A contribution to soil fertility assessment for arid and semi-arid lands

Hag Mohamed Husein H, Lucke B, Bäumler R, Sahwan W (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Soil Systems MDPI

Book Volume: 5

Article Number: 42

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.3390/soilsystems5030042

Abstract

Soil fertility must be viewed as a dynamic concept that involves the constant cycling of nutrients between organic and inorganic forms. In this context, it refers also to supply adequate amounts of water and aeration for plant growth. Soil fertility under arid and semi-arid lands is constrained not only by limited water availability but also by small organic matter contents. Most fertility assessment systems are based on organic matter contents as the main parameter. However, crop experiments from various irrigated arid and semi-arid soils indicate that productivity is less-affected by organic matter contents than assumed. Therefore, we propose a new soil fertility system for dryland soils. It is a rule-based set of algorithms, mainly using additions and subtractions. Soil, climate, and landscape factors are integrated to calculate the numerical value of fertility for a given soil. We expect the system, which is focused on soil properties that keep or increase optimum soil moisture (such as texture), to be applicable in arid and semi-arid lands and to provide more realistic estimates of fertility regarding agricultural purposes. The manuscript will provide an outline of the main aspects of the system, illustrated by various case applications.

Authors with CRIS profile

Hussam Hag Mohamed Husein Institut für Geographie Bernhard Lucke Institut für Geographie Rupert Bäumler Professur für Geographie

Involved external institutions

Freie Universität Berlin DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Hag Mohamed Husein, H., Lucke, B., Bäumler, R., & Sahwan, W. (2021). A contribution to soil fertility assessment for arid and semi-arid lands. Soil Systems, 5(3). https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems5030042

MLA:

Hag Mohamed Husein, Hussam, et al. "A contribution to soil fertility assessment for arid and semi-arid lands." Soil Systems 5.3 (2021).

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