Mullaviljakus

Mullaviljakus, or soil fertility, is a measure of how well soil can supply essential nutrients to plants to support growth and yield. It encompasses the soil’s chemical, physical, and biological capacity to provide nutrients in adequate quantities, at appropriate rates, and in a form that plants can uptake.

Key components include readily available macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), secondary nutrients (calcium, magnesium, sulfur), and micronutrients (iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum). Soil organic matter, soil pH, cation exchange capacity, texture and structure, water holding capacity, and biological activity influence nutrient supply and availability.

Measurement of mullaviljakus is typically done through soil testing that analyzes nutrient levels, pH, organic matter content, and cation exchange capacity. Results guide management decisions, including the need for fertilization, liming, or organic matter additions. Plant performance data and long-term field trials can complement laboratory measurements to form a fuller fertility assessment.

Factors affecting mullaviljakus include climate, parent material, land use history, crop history, tillage practices, fertilization regimens, liming, cover crops, and organic matter management. Management aims to maintain or improve fertility while minimizing environmental impact. Practices commonly used are returning organic matter to the soil (manure, compost, green manures), using soil-test–based and site-specific fertilization, applying lime to correct acidity when needed, implementing diverse crop rotations, reducing tillage where appropriate, and employing erosion and nutrient runoff control measures.

Significance: adequate mullaviljakus supports higher yields, better crop resilience, and efficient nutrient use, while poor fertility increases the need for inputs and can raise environmental risks if not managed carefully. See also: soil health, soil testing, plant nutrition, agricultural sustainability.