sign in sign up
<<
Home , Soil pH

to Supper VOLUME 1/ ISSUE 1

Starting with Soil

What is soil and why is it so important?

Healthy soil is one of the most important elements in creating a new garden or maintaining an existing garden. It’s the main foundation or basis of producing dense foods, which are then highly beneficial to our well being. Our soil contains living organisms and we must nurture and feed it as we would ourselves.

Soil is a mixture of broken and weathered minerals and decaying organic matter. Together with air and water, it supplies, most of the for plants. We then have an abundant crop of nutrient dense foods that provide us with the nutrients our bodies need.

Healthy soil is called Humus. [def: A organic matter. It contains living These organisms provide plants with dark-brown or black organic substance organisms, mineral particles, air, most of their needs to grow and made up of decayed plant or animal water and organic materials. thrive, which includes the availability matter. Humus provides nutrients for & retention of nutrients, disease plants and increases the ability of soil The resistance and the improving of soil to retain water OR The dark organic structure. The use of chemicals will material in , produced by the Healthy soils are a living system that kill the beneficial organisms, resulting decomposition of vegetable or animal we can’t see. Most of the millions in a dead soil which is then more matter and essential to the fertility of of organisms that live in the soil are likely to have an increase in diseases the earth.] is de-composing beneficial micro-organisms such and nutrient deficiencies. matter, fully decomposed is humus. as fungi, bacteria, protozoa, and nematodes offering systems that The soil food web is a diverse Soil is a combination of mineral and encourage good plant growth. community of organisms living all or organic particles produced by the part of their lives in the soil. Microbial combined action of wind, waste and This is known as the Soil Food Web. diversity is larger than the diversity of VOLUME 1/ ISSUE 1 organisms that live above the soil. for the storing of water, air, nutrients, the great work that these microbes are microbes and organic matter. Soils doing for us all. Digging or turning They range in size from tiny bacteria, with a high level of soil clumps are the very top layer of soil can benefit algae, fungi, and protozoa, to more stable and less susceptible to the at times, so long as nematodes and micro-arthropods, erosion and . organic matter is included. This will to the visible , insects, help to increase the air content of small vertebrates, and plants. As Plants depend on beneficial micro- heavy soils. these organisms eat, grow, and move organisms in the following ways: through the soil, they make it possible Most of the plant’s nourishment comes to have clean water, clean air, healthy • to protect them from pathogens, from the soil. The nutrients are made plants, and good water flow. • to retain nutrients in the soil so they up of minerals from the earth. Other do not leach from the root zone, nutrients come from dead plants and Functions of a healthy food web • to cycle nutrients into plant available animals. As plants cannot use most of forms these nutrients directly, they have to • The food web improves soil structure • to improve uptake of soil and/or be converted into a useable form by by binding pieces of soil (, , foliar nutrients, organisms which live in the soil. In , organic matter, roots) together and • to break down soil pollutants return plants help soil organisms by by building airways and passageways • to build the air passageways that secreting sugars and enzymes back through the soil. Unrestrained enable air and water to penetrate deep into the soil. movement of air and water are vital into the soil and be retained. This to maintain healthy plants and the soil enables the plants roots to grow as To create a healthy Soil Food Web food web itself. Good soil structure deep into the soil as possible enabling we need to ensure a correct soil pH allows water to drain from too wet soil them to obtain water and nutrients at and soil structure, containing organic and assists soil to hold water when it all times matter to then provide the nutrients in starts to dry out. If the organisms that perform these a way the plant requires. key functions are missing, they need • The microbes provide nutrients that to be replaced. What is organic matter ?? are held in the soil until the plant requires them and are in the proper All living organisms eat, excrete and, Organic matter is anything that forms that will enable a plant to access in turn, are food for something else contains carbon compounds that were them. therefore these processes can be said formed by living organisms. It covers • Retention of nutrients so they do to be cyclical in nature. a wide range of things like lawn not leach from the soil. Retaining the clippings, leaves, stems, branches, natural nutrients means a decrease in Plants excrete foods from their roots , algae, lichens any parts of the need for fertiliser usage. which bacteria and fungi thrive on. animals, manure, droppings, sewage • Building the soil structure, so that Many of these organisms are beneficial sludge, sawdust, insects, earthworms the oxygen, water and other nutrients species that inturn protect the roots and microbes. can easily absorb into the soil thus from pathogen and pest attack. enabling plants to develop a deep, 3 main components of organic matter well-structured root system Soil organisms carry out a number of in soils: • Suppression of disease-causing important processes that may: organisms • dead forms of organic material - • Fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, • assist plants in obtaining nutrients Carbon making it available to plants from soil, • living parts of plants - Nitrogen • Control of toxic compounds through • degrade toxic substances, • living microbes the breakdown or decay of these • cause plant disease, organic materials. • reduce plant disease, and The largest component is the dead • assist or hinder water penetration matter. Living plant parts and the The Soil Food Web is an integral part into soil. microbes make up the remainder. of landscape processes. Soil organisms This is the matter we call humus, decompose organic compounds, Organisms contribute in a variety of which originates from dead organic including manure, plant residues, ways to the condition of soil. Limiting material. and pesticides, preventing them the digging or use of machinery from entering water and becoming will also ensure there’s a high level When microbes die, their cells break pollutants. of earthworms and other micro- down and the nutrients contained organisms in the soil. Excess digging within them become available to Many organisms increase the clumps and machinery use will damage the plants and other soil organisms. of soil particles, which are essential delicate structure of the soil and hinder Microbes can access nitrogen in the

