2003). While soil is frequently referred to as the "fertile substrate", not all soils are suitable for growing crops. Ideal soils for agriculture are balanced in contributions from mineral ...

The “ideal” soil is 50 percent solids and 50 percent space. The 50 percent space should be about 45% mineral and 5% organic ...

The effect of soil pH is great on the solubility of minerals or nutrients. Fourteen of the seventeen essential plant nutrients are obtained from the soil. Before a nutrient can be used by plants it ...