Vertisol is greatly different from
lateritic red earth,which is an extensively distributed zonal soil in Fujian Province,not
only in soil properties but in soil fertility and
agricultural production characters such as nutrient status,soil adsorption,moisture capacity,tillage,cropping system,fertilization effect,irrigation measures and crop yield and quality.The productivity of the vertisol exceeded that of the
lateritic red earth.The yields of rice,sweet potato,peanut,sorghum and sugarcane grown on the vertisol were obviously higher than those grown on the lateritic red earth, and some of the crops mentioned above grown on the vertisol also displayed a better quality,because the former soil possesses higher contents of nutrients,stronger nutrient and water retention ability,and more appropriate aeration status in the soil surface than the latter,which caused a series of good agricultural production characters of the vertisol in drought resistance,fertilizer saving, suitability for intercropping etc.The poor soil tilth,compact subsoil and deep crack in dry season were the major factors affecting vertisol fertility.So deep and intensive tillage must be carried out to improve soil permeability and reduce runoff loss. Spray and sprinkling irrigation should be taken to diminish leakage through cracks and to raise the utilization efficiency of water resources.Particular attention should be paid to the replenishment of the nutrition of phosphorus,potassium and trace elements such as boron and molybdenum in applying fertilizers to the vertisol.Because of the soil reaction ranging from neutral to slight alkaline,generally there would be no need of liming to the vertisol,and it would be not appropriate to grow acidophilous crops such as tea, which is now extensively grown on the latentic red earth region there,but it would be proper to be used for growing calciphilous leguminous crops.