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Published byRodney Houston Modified over 9 years ago
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Understanding our Garden’s Soil
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What Does Soil Do? Provides nutrients for the plants – NPK Regulates water Provides support for roots Filters potential pollutants
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SOIL COMPONENTS: Physical Mineral Particles – Sand – Silt – Clay – Organic Matter Air Water
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SOIL COMPONENTS: Living Microorganisms Worms Fungi Bacteria “It’s Alive!” In 1g of soil there are: >100,000,00 bacterial cells >11,000 species of bacteria Fungi and larger organisms
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COMPOSITION OF SOIL BY VOLUME
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SOIL FORMATION: ClORPT Cl imate O rganisms R elief P arent Material T ime
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SOIL HORIZONS 1.O-Horizon 1.Recognizable, recent 2.Less recognizable 3.Humus 2.A-Horizon – Mineral layer 3.E-Horizon – Elluviation layer 4.B-Horizon – Zone of Accumulation 5.C-Horizon – Clumps 6.Bed Rock
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Physical Properties of Soil Color Texture Structure Drainage Depth
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SOIL COLOR
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SOIL TEXTURE Sand, Silt, Clay – Excludes organic matter Water holding capacity Irrigation frequency Nutrient holding capacity Fertilization frequency CLAY LOAM SAND high medium low low medium high high medium low low medium high
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Structure, Drainage, and Depth Structure is the shape soil takes based on its physical and chemical properties – Destroyed by over-tilling and traffic Soil drainage is improved by adding organic matter The deeper the soil, the greater the storage capacity for water and nutrients
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SOIL pH pH is a measure of the acidity or the basicity of the soil 0 2468101214 ACID BASIC NEUTRAL PLANT GROWTH
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Effects of pH on Nutrient Availability Reprinted from the Arizona Master Gardener Manual, Chapter 2, page 20.
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IRON CHLOROSIS Iron deficiency appears on the youngest leaves of plants growing in alkaline soils.
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SOIL AMENDMENTS Complete fertilizers – NPK Incomplete fertilizers – Missing at least one of the primary nutrients Organic fertilizers – Remains or by-products of plants or animals – Release nutrients slowly Blood and bone meal Fish emulsion Manure
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MANURES % ofNPK Chicken manure4.42.12.6 Cow manure1.90.72.0 Pig manure2.10.81.2 Horse manure1.40.41.0 Sheep manure3.50.61.0
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NITROGEN Necessary for formation of chlorophyll, as well as building amino acids for proteins. Nitrogen deficiency symptoms – Yellowing leaves beginning in oldest leaves – Leaf tips and margins yellow and dies – Plants are stunted.
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PHOSPHORUS Phosphorus is necessary for almost all aspects of plant growth and is essential for flower and fruit formation Phosphorus deficiency symptoms – Dark green foliage – Purplish foliage on stems – Reduced growth – Delayed maturity or reduced flowering
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POTASSIUM Potassium is necessary for the formation of sugars, starches, carbohydrates, protein synthesis and cell division in roots and other parts of the plant. Potassium deficiency symptoms – Leaf tips and margins burn – Affects oldest leaves first – Plants have weak stalks – Small fruit
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Sources of NPK ConventionalRenewable NitrogenSynthesized from natural gas: Urea, anhydrous ammonia Fixed from the air by rhizobacteria associated with legumes, Manure and compost; blood meal PhosphorusMined in Florida, Canada Rock phosphate Manure, compost, bone meal; fish emulsion PotassiumMined in Canada Green sand Manure, compost
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IMPROVING SOIL: Cover Cropping Mixing vegetable plants with other crops such as grasses and legumes. Add nutrients and organic matter to the soil Helps hold moisture Improves soil texture Prevents erosion
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IMPROVING SOIL: Compost—Nature Recyles! Transformation of raw organic materials into biologically stable substances suitable for plants Improves soil structure, texture, and aeration. Increases water-holding capacity Increases nutrients
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IMPROVING SOIL: Crop Rotation Planting crops in a prescribed rotation Builds soil nutrients Crops help to fertilize each other “Tricks” pests Adds diversity
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IMPROVING SOIL: Reduced Tillage
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