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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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