The situation and productiveness of the soil constitutes the value of the land.

Explanation

(English-origin maxim.) In assessing the value of land for any legal purpose — condemnation, taxation, or damages — the court must consider both the quality of the soil and its productive capacity.

Where this applies

• A court determining just compensation for a condemned farm considers both its prime location near a highway and the richness of its soil.
• A tax assessor values agricultural land based on what it can actually produce, not just its acreage.
• An appraiser for an eminent domain case factors in both the land's proximity to a river and its ability to grow high-value crops.