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By: Ben Tan
There is a complex invisible world beneath your feet and
it is necessary to make an effort to develop an appreciation
of how the state of the soil affects plant growth.
Soil is a mixture of tiny rock particles, living organisms,
chemicals and the remains of dead plants and animals. Spaces
between the particles will also contain a certain amount
of air and water depending on the type of soil.
Rocks near the earth’s surface are slowly broken
down in nature by a process called weathering. Eventually
small particles such as sand, silt and clay are formed.
These particles create the environment for billions of mostly
tiny organisms to live. Larger organisms such as earthworms
and insects are also found in soil. A healthy soil is teeming
with life.
The main aim as a hobby farmer is thus to try to improve
soil health by good management. Poor management can lead
to a loss of fertility and degradation of the soil. In extreme
cases the valuable topsoil can also be blown or washed away.
In the end poor soils lead to low quality crops lacking
in nutrition.
Below are examples of some checks I plan to carry out on
my farm with the aim of improving soil fertility.
1) Carry out a pH test in different places. This test will
determine if the soil is acid, alkaline or neutral. Most
plants prefer a pH level around 6.5. Should the pH level
be too (below 6) corrections can be made by adding lime.
Should the pH be too high (above 7) this can be lowered
by adding plenty of organic matter and mulch. Extremely
alkaline soils can be changed by adding ground sulphur.
2) Check the soil texture of the soil by rubbing some moist
soil between your fingers. This will help to determine the
type of soil present. Sandy soils will have a coarse feel.
These soils dry quickly. Adding lots of organic matter will
improve sandy soils. Very sandy soil can also be improved
by adding clay. If the soil feels sticky when rubbed it
contains too much clay. Clay soils drain slowly and are
difficult to work when wet. Adding gypsum will help in most
cases. Should the soil have a good balance of sand, silt
and clay you will be blessed with a loamy soil. These soils
are generally easy to manage and do not require treatments.
3) Check the level of organic matter in the soil. This
can be done by shaking a handful of soil in a jar and seeing
how much organic matter floats to the surface. If only a
thin layer is present on the surface, lots of organic matter
needs to be added. This means more microorganisms can be
sustained, these in turn will release essential health giving
chemicals needed by plants.
The above tests are simple to carry out and much information
is available on these topics. Further tests require equipment
or a soil testing company to analyse the soil. These include
salinity, especially if bore water is used. Individual soil
nutrient levels for Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium
as well as trace element levels can also be measured. Other
aspects such as fertilizer application and cultivation practices
to maintain soil structure also need attention.
Soil care requires years of experience and looking to older
gardeners will give you lots of essential tips. Also, experienced
gardeners can often identify soil problems by looking at
the general appearance of plants. Getting a spade and digging
around will give you information about conditions such as
waterlogging and excessive dryness.
Do all you can to look after your soil and allow your plants
to carry out the magic task of turning fertilizers and compost
into healthy and nutritious food.
About The Author
Ben Tan is a close associate of Alf, the proud owner of
a hobby farm in Australia. Ben encourages Alf to share his
wealth of hobby farming experiences by writing articles
and books. Ben helps Alf to luanch the website http://www.farmforfun.com.
Ben is also in the process of helping to get Alf's books
published.
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