Agronomist dictionary

Soil and tillage

Active soil reaction

Active soil reaction is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil solution, determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions.

Soil and tillage

Aeration porosity

The fraction of soil volume that is filled with air instead of water, facilitating oxygen diffusion to plant roots and soil organisms.

Soil and tillage

Aggregate composition

Aggregate composition is the quantitative distribution of soil clumps (aggregates) of various sizes within the arable layer of the soil.

Soil and tillage

Agrophysical properties of soil

These are the physical characteristics of soil that determine its capacity to store water, provide aeration, and support root development for optimal plant grow...

Soil and tillage

Biological activity of soil

It is the overall intensity of life processes carried out by soil microorganisms and fauna that transform organic matter into nutrients available for plants.

Soil and tillage

Bulk density of soil

The mass of dry soil per unit volume of soil, including the air-filled pore space, in its natural structural state.

Soil and tillage

Cation exchange capacity

The ability of soil to hold and release positively charged nutrients, preventing them from leaching out of the root zone.

Soil and tillage

Chiseling

This is a method of non-inversion tillage that uses heavy-duty shanks to loosen the soil and break up deep compaction without flipping the topsoil layer.

Soil and tillage

Cloddiness

Cloddiness is a soil condition characterized by the presence of large clods exceeding 10 centimeters in diameter, which hinder seed germination and field unifor...

Soil and tillage

Cover crops

These are plants grown primarily to protect and enrich the soil rather than for harvest, serving to prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and improve soil health bet...

Soil and tillage

Deep loosening

An agricultural practice of loosening the soil at a significant depth without inverting the furrow slice to break up compacted layers and improve soil structure...

Soil and tillage

Discing

A soil tillage practice using disc implements to break up clods, incorporate crop residues, and control weeds by cutting the soil surface.

Soil and tillage

Drainage

Drainage is the natural or artificial process of removing excess water from the soil to prevent saturation and waterlogging.

Soil and tillage

Eroded soils

Soils that have lost part of their fertile top layer due to the destructive action of wind (deflation) or water (erosion).

Soil and tillage

Erosion-prone lands

These are agricultural areas susceptible to the loss of topsoil and degradation caused by wind or water action due to topography, soil composition, and lack of...

Soil and tillage

Field moisture

The actual amount of water present in the soil under natural conditions, expressed as a percentage of the dry soil weight or volume at a specific time.

Soil and tillage

Furrow slice turnover

Furrow slice turnover is a tillage technique where the soil layer is inverted to bury crop residues and improve soil structure.

Soil and tillage

Humification

The biochemical process of decomposing organic matter into stable humus compounds that improve soil fertility and structure.

Soil and tillage

Humus

Humus is the stable, dark organic component of soil formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter through microbial activity.

Soil and tillage

Humus horizon

The top layer of soil enriched with organic matter (humus), which is the primary driver of natural soil fertility.

Soil and tillage

Humus mineralization

Humus mineralization is the process by which soil microorganisms decompose organic matter into simple mineral compounds that are readily available for plant upt...

Soil and tillage

Minimum tillage

A conservation tillage system that reduces the frequency and depth of mechanical soil disturbance to improve soil structure and moisture retention.

Soil and tillage

Mulching

Mulching is the agricultural practice of covering the soil surface with organic or inorganic materials to improve soil health and plant growth.

Soil and tillage

Physical clay

It represents the total sum of all soil particles smaller than 0.01 millimeters, which determine the soil's mechanical composition and its ability to retain wat...

Soil and tillage

Plant feeding area

This is the space allocated to an individual plant within a field, from which it extracts the nutrients, moisture, and light required for development.

Soil and tillage

Plough pan

A plough pan is a compacted soil layer formed below the depth of cultivation, caused by the repetitive mechanical pressure of tillage equipment.

Soil and tillage

Ploughing

A primary tillage operation where soil is cut, turned over, and loosened using a plough to prepare the seedbed.

Soil and tillage

Pre-sowing cultivation

This is the final soil tillage operation before seeding, designed to loosen the topsoil and prepare a uniform, firm seedbed.

