Soil Management

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Soil Management
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Weathering
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Soil formation

• There are five main groups of soil forming
  factors
• climate
• vegetation
• parent material
• type of relief
• time the soil has been forming under the
  influence of the various factors

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Soil Profiles

• General soil profile
• Letters represent horizons
• Numbers are layers within those horizons
• Code
• 0 litter
• A Topsoil area of leaching and organic matter
  accumulation
• B Subsoil area of accumulation
• C parent material
• R bedrock

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Litter build up

• Climate effects the amount of litter and humus
  found in an ecosystem.

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Components of soil

• Sand (gravel consists of elements over 2 mm)

Silt (.05 - .002 mm)
Clay (less than .002 mm)
Humus
A more or less biologically stable, dark,
amorphous material formed by the microbial
decomposition of plant and animal residues."
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Surface areas

• Approximate surface areas of 1 gram samples
• Coarse sand - half dollar
• Fine clay - basketball court

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Soil Components
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Composting

• Decomposition process
• Grass, leaves, kitchen waste (no meat products),
  plant clippings
• Heat build up kills undesirables
• Dont include weeds
• Compost bin speeds up process

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Compost Bin

• A wire or wooden bin should be constructed
• Refuse is placed on the bottom 6 to 9 inches deep
• Sprinkle a high nitrogen fertilizer over the top
  of the material
• Cover with a thin layer of soil (to supply
  microorganisms)
• Wet slightly
• Continue the layering process until the bin is
  full

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Maintaining

• Bin should be kept damp by sprinkling and should
  be turned about every 4 weeks.
• Special tools are also available for aerating
• should not replace the turning because they do
  little for heat distribution.

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Organic Matter in Soil

• Benefits of Organic Matter
• Improves aggregation and structure
• Improves infiltration
• Improves water holding capacity
• Improves rooting environment
• Slow-release nutrients

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Animal Manure

• Fresh manure can contain human pathogens.
• Salmonella, E. coli, etc.
• Vegetables eaten fresh have greatest risk.
• Pathogens die off in the environment.

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Using Manure Safely

• Incorporate manure into soil before planting.
• Wait AT LEAST 120 days between application of
  fresh manure and harvest.
• Well aged (? year) and thoroughly composted
  manure do not have pathogen risk.
• Dont use cat, dog or swine manure.

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Application

• Organic application guidelines (Middle-of-the
  road estimates)
• Poultry manure, rabbit manure 1-2 gal/10 sq. ft.
  
• Horse manure, dairy solids 1 inch
• Compost 1 inch per year in annual bed
• Compost Up to 30 to 50 by volume when making
  raised beds.

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Grow Your Organic Matter

• Green Manure or Cover Crops
• Grow your own Organic Matter
• Legumes will provide N
• Cover crop during the winter
• Early planting is best
• Soil incorporation takes work

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Soil pH

• Soil Acidity Affects
• Availability of nutrients
• Availability of toxic metals
• Microbial activity

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Desirable pH Ranges

• Garden vegetables 6 to 7.5
• Lawns 5.5 to 7
• Acid loving plants 4.5 to 5.5

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Increasing pH

• Lime (CaCO3) neutralizes acidity
• Lime supplies Ca, which is often deficient in
  acid soils
• Dolomite lime also supplies Mg
• Apply lime based on soil test, and lime only
  those crops that need it.
• For gardens without soil test 50 lb/1000 sq
  ft/year

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Decreasing pH

• Sulfur
• For gardens without soil test
• 10 to 20 lb S/1000 sq ft for sandy soils,
• 40 to 50 lb S/1000 sq ft for clayey soils
• Ammonium sulfate decreases pH slowly

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