By: Daniel Harri
Healthy soil has been shown to lessen the need for pesticides or fertilizers. As such, the
importance of making healthy soils cannot be overlooked. You can now make your own healthy
organic soil by reading the following article.
Testing
One method of determining what minerals exactly are abundant or lacking in soil is through
simply testing it. You can test your soil through using your local extension services. These
tests normally measure the levels of various components of soil, which include phosphorous,
potassium, nitrogen, calcium, PH and magnesium. The tests may also display the macronutrient
content of the soil, but this is not important to gardeners who add lots of compost and organic
fertilizers to their soils. You can even carry out the test on your own using a kit for soil test that
you can get from your local agricultural supplier.
PH levels are very important to a plant’s capability of absorbing nutrients. Most nutrients and
minerals are easily accessible when the PH is between 6 and 7. If you have a very acidic or
alkaline soil, it does not really matter if it contains lots of nutrients since the plants will not be
capable of absorbing them. Soil test normally include the PH levels, but you can also get your
own PH Meter to determine the alkaline-acid balance of your garden soil.
It is best to get your soil tested during fall or spring since it is stable during these times.
Additionally, you can also add any organic fertilizer and other amendments during these times
should you find out that your soil falls short of these nutrients and minerals.
Improve your soil
To create healthy organic soils, you ought to add organic matter. This involves adding aged
manure and garden compost or using cover crops or mulch. This is the most effective method
of improving all components of your garden soil. While adding fertilizers is also effective, it will
only replenish specific nutrients and will not do anything for maintaining the good health of the
soil. Organic fertilizer will assist in supplying everything that your plants really need.
Water
Water is important for all life forms, which includes soil organisms and plants. However, healthy
organic soil should contain approximately 25% water.
Soils that have too much space between the pores normally have difficulty retaining water. The
water drains quickly through the soil and therefore is not beneficial to the plants. Likewise, in
silt, clay or dense soils, there is minimal pore space due to high water content. The presence of
too much water typically suffocates soil organisms and plant roots.
In effect, healthy organic soils should have both large and small pore spaces. The addition of
organic matter is highly beneficial to any soil as is helps in improving the soil structure through
forming aggregates. Furthermore, organic matter also retains water and allows plants to use it
whenever they most need it.
Air
Plants require air for not only photosynthesis above ground, but for other crucial processes
below ground. For example, air in soil retains atmospheric nitrogen, which may later be
changed into an easily accessible form to be used by plants. Additionally, soil oxygen also helps
soil organisms to survive, further benefiting the plants.
Organic soil offers sufficient space between particles to retain air that the plants are going to
use. Clay soils generally have small particles and thus it has less air content. In contrast, sandy
soil has the opposite difficulty since it has big aggregates that are spaced out. This excessive
quantity of air created in sandy soils can result in quick decomposition of beneficial organic
matter.
The addition of organic matter, particularly compost, will assist in balancing the supply of air.
Furthermore, avoid stepping inside your garden or using heavy equipment so as to prevent the
soil from being compacted. It is also recommended to avoid working or digging the soil during
wet periods.
Fertilizer
It is still recommended to use liquid or dry fertilizer to add nutrients that may not be accessible
in any other method. Moreover, organic fertilizers function somewhat slower as compared to
their artificial counterparts. The advantage of organic fertilizers is that they release nutrients
over an extended time frame. Ensure that you seek out fertilizers that will not harm the useful
soil organisms.
There are some effective organic fertilizers that are manufactured by respectable companies.
Even though they work slowly, they provide a long lasting effect. Some of the widely used
organic fertilizers are seaweed blends and fish emulsion. Compost tea is another kind of organic
fertilizer that can be made easily and is highly effective.
Healthy soil has been shown to lessen the need for pesticides or fertilizers. As such, the
importance of making healthy soils cannot be overlooked. You can now make your own healthy
organic soil by reading the following article.
Testing
One method of determining what minerals exactly are abundant or lacking in soil is through
simply testing it. You can test your soil through using your local extension services. These
tests normally measure the levels of various components of soil, which include phosphorous,
potassium, nitrogen, calcium, PH and magnesium. The tests may also display the macronutrient
content of the soil, but this is not important to gardeners who add lots of compost and organic
fertilizers to their soils. You can even carry out the test on your own using a kit for soil test that
you can get from your local agricultural supplier.
PH levels are very important to a plant’s capability of absorbing nutrients. Most nutrients and
minerals are easily accessible when the PH is between 6 and 7. If you have a very acidic or
alkaline soil, it does not really matter if it contains lots of nutrients since the plants will not be
capable of absorbing them. Soil test normally include the PH levels, but you can also get your
own PH Meter to determine the alkaline-acid balance of your garden soil.
It is best to get your soil tested during fall or spring since it is stable during these times.
Additionally, you can also add any organic fertilizer and other amendments during these times
should you find out that your soil falls short of these nutrients and minerals.
Improve your soil
To create healthy organic soils, you ought to add organic matter. This involves adding aged
manure and garden compost or using cover crops or mulch. This is the most effective method
of improving all components of your garden soil. While adding fertilizers is also effective, it will
only replenish specific nutrients and will not do anything for maintaining the good health of the
soil. Organic fertilizer will assist in supplying everything that your plants really need.
Water
Water is important for all life forms, which includes soil organisms and plants. However, healthy
organic soil should contain approximately 25% water.
Soils that have too much space between the pores normally have difficulty retaining water. The
water drains quickly through the soil and therefore is not beneficial to the plants. Likewise, in
silt, clay or dense soils, there is minimal pore space due to high water content. The presence of
too much water typically suffocates soil organisms and plant roots.
In effect, healthy organic soils should have both large and small pore spaces. The addition of
organic matter is highly beneficial to any soil as is helps in improving the soil structure through
forming aggregates. Furthermore, organic matter also retains water and allows plants to use it
whenever they most need it.
Air
Plants require air for not only photosynthesis above ground, but for other crucial processes
below ground. For example, air in soil retains atmospheric nitrogen, which may later be
changed into an easily accessible form to be used by plants. Additionally, soil oxygen also helps
soil organisms to survive, further benefiting the plants.
Organic soil offers sufficient space between particles to retain air that the plants are going to
use. Clay soils generally have small particles and thus it has less air content. In contrast, sandy
soil has the opposite difficulty since it has big aggregates that are spaced out. This excessive
quantity of air created in sandy soils can result in quick decomposition of beneficial organic
matter.
The addition of organic matter, particularly compost, will assist in balancing the supply of air.
Furthermore, avoid stepping inside your garden or using heavy equipment so as to prevent the
soil from being compacted. It is also recommended to avoid working or digging the soil during
wet periods.
Fertilizer
It is still recommended to use liquid or dry fertilizer to add nutrients that may not be accessible
in any other method. Moreover, organic fertilizers function somewhat slower as compared to
their artificial counterparts. The advantage of organic fertilizers is that they release nutrients
over an extended time frame. Ensure that you seek out fertilizers that will not harm the useful
soil organisms.
There are some effective organic fertilizers that are manufactured by respectable companies.
Even though they work slowly, they provide a long lasting effect. Some of the widely used
organic fertilizers are seaweed blends and fish emulsion. Compost tea is another kind of organic
fertilizer that can be made easily and is highly effective.
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