In addition to acidity and nutrient content, to plant plants it is necessary to know the mechanical composition of soils, which reflects the content of sand, clay, and dust in them. Soils in which 10-20% of fine clay particles are classified as sandy loam soils, characteristic of the temperate zone.
The mechanical composition can be determined by rolling a sausage with a diameter of no more than 35 mm from moistened soil. If it does not crack when folded into a ring, then the soil is clayey; if it cracks, then it is loamy; if it begins to crumble, then it is sandy loam. If the sausage does not roll at all, then the soil is sandy. Among all this variety, sandy loam soil is the most favorable option for gardening.
Sandy loam soil is light. It is easy to loosen, water-permeable, breathable, warms up quickly, and is capable of retaining organic and minerals, which means that biological life develops better on it. However, what is its advantage is, in some way, also its disadvantage. Thus, poor soil moisture retention will cause plants to suffer during periods of drought, and during rainy periods it will be more difficult for it to retain minerals and nutrients.
Plants for sandy loam soils
Of the ornamental tree and shrub plants on sandy loam soils, pine, juniper, some willows, as well as amorpha, mock orange, currant, viburnum leaf, and heather feel great without additional care. If the soil is watered and fertilized, it is quite suitable for most fruit trees.
Lawn grass loves sandy soils. Because on well-aerated soils, cereal plants develop well - fescue, awnless brome, wheatgrass. pay attention to flower crops- silvery wormwood, pearl anaphalis, mountain weed, bergenia. Grayish-blue carnations and grass, speedwells, thyme, and sages grow well on sandy loam soils.
If you provide minimal care, then in a sunny area you can plant sunflowers, coreopsis, paniculata's gypsophila, red scurf, broadleaf kermek, as well as unpretentious cereals - barley, lagurus, haretail - and flowering legumes - peas, beans, beans.
Although sandy loam soils are considered relatively fertile, measures must also be taken to improve their condition. Regular application of peat will help to better bind solid soil particles, and the addition of manure and compost will favor the activity of soil microorganisms. However, before planting, do not forget
Any gardener knows that when growing garden crops, the yield on his plot depends primarily on the soil, its composition and properties. It is known that every natural area correspond to their own special climatic conditions. Due to such differences in weather conditions, different types soils that have different characteristics.
Basic soil properties
All soils are different appearance, structure and many other characteristics. They evaluate the composition of the soil and assign it to one type or another. Here are the main criteria for soil quality:
Color is an external property, a description of the soil, according to which it can be classified as chernozem, gray soil, red soil or yellow soil. Of course, the color depends entirely on how moist the soil is and what is included in its composition. For example, a greater amount of humus colors the soil dark or even black. A whitish color indicates the presence of salts - calcium, magnesium, gypsum, silicon and the leaching of minerals. Red and brown tones indicate the presence of iron and manganese in the rock.
This indicator is not as simple as it seems. Humidity depends not only on meteorological conditions.
Simply put, if you saturate the soil with moisture different types then it will look different. Underground currents influence the level groundwater, mechanical composition of the soil mixture.
For example, the predominance of large sand particles does not retain moisture, allowing it to pass into the lower layers. Water also evaporates quickly from this type of soil. The presence of clay particles leads to an increase in its moisture capacity.
Description and characteristics of species
The soils that gardeners, gardeners, and agronomists most often work with are:
- sandy;
- sandy loam;
- loamy;
- clayey;
- peat.
Properly organizing planting means knowing the characteristics of the soil and how to improve its properties through proper cultivation, application of the necessary minerals and fertilizers.
This easy look soil, consisting mainly of sand grains and a small portion of clay particles. It allows water to pass through well and is extremely free-flowing. If you take a handful of earth in your palm, you won’t be able to form a lump out of it. She's falling apart. Its other qualities are high breathability, thermal conductivity, and easy workability. It is difficult to apply fertilizers to such soil. They do not stay there, they go along with the water into deeper ground layers.
Such lands are poor and not very suitable for growing crops. But grow garden trees, as well as carrots, onions and strawberries on it are quite acceptable. To cultivate sandstone, it is good to introduce peat, humus and clay flour.
