Edaphic factors :

A suitable soil environment is necessary for better germination, growth, development, and yield of crops.  For this, it is necessary to understand the physical, chemical, and biological environments of the soil.

a) Physical environment :

• Soil texture determines water and nutrient holding capacity, compressibility, and thermal regime.
• The brown color of the soil indicates high organic matter and fertility while red color shows good aeration and white indicates the presence of salts.

b) Soil chemical environment :

• pH affects the availability of nutrients by affecting the decomposition and solubility of the essential elements.
• Cation exchange capacity (CEC) influences the capacity of the soil to hold nutrients such as Ca, Mg, NH₄⁺, etc, and the quantity of a nutrient required to change its relative levels in the soil.

c) Soil biological environment :

• The activities of soil microfauna provide life to the soil: the higher the activities of these microorganisms ( Rhizobium, Clostridium, Nitrobactor, etc.), the more productive the soil becomes.