2. In what ways does the use of animal manures improve soil texture and structure?
4. Describe relationship between structural properties of soils and plant nutrition and growth.
10. Describe the principles of organic agriculture and how this is applied in the national standard for organic and bio dynamic produce.
14. Describe role of organic matter, humus and microorganisms in soils.
1. Organic fertilizers are capable of containing carbon as part of chemical makeup. The characteristics associated with organic fertilizers are rock minerals, natural plant and animal materials. Example of organic fertilizers which are used in Australia, occurs organic fertilizers include compost, bone meal, seaweed extracts and bloodmeal.
2. Animal manure applications are considered to be useful as this offers with the ability to increase soil organic matter in medium or long term application periods. Manure contribute towards reducing soil bulk density and compaction, water infiltration and increasing soil aggregate stability.
3. Organic fertilizers offers huge benefit towards the crops. This are capable of improving the efficiency of nutrient for producing more robust crops. The benefits which are offered with the use of organic fertilizers are as follows:
a. Best nutrients can be offered for having better effective plant growth
b. Chances of overfeed for plants can be avoided
c. Immediate absorb does not occurs in the plant
d. Withstand heavy storms and irrigation sessions
4. Soil structure provides sufficient nutrients, water and oxygen which supports the growth and provides enough space for roots to penetrate. The relation between structural properties of soil and plant nutrition is therefore considered to be a major aspect in the growth.
5. In order to promote soil and plant water holding capacity, addition of organic matter to soil is considered to be an important factor. The addition of organic matter in soil increases number of micropores and macropores in soil by gluing or by creating favourable living conditions. The factors determining soil holding capacity are soil quality indicators, available water capacity and texture, presence and abundance.
6. The soil biological activities in soil helps to add organic matter, creating biodiversity and cycle nutrients. The most important biological activity is degree of vegetative cover. This is responsible for defining the extent of protection of surface soil.
7. improve the conditions favouring healthy bacteria in soils.
a. Avoiding pesticides
b. Maintaining water within soil
c. Avoiding physical disturbances
This will help in ensuring that the conditions of the soils has been improved.
8. Soil nutrients are considered to be important for healthy growth of plant. Macronutrients are required in large quantities and thus, the need for managing and replacing fertilizer on crop-by-crop basis. The need to geminate, reproduce and fight off diseases and pests. The need to maintain all the major nutrient elements is important. It is crucial for maintaining major elements is important.
9. Soil fertility can be improved by incorporating cover crops that add organic matter to soil. The methods which can be considered for improving soil health and imbalance are as follows:
a. Reducing inversion tillage and soil traffic
b. Increases organic matter inputs
c. Using cover crops
d. Reduces pesticides use and providing habitat for beneficial organisms
e. Rotating crops
f. Managing nutrients
10. The principles associated with organic agriculture are health, ecology, care and fairness. This provides vision for agriculture and inspires environmental friendly cultivation and production. The principles of organic culture is used in national standard for the purpose of promotes healthy ecosystem, including encouragement towards soil biological life and biodiversity.
11. The need to have a positive effects over organic farming are offering higher humus content, better aggregate stability and offering habitats for soil organisms. The process which needs to be considered are as follows:
a. Enhancing organic matter
b. Avoiding excessive tillage
c. Managing pests and nutrients efficiently
d. Keeping ground covered
e. Diversifying crop system
12. Aggregation is a factor which is strongly being conditioned by colloids and soil cementing substances. This coat solid particles which include aggregate. Aggregation affects erosion, plant root growth and movement of water. Colloid and soil properties are fine size fractions of soil. The clay colloidal complex soils are considered to be too fine particles.
13. Water holding capacity is being controlled primarily by organic matter and soil texture. When soil is at field, organic matter tends to possess higher water holding capacity than similar volume of mineral soil. Also, soils with smaller particles tends to have larger surface area as compared with the larger sand particles. Hence, the ability to hold more water increases.
14 Organic matter: Organic matter in soil is responsible for improving physical condition of soil. Decaying organic matter acts as food material for bacteria, organisms and fungi. This is responsible for giving energy and nutrients to soil organisms.
Humus: Humus in soil makes soil more fertile. With the help of humus, prevention of disease in plants and food crops can be done easily. Humus is capable of making soil porous increasing air and water holding capacity.
Microorganisms: Microorganisms are responsible for most of the nutrient releasing from organic matter. Microorganisms decomposes organic matter which uses the carbon and nutrients in organic matter for growth.
15. 5 factors that contribute to the decline of organic matter in soils.
a. Overuse of pesticides in soil and chemical fertilisers
b. Poor irrigation
c. Inappropriate water management practices
d. Moving away from soil revival practices
e. Unscientific rotation causes degradation of soil
16. Livestock offers livelihood to two third of rural community. This offers with employment to around 8.8% of population. This results faster litter decomposition and reduces carbon sequestration. With the use of livestock, overall quality of soul fertility can be achieved.
17. Weeds are considered to be beneficial in soil improvement activities as this benefit pest control, crop pollination, recycling nutrients and improve soil physical quality. Therefore, the concept of weeds are beneficial. This ensures that acting as shelter or living mulch can be obtained.
18. The types of indicators which can use to assess level and balance in soil fertility consists of mixing soil sample with water and chemically extracting potassium, phosphate and nitrate.
a. Texture of soil
b. Depth of soils, topsoil or rooting
c. Infiltration
d. Soil bulk density
e. Holding capacity of the water
This helps in improving soil fertility which creates better opportunity for growing plants. Hence, the need to maintain the indicators while maintaining soil becomes crucial.
19. Solid food web refers to the complex relationship which is between diverse groups of fauna and flora found in the soil. These mainly helps in grouping the bacteria, protozoa, microarthropods and larger plants. The three factors which are responsible for making healthy soil food web are as follows:
a. Practicing the build soil organic matter
b. Maintaining dynamic interactive abiotic and biotic compartments
c. Water and light
20. Soil texture refers to proportion of sand, clay sized and silt. Soil texture is proportion of small, large particles and medium. The hydrometer method for determining soil texture is a quantitative measurement which provides estimates. The approach of soil textural types which include rapid feel method and international pipette method.
21. The way soil fertility is being determined is discussed below:
a. Sample bags
b. Shovel
c. Bucket
d. Sample submission forms
e. Field logbook
f. Labels or marker pens
It is also important to select sample areas properly so that it becomes easy to test the sample of soil. Soil type, soil colour, previous cropping history, slope, drainage and previous lime details.
22. National standard for organic and biodynamic procedure has set principles for the purpose of maintaining the organic farming process. The principles are utilized for maintaining the soil standard. National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) proposed by Director General of Foreign Trade under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992. This offers set of principle for performing organic production.
23. The strength of mulching is to focus on conserving soil moisture by controlling soil erosion and reducing surface evaporation. Mulching focuses on conserving soil water by reducing the soil evaporation and regulation of soil temperature. With the help of this approach, decrease in irrigation demand during crop cultivation period can be obtained.
24. Collecting plant tissue sample is important for getting representative sample across area. Collecting soil sample in zig zag pattern and collecting at least 25 leaves from each plant. Plant tissues as a sample can be used which are being directly taken from the location.
