Productive soil vs fertile soil: The productivity of the soil is determined by the inherent qualities of the soil and its ability to provide physical and chemical conditions necessary for plant growth. The fertility of the soil, on the other hand, is determined not only by the inherent qualities of the soil but also by the addition of organic or inorganic materials that are beneficial to plant growth.

Productive soil is rich in organic matter and nutrients, which makes it an ideal place for plants to grow. Fertile soil, on the other hand, has a high level of minerals and nutrients, making it an ideal place for plants to grow.

Productive soil vs Fertile soil

Fertile soil definition: Soil fertility refers to the ability of soil to supply all the essential nutrients to plants in adequate amounts, available forms, and in suitable proportions (balance). It is measured in terms of available forms of essential nutrient elements in the soil at any given time.

Productive soil definition: Soil productivity refers to the ability of soil to produce crops. Productivity is a broader term that includes fertility as one of the important factors which contribute towards crop yield. This is not a soil property alone but the function of several factors like management practices, irrigation, drainage, plant protection measures, climate, etc. This is measured in terms of harvests or crop yield in relation to production factors for a specific kind of soil.

All productive soils are must be fertile, but all fertile soils may not be productive -Explain

A soil may be fertile but may not be productive. For example, saline soil may have all the essential elements for plant growth but cannot be fertile because of excess Na-salts, which disturb the balance with other nutrient ions like Ca2+ Mg2+, K+, etc. But a productive soil is, of course, fertile soil.

Thus soil fertility represents the status of available plant nutrients in the soil while soil productivity indicates the resultant effect of various factors influencing crop production, both within and beyond the soil. Soil productivity and soil fertility are two terms that always create confusion in our minds.

Soil fertility is the status or the inherent capacity of the soil to supply nutrients to plants in adequate amounts and in suitable proportions. It does not include the climatic condition and production management of crops.

It is the potential status of the soil to produce crops. It depends upon the physical, chemical, and biological factors of soil. The fertility of a certain soil is the same in all climates. It refers only to the status or the inherent capacity of the soil to supply nutrients to plants in adequate amounts and in suitable proportions. 

On the other hand, Soil productivity is the capacity of the soil to produce crops with specific systems of management (e.g Irrigation, pesticide application, fertilizer & manure application, weeding, gap filling, thinning, pruning, etc.) and is expressed in terms of yields. It is a broader term used to indicate crop yields.

It’s the result of various factors influencing soil management. It can be assessed in the field under particular climate conditions. It depends upon location, fertility, physical conditions, etc. It is not an inherent property of soil. Soil productivity differs according to the variations in climate and location. 

All productive soils are must be fertile, but all fertile soils need not be productive. It may be due to some problems like waterlogging, saline or alkaline condition, adverse climate, etc.

Under these conditions, crop growth is restricted though the soil has sufficient amounts of nutrients. We can easily understand these two terms in the following equation-

• Soil fertility is the function of available nutrients of soil fertility = f (Nutrient status of Soil)
• Soil Productivity = f (Soil fertility + Management + Climate)

Above all discussion, we can say that all productive soils are must be fertile, but all fertile soils may not be productive.

In conclusion, productive soil is able to provide a high yield, while fertile soil is able to produce a great crop. The main difference between the two is that productive soil has all of the right ingredients for plant growth, while fertile soil has the right balance of nutrients.

Productive soil can be created through proper fertilization and irrigation, while fertile soil can be naturally occurring or man-made. In order to get the most out of your garden or crop field, it is important to understand the difference between productive and fertile soil.