What is The Most Fertile Soil in the World? Wow!

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If you’re an avid gardener like me, you are likely interested in finding the most fertile soil possible for your plants.

Of course, you can buy pre-made soil at a variety of stores or use fertilizer on whatever soil you have available.

However, some gardeners swear by natural soil from some of the most fertile regions of the Earth. Read on to learn about the most fertile types of soil and where it can be found.

 

The Most Fertile Type of Soil in the World

While it is difficult to determine with certainty what the most fertile type of soil is, many experts point to chernozem, a type of soil found in Eastern Europe and southern Russia. This soil has a high humus content and high levels of phosphorus. It can also hold large quantities of water, which makes it easy for numerous plant species to grow.

 

Regions with Highly Fertile Soil

 

Eastern Europe & Southern Russia

Eastern Europe and southern Russia are where chernozem can be found. The name actually comes from Ukraine, which has large amounts of it in its northeast region.

In fact, chernozem can be up to five feet deep in Ukraine. Ukrainian soil is so valuable that it’s often sold on the black market.

This belt of chernozem also includes Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Croatia.

 

Central Canada & the American Midwest

The other major belt of chernozem in the world is found from the Canadian prairies of Manitoba to Kansas in the United States.

Aside from those places, you can also find it in some areas in Texas.

 

Western Asia

There is a large region in Asia that’s otherwise known as the “Fertile Crescent.” This region has been renowned for its soil’s fertility for thousands of years.

The Fertile Crescent includes Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey. The soil in this region is not as fertile as chernozem because it is much shallower. However, it is still rich in nutrients.

 

California

California is known for having a higher rate of agricultural production than any other state in America. It actually has several different regions that are highly fertile.

The Central Valley is the most well-known and the largest fertile region in California. It stretches from Bakersfield in the south to Redding in the north, making it as large as the Dominican Republic.

Just south of the Central Valley is the coastal Oxnard Plain, another highly fertile region.

The Los Angeles Basin is also very fertile, though much of the fertile land has been developed for commercial or residential use.

 

The Pampas in South America

The Pampas is a large fertile plain in southern South America. It covers all of Uruguay, part of southern Brazil, and much of eastern Argentina.

Not only is climate temperate, but The Pampas receives a consistent amount of rainfall throughout the year. This makes it easy to grow a wide variety of crops year-round.

 

Understanding Soil Fertility

When I decided to research soil fertility, I realized that I didn’t really understand the factors that make fertile soil so appealing to plants.

It turns out that soil fertility is not only determined by how well plants can grow in it, but also by how long it can sustain generations of plants.

Fertile soil must also be able to hold enough water for the plant’s needs, as most plants cannot get all of their water through rainfall.

Another important aspect of soil fertility is the lack of toxic substances in the soil. Pollution can take fertile soil and quickly make it poisonous for the majority of plants.

Pollution also kills off microorganisms that plants need to survive.

Finally, the soil needs to have adequate drainage to be highly fertile. The most fertile soil in the world strikes a delicate balance between holding enough water for the plants to survive but draining well enough to ensure that plants do not drown.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about the Most Fertile Soil in the World

 

Can I make my soil more fertile?

It is possible to make the soil you have in your garden more fertile. There are various fertilizer types available commercially. Some people also make their own natural fertilizers to avoid introducing the chemicals found in commercial fertilizers into their gardens. I like to choose my fertilizer based on the specific plants that I intend to grow in the soil, while also taking into account the amount of rainfall the soil will see during the current growing season.

 

Can I use soil from nature for gardening if I live in a region for fertile soil?

It certainly is possible to use soil straight from nature for gardening if you live in a fertile region. After all, that’s what farmers have been doing in your region for hundreds, if not thousands of years. However, you should take precautions like mixing the soil with diatomaceous earth to kill mealybugs and other insects that may be infesting it.

 

Why Fertile Soil is Important for Gardeners

I have had to make do with less than optimal soil from time to time, and I believe that being able to grow plants in less than perfect soil is one of the most important hallmarks of a skilled gardener.

However, I like to use the most fertile soil possible because it allows me to grow plants more quickly, does not require replacement as often as less fertile soil, and can accommodate a wider variety of plants.

I would recommend choosing the most fertile soil possible for the plants you intend to grow, even if this means purchasing commercial soil from a store.