly fertile. |
(Also Read- Difference between a Farm and Ranch)
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