Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

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Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for Organic Vegetable Production
soil biodiversity refers to the relative abundance and varied population of living organisms, both animals and
plants, in soils, which interact to influence profoundly the physical and chemical trends in soil changes.
soil-borne organisms refer to all harmful and beneficial organisms living in the soil. Some soil-borne
organisms are involved in the degradation of higher plant tissues. Even while, growing, plants are
subject to attack by some soil-borne organisms.
soil fertility refers to inherent capacity of a soil to supply nutrients to plants in adequate amounts and in
suitable proportions.
soil horizons are the individual layers in a soil profile. The upper layers of a soil profile generally contain
considerable amounts of organic matter and are usually darkened appreciably because of such an
accumulation.
soil-inhabiting pests refer to all pests whose main harborage or habitat, in the absence of a suitable host, is
the soil.
soil productivity refers to the ability of a soil to yield crops and is a broader term since soil fertility is only
one of the factors that determine the magnitude of crop yields.
soil profile refers to the vertical section of a soil showing the presence of more or less distinct horizontal
layers. Every well-developed, undisturbed soil has its own distinctive profile characteristics, which are
used, in soil classification and survey and are of great importance. In judging a soil, one must consider
its whole profile.
soil solarization is a cultural management practice whereby soil under is exposed to sunlight for some time
after cultivation to kill soil-borne pests and disease-causing pathogens in prepared seedbeds, beds, or
plots intended for growing of vegetables.
soil structure refers to the arrangement of soil particles into groups or aggregates. The soil texture and soil
structure help determine not only the nutrient-supplying ability of soil solids but also the supply of water
and air so important to plant life.
soil test kit (sTK) is a simple, handy tool for a quick soil chemical analysis that measures amount of available
soil nutrients. Soil testing can be done right in vegetable fields and results are obtained within a few
hours. It is a useful tool for farmers and extension workers who need immediate answer to question of
what kind and amount of organic fertilizers to use for a crop in a particular soil.
soil texture is concerned with the size of mineral particles. Specifically, it refers to the relative proportions
of particles at various sizes in a given soil.
solanaceous vegetables are vegetable crops belonging to the solanaceous or nightshade family, whose
economically useful parts are the fruits, such as tomato, eggplant and pepper. Potato belongs to this
family, although it can also be classified under root, tuber and bulb vegetables because it is grown for its
tuber and is cultivated in a similar manner as the root and bulb vegetables.