2 VOLUME 1/ ISSUE 1 soil more easily than plants can, so the roll it into any shape Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorus, plants sometimes miss out. This means , Sulphur and . that if there is not enough nitrogen With a loamy soil, you will see a ball Micro are trace elements and these for all the organisms, the plants will forming, but will usually fall apart. include Zinc, Copper, Iron, Boron, probably be nitrogen deficient. This , Molybdenim. Plant is why incorporating organic matter The silky clay particle will bind disorders are the result of too much into soils can change the amount of the soil together, whereas the sand, (toxicity) or too little (deficiency) of nitrogen (and other nutrients) that is having larger particles, will not retain nutrients/ elements. available to plants. Soils must have a it’s shape. high level of organic matter and soil Improving your soil microbes. Testing your Soil pH level Adding organic matter can also “Caring for your garden, feeding increase the activity of earthworms, the soil and then harvesting and which then improves the way the preparing food for yourself, your soil holds together. If organic matter family and friends is the ultimate is retained in the soil, the number of nurturing of the soul. If we care microbes in the soil increases. This about what goes in and what is because the microbes can use the comes out of the earth we are organic matter as a source of energy feeding our body everything it and so they can grow and multiply. needs to thrive” Cath Manuel The plants ability to access nutrients Soil Types in the soil largely depends on the soil’s I believe in feeding the soil, not the pH level and each plant has its own pH plants. If your soil is well fed and There are three basic soil types - Sand, requirement. pH (per ) is the balanced then the plants have the , Clay. Also there’s sandy loam term given to indicate the Hydrogen ability to uptake the nutrients and and clayey loam. or positive charged Hydrogen moisture they need. By adding plenty atom. The pH scale is measured from of organic matter to the soil you are Sand has large particles, good 1 to 14 with being the lower encouraging the increase of microbes , poor water holding, high number and alkaline a higher number in the soil, which will in turn improve , good root development, and 7 being neutral. Knowing your the soil structure ready to grow healthy good aeration, high erosion and low soil’s pH level is very important as the plants. compaction level has to be correct for the plants in your garden to access nutrients. Improve existing garden areas Clay has small particles, is dense, Get to know what each plant’s pH hold nutrients well, bad drainage, requirements are then test your soil If you have existing areas that could poor aeration, low leaching, hard or and make any adjustments before be transformed into highly productive restricted root development, can have planting. pH test kits are available at veggie gardens take these simple steps lower erosion and high compaction. most hardware stores, garden centres to a successful new garden. and produce stores. Loam is a balance of sand, clay and Make sure the garden has enough silt and is the best growing medium To adjust acid soils apply lime to sunlight hours, 6 hours per day is for most plants. gardens before planting and to reduce recommended in out climate. an alkaline soil add sulphur. By adding An important part of soil improvement compost you can generally balance This is the time to take a soil sample is firstly knowing what you the pH level to neutral without having to determine the soil type and pH have. The easiest method to do this is to add other products. Good compost levels. To improve soil structure add to test the soil with your hands. is about 7 or neutral pH and by adding organic matter and to balance the soil it before planting an acid or alkaline pH levels apply lime or sulphur if Collect a handful of moist soil and roll soil can become closer to neutral. necessary. Compost or organic matter it between your thumb, forefinger and will help to bring the pH level closer middle finger, as if trying to shape it Plant Nutrients to neutral without the need for any into a little ball. other products. Having the soil enriched with organic With a clay soil, you’ll be able to roll matter including , animal Before applying any ingredients it into a small ball. manures and then mulched will give remove any old bark or mulch that the plants the nutrients they need. covers the area and remove any weeds With a sandy soil, you wont be able to Macro are pure elements which include or other plants that you don’t want

