WHAT IS THE SOIL QUALITY

WHAT IS THE SOIL QUALITY?

The quality of the soil can be referred to as the capacity that the soil possesses in carrying out the essential functions for man and for the environment.

Soil quality is not limited only to agricultural soils, although most of the work and studies for its improvement are carried out in agricultural systems.

Soil quality, also referred to as soil health, can be defined as the ability of the soil to function continuously as an ecosystem that can support plants, animals and humans.

This definition shows the importance of sustainable and rational management so that the soil remains useful and fertile for future generations. It is important to know that the soil contains a series of microorganisms and substances that, when they receive the correct care, perform all the functions necessary for the production of food and fibers.

Mopping the soil as a living ecosystem reflects several fundamental changes in the way it is cared for. Soil is not a totally inert culture medium, but along with billions of bacteria, fungi and other microbes it is possible to use it for plantations.

The soil when properly cared for can provide all the nutrients necessary for the growth of the most diverse plants, enabling the absorption of water and the filtering of contaminants.
To understand the quality of the soil well, there are some essential indicators.

SOIL QUALITY INDICATORS

Scientists use various soil quality indicators to assess whether soil functions are being well performed and whether all substances and microorganisms are present in the correct amounts.

We can say that soil health indicators present a set of information that is used to evaluate the behavior and performance of the main functions of the soil, which can be physical, chemical or even biological.

Soil quality indicators should always follow the following information:

• Correlating the data with healthy ecosystems.
• Integrate the processes and the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil.
• Be sensitive to climatic variations.
• Enable the creation of databases for future comparisons.
• Allow the follow-up of the trend of soil health.

As discussed, there are three main categories of soil quality indicators: chemical, physical and biological. Soil health is nothing more than the integration of all these three properties. Considering these three different categories, we can highlight the following indicators:

CHEMICAL INDICATORS:

They present information about the balance between water and the most diverse nutrients in the soil. They also show nutrient level nutrients and how they are available.

The nutrient cycle: the stores of soil, releases and makes the cycle of the various elements and nutrients. During that biochemical process the nutrients can be added to the plants or left available in the soil.

Fertility: indicators that show the amount of nitrogen, nitrates, potassium, calcium, boron, magnesium, zinc and other components and substances in the soil.

Amount of organic matter: is the relationship between nitrogen and carbon in the soil, the decomposition of biomass, the amount of soil organic matter, carbon, among others.

Indicators of soil pH: characteristic if the soil is acidic or basic, assuming that each culture has an optimum pH.

Indicators toxins: the measurement of the amount of toxin present in the soil.

PHYSICAL INDICATORS:

It provides information on the characteristics of the soil, such as the entry and retention of water to the availability of nutrients, among others. We can highlight the following indicators:

Amount of water available: it is the amount of water in the soil, as has been the absorption of rain, storage capacity and that the soil can provide for plantations.

Soil density: the density of the soil indicators show the compaction. This density is calculated by the ratio between dry weight and soil volume.

The rate of infiltration: is the speed at which water enters the ground. The higher its rate, the greater the absorption of water by the soil.

Indicator of the structure of the soil: the soil can have several layers, be well, particles, aerated, among others. All this must be measured and categorized to indicate the structure of the soil.

BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS

The biological indicators are responsible for presenting the quantity of organisms and microorganisms present in the soil, their disposition and the capacity of the soil to recover the absence of some of them.

Number of worms: earthworms are the key to aeration of the soil, the waste plant from the intake and the decomposition of waste. Its quantity is directly linked to the quality of the soil.

Particles of organic matter: the smallest of particles, the best absorption by plants. Therefore, it is also measured how organic matter is disposed in the soil.

Amount of enzymes in the soil: the enzymes increase the rate at which the plant waste is decomposed and the speed of release of nutrients by the plants.

To control soil quality, it is not enough to control one type of indicator or monitor only one category (biological, chemical or physical). The soil is extremely complex and must be accompanied constantly.

Soil health is fundamental to guarantee the productivity of the plantations and the quality of the crops.