Soil Maturity

the stage at which soil is ready for tillage (physical maturity) or crop cultivation (biological maturity). Soil is physically mature when it attains a moisture level that enables it to break into clumps measuring 1–10 mm. (With a higher moisture content, the soil sticks to the tillage implement; with a lower moisture content, the soil breaks into large clumps and clods.) In the mature stage, the soil crumbles best, offers least resistance to tillage, and, when tilled, creates an optimum ratio among the solid part, the air, and the water. Soil maturity is determined by the eye: it is judged by seeing how a soil sample crumbles after being tossed from a shovel or thrown from the hand. Biological maturity is attained when soil has been well tilled and reaches optimum humidity and warmth.