Text 2. Soil fertility

Soil fertility (i)

The history of the study of soil is intimately tied to our urgent need to provide food for ourselves and forage for our animals. Throughout history, civilizations have prospered or declined as a function of the availability and productivity of their soils.

The Greek historian Xenophon (450–355 B.C.) is credited with being the first to expound upon the merits of green-manuring crops: "But then whatever weeds are upon the ground, being turned into earth, enrich the soil as much as dung."

Columella's "Husbandry," circa 60 A.D., advocated the use of lime and that clover and alfalfa (green manure) should be turned under, and was used by 15 generations (450 years) under the Roman Empire until its collapse. From the fall of Rome to the French Revolution, knowledge of soil and agriculture was passed on from parent to child and as a result, crop yields were low. During the European Dark Ages, Yahya Ibn al-'Awwam's handbook, with its emphasis on irrigation, guided the people of North Africa, Spain and the Middle East; a translation of this work was finally carried to the southwest of the United States when under Spanish influence. Olivier de Serres, considered as the father of French agronomy, was the first to suggest the abandonment of fallowing and its replacement by hay meadows within crop rotations, and he highlighted the importance of soil (the French terroir) in the management of vineyards. His famous book Le Théâtre d’Agriculture et mesnage des champs contributed to the rise of modern, sustainable agriculture and to the collapse of old agricultural practices such as the lifting of forest litter for the amendment of crops (the French soutrage) and assarting, which ruined the soils of western Europe during Middle Ages and even later on according to regions.

Experiments into what made plants grow first led to the idea that the ash left behind when plant matter was burned was the essential element but overlooked the role of nitrogen, which is not left on the ground after combustion, a belief which prevailed until the 19th century.

3. Using the text above, finish the following sentences:

1) The history of the study of soil … to our urgent need to provide food for ourselves and forage for our animals.

2) The Greek historian … with being the first to expound upon the merits of green-manuring crops

3) Columella's "Husbandry" advocated the use of lime and that clover and alfalfa as green manure … .

4) That method by 15 generations almost 450 years under the Roman Empire until its collapse.

5) From the fall of Rome to the French Revolution, knowledge of soil and agriculture … on from parent to child and as a result.

6) Translation of the work … to the southwest of the United States when under Spanish influence.

7) Experiments into what made plants grow first led to the idea that the ash …when plant matter was burned was the essential element.

5. Answer the following questions:

1) With what is the history of the soil study intimately tied to?

2) Why throughout the history have civilizations prospered or declined?

3) Who is credited with being the first to expound upon the merits of green-manuring crops?

4) How many generations did advocate the use of lime and that clover and alfalfa as green manure should be turned under?

5) Who was the first to suggest the abandonment of fallowing and its replacement by hay meadows within crop rotations? Who highlighted the importance of soil in the management of vineyards?