Abstract
Before the discovery of plant nutrients, soil amelioration and fertilization was by force of circumstance biological, i.e. done with substances taken from nature. After the discovery of plant nutrients, the chemical concept of fertility displaced the biological one. The defects of chemical cultivation — inefficiency, deterioration in product quality, diminishing productivity of soils and negative effects on the environment — have created an urgent need for the study of fertility as a result of the activity of the biocycles of the ecosystem. With the aid of the advances of modern science, we can understand the defects and deficiencies of the chemical concept of fertility and return the biological concept of fertility to its proper place. This in turn is a good starting point for productive research and developmental work towards an ecologically sustainable agriculture and forestry.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albrecht A (1958) Soil fertility and animal health. Webster City, New York
Chaboussou F (1975) Physiologie et resistance de la plante. Document Nature & Progress
Derome J (1990) Effects of forest liming on the nutrient status of podzolic soils in Finland. In: Sottl HW, Huttl RF (eds) Management of nutrition in forests under stress. Proceedings of IUFRO symposium, Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany, September 18–21, 1989. Water Air Soil Poll 54:337–375
Howard A (1943) An agricultural testament. Oxford University Press, London
Ingestad T (1977) Hur bör den konventionella gödslingmetodiken förändras — och vaför. In: Skogsgödsling nu och i framtiden — en lägesorientering. K Skogs O Lantbr Akad Tidskr (Suppl. 11):43–51
Kaunisto S, Moilanen M, Issakainen J (1993) Apatiitti ja flogopiitti fosforin ja kaliumin lähteenä suomänniköissä. Summary: apatite and phlogopite as phosphorus and potassium sources in peatland pine stands. Folia For 810:1–30
Köhler B, Lambing K, Neurohr R, Nagl W, Popp FA, Wahler J (1991) Photonenemission — eine neue Methode zur Erfassung der “Qualität” von Lebensmitteln. Dtsch Lebensmittel-Rundschau 3:78–83
Lockeretz W, Klepper R, Commoner B, Gertler M, Fast S, O'leary D, Blobaum R (1977) Economic and energy comparison of crop prduction on organic and conventional corn belt farms. In: Lockeretz (ed) Agriculture and energy. Academic Press, New York, pp 86–101
Lukkala OJ (1955) Maanparannusaineet ja väkilannoitteet metsäojituksen tukena. Summary: Soil improving substances and fertilisers as an aid to forest drainage. Metsätaloudellinen Aikakauslehti 6–7:189–191, 8:273–276
Malmström C (1952) Svenska gödlingförsök för belysande av de näringsekologiska villkoren för skogsväxt på torvmark. Commun Inst For Fenn 40:17–20
Niederbudde EA, Becker HH, Schön M (1977) Veränderungen von Eigenschaften einer Schwarzerde-Parabraunerde als Folge von Stallmist-und Mineraldüngung. Landwirtschaftl Forsch 1:29–45
Popp FA, Warnke U, König HL, Peschka W (eds) 1989 Electromagnetic bio-information, 2nd edn. Urban & Schwarzenberg, Munich
Popp FA, Li KH, Gu Q (eds) (1992) Recent advances in biophoton research and its applications. Word Scientific, Singapore
Scheller E (1993a) Wissenschaftliche Grundlagen zum Verständnis der Düngungspraxis im ökologischen Landbau — Aktive Nährstoffmobilisierung und ihre Rahmenbedingungen. 2nd edn. Selbstverlag, Dipperz
Scheller E (1993b) Die Stickstoffversorgung der Pflanzen aus dem Stickstoff-Stoffwechsel des Bodens. Ein Beitrag zu einer Pflanzenernührungslehre des organischen Landbaus. Verlag Markgraf, Weikersheim
Sheldrake R (1989) The presence of the past. Fontana/William Collins, London
Silfverberg K, Huikari O (1985) Tuhkalannoitus metsäojitetuilla turvemaila. Summary: wood-ash fertilization of drained peatlands. Folia For 633:1–25
Veijalainen H, Reinikainen A, Kolari KK (1984) Metsäpuiden ravineperäinen kasvuhäiriö Suomessa. Summary: nutritional growth disturbances of forest tress in Finland. Folia For 60:1–41
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Oikarinen, M. Biological soil amelioration as the basis of sustainable agriculture and forestry. Biol Fertil Soils 22, 342–344 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334580
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334580