tilth

tilth
/tilth/, n.
1. the act or operation of tilling land; tillage.
2. the state of being tilled or under cultivation.
3. the physical condition of soil in relation to plant growth.
4. land that is tilled or cultivated.
[bef. 1000; ME, OE. See TILL2, -TH1]

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Physical condition of soil, especially in relation to its suitability for planting or growing a crop.

Factors that determine tilth include the formation and stability of aggregated soil particles, moisture content, degree of aeration, rate of water infiltration, and drainage. The tilth of a soil can change rapidly, depending on environmental factors such as changes in moisture. The objective of tillage (mechanical manipulation of the soil) is to improve tilth, thereby increasing crop production; in the long term, however, conventional tillage, especially plowing, often has the opposite effect, causing the soil to break down and become compacted.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Tilth — Tilth, n. [AS. til?, fr. tilian to till. See {Till} to cultivate.] 1. The state of being tilled, or prepared for a crop; culture; as, land is good tilth. [1913 Webster] The tilth and rank fertility of its golden youth. De Quincey. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tilth — [tilth] n. [ME tilthe < OE < tilian (see TILL2), akin to OFris tilath, cultivation] 1. a tilling or being tilled; cultivation of land 2. tilled land …   English World dictionary

  • tilth — (n.) labor, work (especially in agriculture), O.E. tilþ, from tilian to till (see TILL (Cf. till) (v.)) + TH (Cf. th) …   Etymology dictionary

  • tilth — ► NOUN 1) cultivation of land; tillage. 2) the condition of tilled soil. ORIGIN Old English, related to TILL(Cf. ↑tillage) …   English terms dictionary

  • tilth — n. 1 tillage, cultivation. 2 the condition of tilled soil (in good tilth). Etymology: OE tilth(e) (as TILL(3)) …   Useful english dictionary

  • tilth — noun cultivation of land; tillage. ↘the condition of tilled soil. ↘prepared surface soil. Origin OE tilth, tilthe, from tilian (see till3) …   English new terms dictionary

  • tilth — [[t]tɪlθ[/t]] n. 1) agr. tillage 2) agr. the physical condition of cultivated soil in relation to plant growth 3) agr. the condition of cultivated soil: crumbly tilth[/ex] • Etymology: bef. 1000; ME, OE; see till II, th I …   From formal English to slang

  • tilth — /tɪlθ/ (say tilth) noun 1. the act or operation of tilling; tillage. 2. the state of being tilled. 3. the physical condition of soil in relation to plant growth. 4. tilled land. {Middle English and Old English, from Old English tilian till2} …  

  • tilth — noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from tilian to till Date: before 12th century 1. cultivated land ; tillage 2. the state of aggregation of a soil especially in relation to its suitability for crop growth …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tilth — noun a) The state of being tilled, or prepared for a crop; culture. b) Rich cultivated soil. See Also: till, tillage …   Wiktionary

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