Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management
Vol. 13 No. 1 (2026)

Nutrient and productivity indices as tools for soil fertility assessment in Chebli, Mitidja Plain, Algeria

Laribi, Abdelkader (Unknown)
Krireche, Amel (Unknown)
Dehnoun, Zahida (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Jan 2026

Abstract

Ensuring food security in the face of growing global demand and environmental constraints requires sustainable management of agricultural soils. Soil chemical fertility plays a critical role in crop productivity and, consequently, in the long-term capacity of agricultural systems to meet food demands. In this context, assessing the status of key soil nutrients, namely nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, is essential for guiding effective land management strategies. The municipality of Chebli was selected for this research. Eighteen composite soil samples were collected from the surface horizon (0-20 cm) and analyzed for major fertility indicators. The study evaluated the chemical fertility of agricultural soils using both the Nutrient Index classification and the Productivity Index. All soils exhibited low total N concentrations (0.10% to 0.23%). Available P concentrations ranged from 2.07 to 75.46 mg kg?¹, with a mean value of 19.70 mg kg?¹, while available K concentrations were low (<0.4 cmol kg?1). The Nutrient Index assessment classified the soils of Chebli as having moderate fertility with respect to organic matter and available phosphorus, and low fertility for nitrogen and potassium (NI pattern: MLML). In addition, the Productivity Index identified three distinct productivity classes, with a dominance of the moderate productivity class (PI between 41 and 60). These findings provide a scientific basis for developing site-specific fertilization strategies and sustainable soil management practices. Future research should focus on long-term monitoring and the use of organic amendments to enhance both soil fertility and crop productivity.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jdmlm

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology

Description

Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management is managed by the International Research Centre for the Management of Degraded and Mining Lands (IRC-MEDMIND), research collaboration between Brawijaya University, Mataram University, Massey University, and Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of ...