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soil. Soils. SOIL is a dynamic system of living and nonliving components. DIRT is soil out of place. Soil components. Mineral Organic Water Air Living Organisms. Mineral components. Derived from rock The nature of the soil depends on the kind of rock and the degree of weathering
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Soils • SOIL is a dynamic system of living and nonliving components. • DIRT is soil out of place
Soil components • Mineral • Organic • Water • Air • Living Organisms
Mineral components • Derived from rock • The nature of the soil depends on the kind of rock and the degree of weathering • Mineral soil is quite permanent
Mineral components • Texture- the name of a soil is based on the mineral components if soil is less than 20% organic , it is called a mineral soil. • Particle size: • coarse SAND .2 - 2 mm • SAND 20 - 200 um (microns) • SILT 2 - 20 um • CLAY less than 2um
Soil structure • How soil clumps or aggregates • Determines pore space • Aggregates are classified by shape • Flat, prism-shaped, block-like, plate-like, and spheroid • Spheroid is optimal but the clay in Duluth is plate-like
Physical forces that result in aggregation • Freezing and thawing • Wetting and drying • Action of worms, and other organisms • Root growth
Organic componentsHumus, litter, duff • Plant, animal, bacterial, fungal remains • Always disappearing due to decay • % of organic matter depends on • Rate of accumulation • Rate of or resistance to decay • Climate • Cold /dry = minimal decay • Hot/ damp = fast decay
Importance of Organic material • Holds available minerals and nutrients • Increases water holding in sandy soil • Increases drainage by aggregating clay • Inhibits erosion
Sources of organic material for the garden • Manure from farm animals ( composted) • Green manure crops • Sewage sludge • compost
Capillary Water = available to plants • Maximum Cap water = field capacity • The amount of water available to plants is determined by: • Texture of the mineral component AND • % organic material
Water holding capacity = field capacity - wilt • SANDY SOIL SILT/LOAM • FIELD CAP 7.6 30.4 • % WILT 3.7 20.6 • AVAILABLE H2O 3.9 9.8 • Soil texture and % organic mater determines the amount of water available to plants
Soil Atmosphere • High in CO2, low in O2 • O2 necessary for cellular respiration in roots • Aquatic plants have special adaptations
Soil Organisms • Bacteria, Fungi, algae = 75% of the dry weight of organisms • Worms = 12% dry weight • Invertebrates = 13%
A Leaching Most plant growth Humification B Deposition Less organics N+K C. Parent material Horizons
% dry weight of plant Ca .5% Mg .2% S .1% O 45% H 6% C 45% N 1.5% P .02% K 1.0% NutrientsMacronutrients
% dry weight of plant Mo B Fe Cl Cu Zn Mn NutrientsMicronutrients .01% to .00001%
CHOPKINSCAFÉMIGHTY GOOD, BUT MANY MORE PREFER CLARA’S ZANYCUP
Soil fertilization • Chemical N:P:K • comes from industry • Very concentrated • Easy to apply • Organic • Comes from animals plants or rocks • Without a lot of processing • Low nutrient, heavy • Comes with a lot of organic material bulk
Fertilizer analysisis the % by weight of a nutrient • N in the form of elemental Nitrogen • P is Phosphorus as P2O5 • K is Potassium as K2O • All commercial fertilizer must have N:P:K: on the bag.
analysis ratio N P K 33 0 0 Ammonium Nitrate 1:0:0 2 1 2 Sheep Manure 2:1:2 25 5 10 Lawn Fertilizer 5:1:2 10 10 10 Vegetable Fertilizer 1:1:1 The ratio is important, grass needs lots of N, veggies will not produce if they get lots of N.
A soil test will tell you what your soil is lacking • Go online or Call the ag extension office and get a soil test kit • Follow the directions, send it in, and the results take about 2 weeks. • Add the nutrients as listed on your test report • Look at tables on pages 29s-31s
Changing pH of soil If soil is too acid If soil is too alkaline Sulfur Organic – Peat moss ( pH 4.5) • Lime (agricultural) not Hydrated • Organic ( Dolomitic Lime) Changing pH of water • add baking soda • Add an acid ( lemon juice or vinegar)
Changing soil texture To make sand retain water Add organic material Add clay ( it can be bought as a powder in bags) Add an organic mulch to the soil surface • To loosen clay • Add organic material to create aggregates to increase drainage • Add gypsum • Add sand • Work the soil when it is a the right moisture level not too wet or dry. Soil should not stick to the shovel, and a handful should break apart
If your soil is too wetbecause the water table is too high in spring Raised beds • Tiling is placing drain tile in the ground it should come out down hill.
Mixing potting soil • Soil in a pot needs to be mixed with different textures to allow air and water spaces • Common horticultural soil mixes have Peat Vermiculite and Perlite added • Soilless mixes have no actual loam added
Peat • Is the most common organic soil component, it does not need to be pasteurized. Peat has some “politics”. • An alternative is Coir
Vermiculite The ore is dried then flash heated to 1000 degrees F
Perlite/ Krum Perlite starts out as a volcanic glass and is heated to 1560-1650F and popped It is used as insulation and soil additive.
Fertilizer calculations How big is the area where fertilizer needs to be applied. According to the soil test result how many pounds of your chosen fertilizer do you need? Are you going to broadcast or side dress Or split the application spring and fall? • 32s-33s • You need to figure out how much of what fertilizer and how to apply it and when to apply
How to apply • Broadcast and till is quite common for a city garden. This happens just before transplant. • Side dress or band is what happens when you feed mid season. The fertilizer does not touch the plants. • Feeding trees usually happens as the buds swell in spring and depending on the tree thy can be foliar fed as fruit is developing.