Sandy loam type
This soil has the best properties, is similar in composition to sandy, but still contains a higher percentage of clay impurities. By taking a handful in your hand and squeezing it, you can get a lump. But it doesn't hold its shape well. The qualities of such soil are more valuable. It retains moisture and minerals better, is breathable, dries out more slowly, warms up better, and is easier to process. You can grow all crops, not forgetting about methods of increasing soil fertility. Ways to improve such soil: applying potash and organic fertilizers, mulching, green manure and fairly frequent loosening.
Loamy lands
The best type of soil in terms of characteristics is also called loam. Contains the largest percentage of nutrients. It retains moisture well and is endowed with the ability to distribute it throughout the horizon. Easy to handle and retains heat. Such a sample forms a lump well and can be rolled out into a “sausage”, but cannot be bent into a ring. This is a special technique in agronomy for determining the mechanical composition of the soil. Such land does not need to be improved, but only to maintain its fertile properties, for which purpose it is mulched and humus is added when digging in the autumn.
The soil is clay
Or clayey, as it is also called. Clay content up to 80%. It is very heavy and dense, does not absorb water well, and sticks to shoes when wet. The structure is lumpy.
If you take a lump of damp earth, you can easily form a long sausage and roll it into a ring. At the same time, it will not crack or tear.
We can say that it looks like plasticine. Accordingly, its quality deteriorates: it contains little air, does not warm up well and allows water to pass through. It is not easy to grow garden crops on such land.
Proper cultivation will help such land become fertile. To do this, lime, ash, compost, and manure are regularly added. Careful loosening and mulching will also be beneficial.
Acid balance
Soil acidity plays a huge role in growing crops., the optimal value of which is called acid-base balance. It is one of the most important indicators of the quality of fertile land. Acidity is indicated by the “pH” symbol. When this value is equal to seven units, the acidity is called neutral. If the pH is below seven the earth is acidic. A pH above seven is called alkaline.
With increasing acidity, there is an increase in the content of aluminum and its salts in the soil, as well as manganese and other minerals. This prevents plants from developing normally. Moreover, in such soil, pathogenic bacteria, microorganisms and pests begin to actively multiply. The applied fertilizers do not decompose. All this leads to soil imbalance.
Determining acidity is very easy at home. To do this, use a simple method of litmus indicators. Soils are very often acidified. The most common method is liming. At the same time, lime displaces aluminum and its salts from the top layer of the earth, replacing them with calcium and magnesium. This reduces the toxic effect on the plant.
Amount of lime per square meter depends on the type of soil and its characteristics. The table shows the rates for applying lime to reduce acidity.
The principle is simple: the heavier and clayier the soil, the more lime it needs. It is important to remember that when applying lime, boron fertilizers are applied at the same time. Acidity should be checked periodically if adjustments are required.
After all, this indicator affects the fertility of the land, and, accordingly, the yield.
types of soils
Soil type is important to plant growth for several reasons. Soil provides plant roots with nutrients, water and air. The soil also serves to hold the plant securely.
The choice of crops, their placement, and ultimately the harvest depends on what type of soil predominates on your site. Depending on the type of soil, it is necessary to plan the application of fertilizers.
Soil composition
All soil contains three minerals: sand, silt and clay.. The largest particles are sand particles, medium-sized silt particles, and the smallest clay particles. In addition, soil contains organic elements, water and air.
Ideal soil consists of 45 percent minerals (sand, silt and clay), five percent organic material (humus, plant debris, soil organisms), 25 percent water and 25 percent air.
The type of soil is determined by the composition of its mineral part. Based on this, four main types are distinguished: loamy, clayey, sandy and silty.
|
|
|
|
Loamy soils
Sandy soils
Clay soils
Silty soils
Based on the percentage of substances, there may be options - sandy loam, sandy loam, silty loam, etc.
