Improving Soil Properties
Progyp Promotes Soil and Plant Fertility and Sustainable Agriculture

Progyp is a fertilizer product that provides vital nutrients, improves soil fertility properties, and promotes sustainable agriculture. Soil fertility is the result of a number of different soil factors and processes working together. These relate to the physical, chemical, and biological components that make up the soil.

Progyp is uniquely equipped to deliver highly available nutrients and enhance the physical and chemical properties of soil resulting in improved soils and crop performance.

Soils are dynamic, complex systems of inorganic, organic, and biotic components that have the capacity to support plant life. Soils are classified on the basis of their chemical and physical properties. These properties include texture, structure, color, and the nature and properties of soil horizons.

Key Concepts

• Soils are dynamic systems composed of organic, inorganic, and living components.
• Soils are classified according to measurable and observable properties.
• Key physical characteristics of soils are texture, bulk density and porosity, all of which influence nutrient and water dynamics in the soil.
• Key chemical properties of soils include acidity (pH), cation exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation, organic matter content and nutrient availability.
• Soils are a slowly renewable natural resource that is being degraded worldwide due to erosion, desertification, salinization, and overuse.
• Understanding, interpreting, and managing soil properties can result in improved soils, more efficient nutrient utilization, improved crop performance and promotes conservation, land stewardship, and sustainable agriculture practices.

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)
Using Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) to Recommend Progyp Application RatesIn soil science, CEC is the maximum quantity of total cations, of any class, that a soil is capable of holding, at a given pH value, available for exchange with the soil solution. CEC is used as a measure of fertility and nutrient retention capacity. It is expressed as milliequivalent of hydrogen per 100 g of dry soil (meq+/100g). Clay and organic matter have electrostatic surface charges that attract the solution ions, and hold them. This holding capacity varies for the different clay types and clay-blends present in soil and is very dependent of the proportion of clay and organic matter that is present in a particular soil. In general, the higher the CEC number the higher the soil fertility.

The CEC can give insight into soil quality and site characteristics. Higher CEC likely indicates more clay, poor internal drainage, limited structure, and soil compaction in high traffic areas. Low CEC is indicative of sandy textured soils prone to drought that invariably needs more organic matter to improve water holding capacity but have open grainy structure that resist compaction.

Sulfur Deposition Map
Why Soils Deficient in Sulfur Are Increasing

Decreased sulfur deposition from rain/air. Emissions of sulfur dioxide from coal fired power plants have decreased through EPA regulations, resulting in less sulfur coming from the atmosphere.

Soil Acidity
How To Reduce Soil Acidity

Soil acidity can influence soil properties and productivity, nutrient uptake and efficiency and crop and turf production:

pH
Defining pH and Soil Acidity

Soil acidity is among the most important environmental factors which can influence soil properties and productivity, nutrient uptake and efficiency and crop production.

Both macronutrient and micronutrient availability are affected by soil pH. In slightly to moderately alkaline soils, molybdenum and macronutrient (except for phosphorus) availability is increased, but P, Fe, Mn, Zn Cu, and Co levels are reduced and may adversely affect plant growth. In acidic soils, micronutrient availability (except for Mo and Bo) is increased. Nitrogen is supplied as ammonium (NH4) or nitrate (NO3) in fertilizer amendments, and dissolved N will have the highest concentrations in soil with pH 6–8. Concentrations of available N are less sensitive to pH than concentration of available P. In order for P to be available for plants, soil pH needs to be in the range 6.0 and 7.5. If pH is lower than 6, P starts forming insoluble compounds with iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al) and if pH is higher than 7.5 P starts forming insoluble compounds with calcium (Ca). Most nutrient deficiencies can be avoided between a pH range of 5.5 to 6.5, provided that soil minerals and organic matter contain the essential nutrients to begin with.

Nitrogen Fertilizers
Reducing Soil Acidity Caused by Nitrogen Fertilizers

Introduction:
Soil acidity is among the most important environmental factors which can influence soil properties and productivity, nutrient uptake and efficiency, and crop production.

Causes of Soil Acidity:
Research shows that hydrogen (H+) and aluminum (Al3+) ions are the predominant forms of acidity in soils; the higher the H+ and Al3+ concentration the lower the pH, increasing soil acidity. Each type of soil has a certain level of acidity depending upon its composition, agricultural practices, and rainfall amounts. However, various factors over time cause changes in soil pH and acidity like fertilizer practices, leaching, erosion, crop uptake of basic cations (calcium, Ca2+; magnesium, Mg2+; potassium, K+), decay of plant residues, microbial activity, and plant root exudates.

Aluminum
Reducing Soil Acidity Caused by Aluminum

Introduction:
Soil acidity is among the most important environmental factors which can influence soil properties and productivity, nutrient uptake and efficiency, and crop production.

Causes of Soil Acidity:

Research shows that hydrogen (H+) and aluminum (Al3+) ions are the predominant forms of acidity in soils; the higher the H+ and Al3+ concentration the lower the pH, increasing soil acidity. Each type of soil has a certain level of acidity depending upon its composition, agricultural practices and rainfall amounts, however, various factors over time cause changes in soil pH and acidity; fertilizer practices, leaching, erosion, crop uptake of basic cations (calcium, Ca2+; magnesium, Mg2+; potassium, K+), decay of plant residues, microbial activity and plant root exudates are all means by which the soil acidity is increased.