Authors: Isidore N. Akpan-Ebe, Nkereuwem M. John, Adedire M.O.

ABSTRACT
Like all living organisms plants need food in order to survive.  They live, grow and reproduce by taking up water, food from the soil, carbon dioxide from the air and energy from the sun (Veldkamp, 1992).  Soil is the medium in which plant growth takes place.

Soil is the medium in which plant growth takes place.  Soil provided not only a structure within which the roots of a plant can grow, but also influences the supply of water, oxygen and nutrients.  Soil is a mixture of several minerals, plant and animal left-overs, humus, rocks, water and air.  A typical soil consists of minerals (45%), water (25%), air (25%) and organic matter (5%) (Ngeze, 1998).  Plants obtain all the nutrients they require from the soil, except for carbon (C) and, in the case of leguminous plants also nitrogen (N).  Carbon and nitrogen are obtained from the air.  The soil provides the nutrients required for plant growth.
Download PDF