tilth
/tɪlθ
/noun [mass noun]
1Cultivation of land; tillage.
1.1 [in singular] The condition of tilled soil, especially in respect to suitability for sowing seeds: he could determine whether the soil was of the right tilth...
- Peter's whole farm is like a research farm where he tries different cover crops and studies their effect on insect populations as well as the tilth of his soil.
- Heavy repeated applications of manure and/or sludge increase soil fertility and enhance the tilth of minesoils.
- Historically, when forages were part of the rotation, crop rotations positively affected nutrient release and improved tilth.
1.2Prepared surface soil: the final levelling of a tilth...
- Select a sheltered, well-lit spot with a well-drained soil and dig over the earth to remove all weeds, before raking the surface to establish a fine, level tilth.
- The land should be well ploughed to the depth of 15 cm to 20 cm, and harrowed to provide reasonable tilth and good ridges.
- The soil has to be either specifically-designed seed-raising mix when growing them in pots or punnets, or a well-worked, light, fertile tilth when growing in garden beds.
Origin
Old English tilth, tilthe, from tilian (see till3).