What does effective soil monitoring help determine?

Effective soil monitoring is crucial in managing agricultural practices because it primarily focuses on assessing moisture and nutrient levels in the soil. By regularly monitoring these factors, farmers can make informed decisions about irrigation, fertilization, and overall soil health. Proper moisture levels are essential for plant growth, as both excess and deficiency can adversely affect crop yield. Similarly, understanding nutrient levels allows farmers to optimize fertilization practices, ensuring that plants receive the essential elements they need for healthy growth.

While the other options may provide some information about soil, they do not directly impact agricultural productivity as fundamentally as moisture and nutrient levels do. For instance, knowing the color of the soil might indicate organic matter content or drainage characteristics but does not inform immediate agricultural decisions as effectively. Similarly, the size of soil particles is relevant for understanding soil texture but does not directly help in the day-to-day management of crops. The location of pests can be important for pest management, but it is generally determined by factors other than soil monitoring alone. In agriculture, the primary goals of soil monitoring are to enhance crop performance by carefully managing moisture and nutrient availability, which is why option B is the most relevant and significant.