Soil and tillage

Slotting

An agricultural technique of cutting narrow vertical slots in the soil to improve water infiltration and aeration within the root zone.

Soil and tillage

Soil acidity

Soil acidity is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in the soil solution, indicating whether the soil reaction is acidic, neutral, or alkaline.

Soil and tillage

Soil Adsorbing Complex

The sum total of mineral, organic, and organo-mineral soil particles that possess the ability to adsorb and exchange ions, nutrients, and water.

Soil and tillage

Soil aggregate

A soil aggregate is a cluster of soil particles held together by organic matter, roots, and clays, essential for soil aeration and water retention.

Soil and tillage

Soil aggregation

It is the condition of soil consisting of crumbs or aggregates of various sizes that provide the necessary balance of air and water for plant growth.

Soil and tillage

Soil buffering capacity

The ability of soil to resist changes in pH when acids, bases, or fertilizers are added.

Soil and tillage

Soil capillarity

The ability of soil to move water from lower layers to the root zone through fine pores by means of surface tension forces.

Soil and tillage

Soil compaction

The process of reducing soil porosity due to mechanical pressure, which leads to increased density, restricted root growth, and impaired water and air movement...

Soil and tillage

Soil crusting

A phenomenon where soil aggregates break down due to water impact, forming a dense, surface layer that restricts air and water movement.

Soil and tillage

Soil cultivation status

This is the degree to which a soil's properties meet the requirements of agricultural crops, achieved through long-term effective soil management and human acti...

Soil and tillage

Soil deflation

Deflation is the process of removal and transport of topsoil particles by wind, which degrades soil structure and reduces overall agricultural fertility.

Soil and tillage

Soil degradation

The decline in soil quality and fertility caused by improper management, resulting in a reduced capacity of the land to support plant growth.

Soil and tillage

Soil fertility

Soil fertility is the capacity of soil to sustain agricultural plant growth by providing essential nutrients, water, and air in adequate amounts for crop produc...

Soil and tillage

Soil hydraulic conductivity

The ability of a soil to transmit water through its profile when subjected to surface irrigation or precipitation.

Soil and tillage

Soil microaggregates

Soil microaggregates are microscopic clusters of soil particles, typically smaller than 0.25 mm, bound together by organic matter, fungi, and minerals.

Soil and tillage

Soil porosity

Soil porosity is the total volume of pores and voids between soil particles, expressed as a percentage of the total soil volume.

Soil and tillage

Soil profile

A vertical section of soil from the surface down to the parent material, displaying distinct layers known as horizons.

Soil and tillage

Soil structure

Soil structure refers to the arrangement of soil particles into stable aggregates, which facilitate proper aeration, water infiltration, and root penetration fo...

Soil and tillage

Soil structure coefficient

A metric representing the ratio of water-stable soil aggregates between 0.25 and 10 mm in diameter to the total soil mass.

Soil and tillage

Soil texture

The relative proportions of soil particles of different sizes, which determines the physical and mechanical properties of the soil.

Soil and tillage

Soil thixotropy

The property of certain moist soils to temporarily lose shear strength and transition from a solid state to a liquid-like state under mechanical stress.

Soil and tillage

Soil water-holding capacity

Soil water-holding capacity is the ability of a soil to retain a certain amount of water within its pores against the force of gravity after excess water has dr...

Soil and tillage

Soil workability

The physical condition of the soil in which it crumbles easily under mechanical force, providing optimal conditions for cultivation and seed germination.

Soil and tillage

Solonetzic property

Solonetzic property refers to the presence of high levels of exchangeable sodium in the soil, which leads to poor structure and restricts water and air movement...

Soil and tillage

Water erosion

Water erosion is the detachment and removal of soil particles from the land surface by the action of rainfall, runoff, or flowing water.

Soil and tillage

Water retention

The ability of soil to hold water against gravitational drainage and evaporation, ensuring it remains available for plant uptake.

Soil and tillage

Wind erosion

The process of detachment and transport of topsoil particles by wind energy, which results in the loss of organic matter and reduced agricultural productivity.