Soil Fertility

Contents & notes: what this topic covers

Under Soil Fertility, the JAMB Agricultural Science syllabus expects you to study:

• 3. Soil Fertility a. Macro and micro-nutrients and their
• roles in plant nutrition: carbon, water
• and nitrogen cycles.
• b. The living population of the soil (flora and fauna), and their roles in soil fertility.
• c. Maintenance of soil fertility: Methods of maintaining soil fertility e.g. use of cover crops, application of organic manures, etc.
• d. Nutrient deficiency symptoms e.g.
• chlorosis, sickle leaves, stunting, apical necrosis etc.

Study notes & guidance

Study Soil Fertility using a recommended Agricultural Science textbook that follows the JAMB syllabus. Work through the contents listed above one by one, make brief notes in your own words, and then practise as many questions on this topic as you can — in Agricultural Science, understanding and steady practice matter far more than memorising. Use the objectives below as a checklist: if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Objectives — candidates should be able to

After studying Soil Fertility, you should be able to:

1. Classify plant nutrients. identify factors affecting their availability. examine the roles of soil flora and fauna in maintaining soil fertility.
2. Compare the different methods of maintaining soil fertility.
3. Differentiate between organic and inorganic fertilizer, and their methods of application.
4. Determine common fertilizer ratios.
5. Identify the deficiency symptoms and their causes.
6. Suggest remedies. Agriculture

These objectives are from the official JAMB syllabus. Use them as a checklist — if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Source: official JAMB UTME Agricultural Science syllabus (IBASS, jamb.gov.ng). Reproduced for study use. Last checked: 17 Sept 2026. Always confirm the current syllabus on the official portal.