Soil is a living entity harbouring microbes-fungi, bacteria,viruses, algae,micro animals and plants.Obviously the soil plane has water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and above all energy for existance.The single error committed by soil science books was treating soil as a physical entity and soil structure , texture and chemical and physical properties over emphasised.Chemical analysis of soil for micro and macro nutrients and pH alone may not reflect the biological properties of soil.The present soil testing cards are limited in scope and value to that extent.Organic carbon content is very important.The whole issue of soil as a living entity needs to be emphasised.Top soil erosion , mining, urbanization without caring top soil and export of soil are leading to infertility and zero productivity of soils.
Dr. Kuruppacharil V. Peter