Nitrogen as a Nutrient

By understanding the different chemical forms of Nitrogen, we can manage root-zone pH and avoid toxic buildup of ammonium.

Plants have the ability to take up several chemical forms of Nitrogen either you apply inorganic fertilizer or organic manure. The most common are: ammonium (NH4+), which has a positive charge and nitrate (NO3-), which has a negative charge. Many commercial fertilizer mixes contain a combination of all two nitrogen forms.
You can read more on this by reading following post. Pl click. NITROGEN AS A NUTRIENT

pH correction is a key strategy to manage fertility in soils with non-optimal pH

The acid or very acid condition of many tropical soils does not suit most commercial crops. Liming is therefore a prerequisite for most agricultural farm units. The relationship between acidity and base exchange characteristics in soils has to be fully understood.
Many crops require a pH of over 4.5 for optimum growth. A few, such as tea and pineapple, like the low pH of soils. The amount of lime required depends on the natural acidity of the soil and the specific requirement of the crop. It is impossible to indicate here specific lime requirements for the great variety of crops which can be grown on soils. 
Following article says much about the subject and try to understand the principle behind soil pH and soil chemistry.
Soil pH :What is soil chemistry and what does that mean to me?

Changes in volume composition when the soil get compacted by heavy traffic

A well-managed soil has 25% air, 25% water, 1-5% organic matter and 45-49% mineral solids [Figure 1].




The compacted unamended landscape soil typically has 10% air, 20% water, 1% organic matter and 69% mineral solids. The most significant aspect of the compacted landscape soil is the reduction in air. Low soil oxygen is the most common limiting factor of plant (root) growth. [Figure 2]







Click the link below to get more details

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/Gardennotes/211.html

Can you redraw the pie chart above  when the soil has been under poorly drained, water logging condition.

The International Year of Soils, 2015 (IYS 2015) was declared by the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly on December 20th, 2013 after recognizing December 5th as World Soil Day.

Soil is a finite natural resource. On a human time-scale it is non-renewable. However, despite the essential role that soil plays for human livelihoods, worldwide there is increasing degradation of soil resources.  Recognizing the importance of soils, the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), in 2002, made a resolution proposing the 5^th of December as World Soil Day. This day is aimed to celebrate the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to the human wellbeing. 

http://criticalzone.org/luquillo/news/story/this-friday-december-5th-is-world-soil-day/

Who is credited for laying the foundation of Soil Science / Pedology.

Vasily Vasil'evich Dokuchaev is commonly regarded as the father of pedology, the study of soils in its natural setting. He developed soil science in Russia, and was, perhaps the first person to make wide geographical investigations of different soil types. His great contribution to science was, figuratively, to "put soils on the map".

Soil Formation

Soil fertility is greatly influenced by the factors of soil formation. As soils form, nutrients are being continually removed from and added to the soil with time. The conditions that are present during soil formation ultimately determine how much and what kind of nutrients the soil can naturally supply and hold.

Soil profiles vary from place to place and the differences in soil make-up cause soils to behave and perform in many different ways. We have mentioned the process of weathering when we discussed soil mineral composition. Now, we will discuss the processes of weathering in terms of soil formation. We will begin by looking at the 5 factors of soil formation that cause great differences in the development of soil profiles.

http://soilweb.landfood.ubc.ca/landscape/soil-formation

The soil is Life

A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.

Franklin D. Roosevelt 

 

What makes soils different from one another?

Soil scientists describe soil as a natural body that forms as the result of five factors: Climate, Organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms), Relief (shape of the landscape), Parent materials, and Time. This can be explaines as a function as follows.
S = function (Climate, Biota, Slope (Relief), Parent material, Time)
These five factors are referred to as ClORPT, for short (kind of a mnemonics).
To know more about this fact please do read this blog post : What makes soils different from one another?

Is soil renewable or non-renewable resource? Can you explain the answer

Is soil renewable or non-renewable?

I recently got into a conversation with someone who claimed soils are a renewable resource because the nutrients in them can be replaced with fertilizers. But I’ve heard that soil takes a really long time to form, so that to me makes it non-renewable. What’s your opinion?

Read the article appeared in this Blog. You will find the answer.

 

 https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2013/10/04/is-soil-renewable-or-non-renewable/is-soil-renewable-or-non-renewable resource?

Study of soil more: Comprehensive introduction to the living element of soil,