Fertilizer management . You have choices about which form and how much of a nutrient to use, and when and how to apply it. Crop choices . Each crop affects nutrient cycling differently and encourages a different mix of soil organisms. Deep-rooted crops draw up nutrients that other crops cannot reach.
Legumes can add nitrogen to the soil.
Make a list of where your soil is not working as well as you would like. Mark problem areas on a base map. If you have watched crops suffer through a drought or have seen yields jump after installing drainage tiles, then you understand that water is a fundamental factor for good crop yields. Like animals, plants need large amounts of water every day. Yet, too much water deprives roots of air and makes soil susceptible to compaction.