3 VOLUME 1/ ISSUE 1 there. If the plants removed are not Green manure crops are useful for green manure crops and grow your invasive or have no seed heads then improving an area that will not be seasonal veggies in the other bed. the stems and leaves can be chopped used immediately or to improve soil and dropped onto the soil surface. after building, animals, poor soils or You will also have to consider that other major disturbances. most warm season plants will not be Now is the time to add organic matter. planted in the cold season and visa Start by sprinkling minerals or blood Green manure crops are a blend of versa. When deciding on your crops n bone onto the soil surface then legume and grass seeds which are sown always consider the season and our apply layers of organic matter (as directly into the soil and watered well. climate. suggested in the No-Dig information Once they reach a height of approx. below) If the soil level needs building 10-15cm (and before flowering) the up then apply a few layers of no-dig foliage is cut back and either lightly Creating healthy soil. No-Dig Gardens ingredients, enough to fill the garden tilled into top 10cm of soil or left to area. lay on top of soil (we call this chop As the name suggests, no-dig gardens and drop) and then minerals, compost are raised garden beds that don’t If there’s not enough room for all the or other organic matter is added and require any digging to get ready ingredients just ensure you use a layer area is mulched. The nutrients in the for planting. The no-dig idea was of nitrogen followed by a layer of green foliage will add highly beneficial established by a lady from Sydney, carbon, some manures, fertilisers and nutrients to the soil and improve the Ester Dean, in the 1970’s. She was ill compost/mushroom compost. Always quality of it. Some examples of green and couldn’t garden so she built her water each layer well and finish with manure crops are buckwheat, cowpea, garden beds in layers on top of old bed a layer of mulch (carbon) millet, linseed, mung bean, oats, frames. She could sit by the beds and and many more. add the ingredients and plant straight I would suggest that you wait at least into it. Since then her recipe has been 2 weeks before planting after adding is another way to care modified by many people, but using these ingredients. for your soil. Crop rotation is the the same principal of building layers method of changing the garden area of organic matter to create humus This is method of improving soil is each season for different families of (soil). recommended prior to planting or at vegetables and flowers. The reason the end of a growing season to prepare crop rotation is so beneficial is that it for the next crop. Adding plenty of increases the soil and plant resistance organic matter, nutrients, water and to pests and diseases and also limits mulching will replace anything that the deficiencies of nutrients in soils. will be lacking in your soil from a previous crop. Here’s an example of a 4 bed crop I always recommend having either a rotation system. compost system, worm farm or both. These will supply your garden with Example of Warm Season Planting rich, organic matter to help improve Bed 1 – Lettuce, Rocket, Asian The no-dig garden is similar to your soil. It’s also useful when Greens, Warm season Cabbages, composting but straight into the garden planting out seedlings or shrubs and Celery, Dwarf Beans bed. The ‘ingredients’ will break trees. Always apply plenty of compost Bed 2 – Root crops, eg Carrot, down to create rich humus filled with to new trees and shrubs to continually Beetroot, , Japanese Turnip many organisms and by using a raised feed the soil. Bed 3 – Cucumber, Zucchini, Squash garden bed the soil will have adequate Bed 4 – Tomatoes, Eggplant, Chilli, drainage during wet weather. By applying a green manure crop you Capsicum are giving your soil a good start for the Here is my suggested no-dig method. next season. This will increase your Then for Cool Season planting rotate pest and disease resistance and also the crops to the next bed. eg: These are the ingredients you will encourage good bacteria and fungi use (for a small or low garden you in the soil. By using organic growing Bed 4 crops plant in Bed 1 won’t need to use everything listed): practices and not using synthetic Bed 1 crops plant in Bed 2 compost, mushroom compost, brown fertilisers or chemicals you will Bed 2 crops plant in Bed 3 garden waste, shredded paper, encourage earthworms and microbes Bed 3 crops plant in Bed 4 newspaper, manures, minerals, blood in the soil, this allows the next crop and bone, chook pellets, fresh green of plants to utilise the nutrients stored If you have 2 garden beds just rotate garden prunings or grass clippings, in the soil. each season or rest one bed with a bale of green lucerne, brown hay or

