Physical constraints of fine textured heavy soils and their management - A review

Of the many forms of above- and below-ground stresses facing agriculture production, physical soil limitations are generally among the most persistent and least amenable to amelioration. Fine textured heavy soils have physical constraints that severely affect soil and plant health and yield parameters and there is a need to study the problems of these type of soils and find possible measures to ameliorate these problems. Reasons for these problems along with possible preventing measures have been discussed. These soils have severe soil aeration problem due to restricted soil water movement within the profile. The affects of these constraints on crop growth and productivity were highlighted. For efficient crop production, it is important to understand the soil environment in which plants grow, to recognize the limitations of that environment and to ameliorate where possible without damaging the soil quality. For satisfactory plant growth, it is essential that the soil provides a favourable physical environment for root development that can exploit the soil sufficiently to provide the plants needs for water, nutrients and anchorage.