The problem of soil and land degradation

What is a fertile soil? A fertile soil allows the crop to produce close to the limit imposed by the environment (moisture and radiation), provided that the crop management is optimal. Soil fertility has three equally important components: soil chemical, physical and biological fertility. A reduction in any of the three components will generally result in lower yields. Soil organic matter is the key to all three components of soil fertility – reduced soil organic matter leads to less chemical, physical and biological fertility.