4 VOLUME 1/ ISSUE 1 straw mulch, molasses and liquid fertilisers. All packaged ingredients will have Want some one an application rate included on on one advice the packaging. Always follow the with Cath? suggested rate to apply. If you are unsure of how much of each to use please contact me before applying. special club member Have a good balance of: carBon clippings – either garden prunings discount (Brown) dead, old and dry, eg mulch, (finely cut) or grass clippings or green newspaper, shredded paper, dry lucerne leaves, saw dust. Use more carbon • Add some blood and bone, minerals Book a 1 hour than nitrogen in each layer. or chook pellets consultation with Cath • Water nitroGen (Green) green and fresh, • Add mulch, sawdust or other fine to get your garden eg; fresh food scraps, lucerne carbon layer and water well really thriving! (green), manures, fresh weeds and • Add a layer of rotted manure – sheep, grass clippings, blood and bone, cow, horse or chook Normally Comfrey, , Arrowroot • Add another layer of carbon - and other greens. (the B and G in shredded paper soaked in molasses $150 carbon and nitrogen are a good way and liquid fertiliser works well. SPECIAL of remembering which is which…this • Apply blood and bone or minerals MEMBERS PRICE tip is great for kids to remember…) • Water well with a liquid fertiliser – kelp, molasses, worm juice, compost tea ONLY $120! The ratio for Carbon to Nitrogen is 2 • Cover with a layer of compost or parts Carbon to 1 part Nitrogen. mushroom compost Book a 1/2 hour • Add more minerals, blood and bone Skype consultation Follow this to build your garden bed. or pellets • Top with a layer of mulch. with Cath • Sprinkle some blood and bone, lime • Water well with more liquid feed to get clarity on a or minerals on the area to be covered and molasses. particular issue in and water well. your garden! • If the garden bed is to be built on Wait at least 2 weeks before planting existing grass area or on lots of weeds into garden bed as the ingredients will you’ll need to cover the area with a warm up, like a compost heap, and NOrmally thick layer of newspaper or cardboard. will also sink down in size over time. $75 This will stop anything growing If you want to plant straight away only SPECIAL into the garden bed by removing all do this in the cooler months and only light which then inhibits growth. The plant above ground crops (no root MEMBERS PRICE newspaper can be pre-soaked in water crops just yet), eg salad greens. ONLY $60 to stop it all blowing away. • Place your garden edging or tank When replanting the next season just bed over the newspaper top up existing gardens beds with a • Place each layer of ingredients on few layers of carbon, nitrogen and top of each other, remembering to compost then you’re ready to replant water everything well. and re-mulch your gardens. I use the last of my plants to chop up for an This is where the layers of carbon and added nitrogen layer. nitrogen are used with minerals, blood and bone and liquid fertiliser, making By remembering that our soils are each layer about 10cm and manures living organisms and we must nurture about 5cm. Remember to water each and feed it as we would ourselves, we layer. then have an abundant crop of nutrient • Add a layer of old brown garden waste dense foods that provide us with the SEE YOU SOON! • Spread a layer of compost over the nutrients our bodies need HAPPY GARDENING! carbon • Cover with a layer of fresh green

5