1. Mrs. Schratwieser Horticulture I
5.0 Soil Properties
Mrs. Schratwieser
Horticulture I

2. Growing Media Peat Moss Vermiculite Perlite Organic Matter Compost
Bark
Sphagnum moss

3. Peat Moss Organic (natural)
Partially decomposed material mined from swamps
Good moisture holding properties

4. Vermiculite Inorganic Mica mineral matter
Commonly used to start seeds & cuttings
Holds moisture
Neutral pH

5. Perlite Inorganic Natural volcanic ash
Aids with aeration & water holding capacity

6. Organic Matter
Dead plant or animal tissue
Contains carbon

7. Compost
Decaying organic matter
Soil conditioner
Fertilizer

8. Bark Organic Larger matter added to some media to promote drainage
Adds weight to soilless mixtures
Widely used in tree and shrub production

9. Spagnum Moss Organic Dehydrated remains of acid bog plants
Hold moisture
Very acidic
Commonly used to line wire hanging baskets

10. Advantages of Soilless Media
Sterile
pH is neutral
Disease & weed free
Good form starting disease sensitive seeds (tomato)
Easy to control the nutrient content of soil
Improves crop uniformity
Easy to create soil for particular needs

11. Disadvantages of Horticulture Soils
Expensive
Light weight

12. Additional Materials Used
Sawdust
Wood shavings

13. Sawdust & Wood Shavings
High carbon to Nitrogen ratio
N is unavailable for plant use

14. Soil Profile Soil layers – Horizons O Horizon A Horizon B Horizon
C Horizon
R Horizon

15. O Horizon Rich in organic matter Various stages of decomposition
Dark in color
Most fertile layer in the soil profile

16. A Horizon Topsoil Just below the O horizon
Earthworms and soil organisms
Brown in color due to organic matter

17. B Horizon Subsoil Clayey soil high in mineral content
Usually brown or reddish (clay)

18. C Horizon
Parent material
Mainly clumps of un-weathered rocks

19. R Horizon Bed rock Cannot be dug by hand
Very few roots can penetrate bedrock

20. Soil Structure “how the soil particles fit together”
Sandy soils – looses structure
Silty/loam have a granular structure
Clayey soils have a blocky/platy soil
Granular soil structure is the best

21. Soil Texture
Sand – largest particles (low moisture & nutrient holding capacity)
Silt – medium size particles (good moisture & nutrient holding capacity)
Clay – smallest particle size (high water & nutrient holding capacity)
Loam – almost equal parts of all three textures (ideal texture for most outside/non container plants)

22. Soil pH Measure of acidity or alkalinity of the soil 0-14 (range)
0-6.9 (low pH - Acid)
7 (neutral)
(high pH – alkaline)
Lime raises pH
Calcium or Sulfur lowers pH
Ideal pH for vegetable garden soils pH

23. Physical Properties of Soil
Permeability – rate at which water moves through
Water holding capacity – ability to hold water
Porosity – amount of air space between particles

24. Ideal Soil Makeup 50 % - pore space 50% - soil
Pore Space: 25% water, 25 % air
Soil: 45% mineral matter, 5% organic matter

25. Soil Sample Testing for accurate fertilizer recommendations
Growing plant
Should be done 1 growing seasons before planting

26. Soil Sample Procedures
Create a visual grid of area to be planted (5-10 subsamples from the site)
Use a stainless steel soil-sampling probe
4” for lawns, 6-8” crops
Mix soil samples together
Remove any grass, rocks, other materials than soil
Avoid unusually spots, separate box
Place in soil sample box (Extension office), fill our sample information sheet
Mail box and information to Agronomic Division Soil Test Lab in Raleigh (free)