Soil structure can be changed through various agricultural practices such as tilling, composting, and adding organic matter. Maintaining soil fertility is crucial for sustaining agricultural productivity and ecosystem health, as fertile soil provides essential nutrients for plant growth and supports diverse microbial communities.
Soil fertility can be further improved by incorporating cover crops that add organic matter to the soil, which leads to improved soil structure and promotes a healthy, fertile soil; by using green manure or growing legumes to fix nitrogen from the air through the process of biological nitrogen fixation. A good soil structure is important to allow air and water into the soil which are vital for healthy plant growth. It will improve drainage and reduce soil erosion caused by excess surface run-off. Without structure, soils will suffer from anaerobism, waterlogging and nutrient lock-up and, ultimately, plants will die. Soil fertility is the ability of a soil to sustain plant growth by providing essential plant nutrients and favorable chemical, physical, and biological characteristics as a habitat for plant growth. The pH of soil indicates its alkalinity or acidity, which influences the availability of nutrients to plants. The majority of crops prefer a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5 Soil pH and the availability of plant nutrients. Soil can become depleted and hard over time, holding less water and nutrients. But how often you change soil in potted plants depends on the plant. Faster growing houseplants may need annual repotting, while slower growers may be able to wait 1.5 to 2 years.