It happens that the soil contains a large number of other mineral impurities. Based on this, two additional types of soil are distinguished: peat and calcareous.
|
|
|
|
conclusions
Most crops prefer fertile, well-drained loamy soils. If the land on your site is different, remember that the properties of any soil. Regularly add the missing substances and organic fertilizers in the right quantities, and you will certainly have a good harvest.
To find out what type of soil predominates on your site, it is best to contact a specialist. They will help you find out not only the type of soil by its mineral content, but also the presence of useful microelements in it - phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and others.
If this is not possible, then you can find out on your own what kind of soil is in your garden - sandy, clay or other. Read more about this.
We hope the information presented will help you learn more about soil types, which, in turn, will help you get good harvests.
In contact with
Each of us who is at least a little familiar with biology understands that the success of growing garden crops depends immediately on a combination of many diverse factors. Climatic conditions, planting dates, variety, timeliness and competence of agrotechnical techniques - these are not all that have a direct impact on the harvest.
Chernozem, soil rich in humus. © NRCS Soil Health
One of the fundamental factors that often plays a dominant role in the outcome of planting a garden and setting up a vegetable garden is the type of soil. The possibility of growing certain crops, the need for certain fertilizers, and the frequency of watering and weeding will depend on the type of soil on your site. Yes Yes! All this can have significant differences and be beneficial or detrimental if you do not know what kind of soil you are dealing with.
Main types of soils
The main types of soils that Russian gardeners most often encounter include: clayey, sandy, sandy loam, loamy, calcareous and marshy. Each of them has both positive and negative properties, which means they differ in recommendations for improving and selecting crops. IN pure form they are rare, mostly in combination, but with a predominance of certain characteristics. Knowing these properties is 80% of the success of a good harvest.
Clay soil. © nosprayhawaii
It is quite easy to identify clay soil: after digging, it has a coarse, lumpy, dense structure, sticks to your feet when it rains, does not absorb water well, and sticks together easily. If you roll a long sausage from a handful of such soil (wet), it can be easily bent into a ring without it falling apart or cracking.
Due to its high density, such soil is considered heavy. It warms up slowly, is poorly ventilated, and has a low water absorption coefficient. Therefore, growing crops on it is quite problematic. However, if clay soil is properly cultivated, it can become quite fertile.
To facilitate and enrich this type soil, periodic application of sand, peat, ash and lime is recommended. Sand reduces moisture holding capacity. Ash enriches with nutritional elements. Peat loosens and increases water absorption properties. Lime reduces acidity and improves the air regime of the soil.
How much to add is an individual question, directly related to the characteristics of your soil, which can only be accurately determined in laboratory conditions. But, in general: sand - no more than 40 kg per 1 m², lime - about 300-400 g per m², for deep digging once every 4 years (on soils with a slightly acidic reaction), there are no restrictions for peat and ash. If you have a choice of organic matter, then the best option for increasing the fertility of clay soils is horse manure. Sowing green manures such as mustard, rye, and oats will also not be useless.
Plants growing in clay soils have a hard time. Poor heating of the roots, lack of oxygen, stagnation of moisture, and the formation of soil crust do not benefit the crop. But still, trees and shrubs, having a fairly powerful root system, tolerate this type of soil well. Vegetables that grow well on clay are potatoes, beets, peas and Jerusalem artichokes.
For other crops, we can recommend high beds, planting on ridges, using a shallower depth for planting seeds and tubers in the soil, and planting seedlings in an inclined manner (for better heating of the root system). Among agricultural practices, special attention on clay soils should be paid to loosening and mulching.
Sandy soil. © extension
Sandy soil is a light soil type. It will also not be difficult to recognize it: it is loose, free-flowing, and easily allows water to pass through. If you pick up a handful of such earth and try to form a lump, nothing will work.
All the qualities inherent in sandy soils are both their advantage and their disadvantage. Such soils warm up quickly, are well aerated, easy to cultivate, but at the same time they cool quickly, dry out quickly, and poorly retain minerals in the root zone (nutrients are washed away by water into the deeper layers of the soil). As a result, they are poor in the presence of beneficial microflora and are poorly suitable for growing any crops.
To increase the fertility of such soils, it is necessary to constantly take care of improving their compaction and binding properties. Regular application of peat, compost, humus, clay or drill flour (up to two buckets per 1 m²), the use of green manure (with incorporation into the soil), and high-quality mulching after 3-4 years give a decent, sustainable result.
But even if the site is still in the process of cultivation, you can grow carrots, onions, melons, strawberries, currants, fruit trees. Cabbage, peas, potatoes and beets will feel somewhat worse on sandy soils, but if you fertilize them with fast-acting fertilizers, in small doses and often enough, you can achieve good results.
For those who don’t want to bother with cultivation, there is another way to improve these soils - creating an artificial fertile layer by claying. To do this, in place of the beds, it is necessary to build a clay castle (lay out the clay in a layer of 5-6 cm) and pour 30-35 cm of sandy loam or loamy soil taken from the side onto it.
Sandy loam soil. © pictonsandandsoil
Sandy loam soil is another option for light soil mechanical composition soils. In terms of its qualities, it is similar to sandy soils, but contains a slightly higher percentage of clay inclusions, which means it has a better holding capacity for mineral and organic substances, not only warms up quickly, but also retains heat for a long time, allows less moisture to pass through and dries out more slowly, is well aerated and easy to process.
You can determine it by the same method of squeezing a handful of damp soil into a sausage or lump: if it forms but does not hold its shape well, you have sandy loam soil.
Anything can grow on such soils using conventional agricultural techniques and the choice of zoned varieties. This is one of the good options for gardens and vegetable gardens. However, methods for increasing and maintaining fertility for these soils will also not be superfluous. It is recommended to regularly apply organic matter (in normal doses), sow green manure crops, and mulch.
Loamy soil. © gardendrum
Loamy soil is the most suitable look soils for growing garden crops. It is easy to process, contains a large percentage of nutrients, has high air and water permeability, is capable of not only retaining moisture, but also distributing it evenly throughout the horizon, and retains heat well. If you take a handful of such earth in your palm and roll it, you can easily form a sausage, which, however, cannot be bent into a ring, since it will fall apart when deformed.
Due to the combination of existing properties, loamy soil does not need to be improved, but only to maintain its fertility: mulch, apply manure (3-4 kg per 1 sq.m.) during autumn digging and, as necessary, feed the crops planted on it with mineral fertilizers. Anything can be grown on loamy soils.
Calcareous soil. © midhants
Calcareous soil is classified as poor soil. It usually has a light brown color, a large number of rocky inclusions, is characterized by an alkaline environment, at elevated temperatures it quickly heats up and dries out, does not release iron and manganese to plants well, and can have a heavy or light composition. The foliage of crops grown on such soil turns yellow and unsatisfactory growth is observed.
To improve the structure and increase the fertility of calcareous soils, it is necessary to regularly apply organic fertilizers, not only for basic cultivation, but also in the form of mulch, sow green manure, and apply potash fertilizers.
Anything can be grown on this type of soil, but with frequent loosening of row spacing, timely watering and thoughtful use of mineral and organic fertilizers. The following will suffer from weak acidity: potatoes, tomatoes, sorrel, carrots, pumpkin, radishes, cucumbers and salads, so they need to be fed with fertilizers that tend to acidify rather than alkalize the soil (for example, ammonium sulfate, urea).
Peat medium-decomposed horizon of sod-podzolic soil. © own work Swampy soil
Swampy or peaty soils are also used for setting up garden plots. However, it is quite difficult to call them good for growing crops: the nutrients they contain are not readily available to plants, they absorb water quickly, but release water just as quickly, do not warm up well, and often have a high acidity level. But such soils retain well mineral fertilizers and are easy to cultivate.
To improve fertility marshy soils, it is necessary to saturate the soil with sand (for this it is necessary to carry out deep digging so as to lift the sand from the lower layers) or clay flour, use abundant liming in especially acidic varieties, take care of increasing the content of beneficial microorganisms in the soil (apply manure, slurry, compost, do not bypass microbiological additives), do not forget about potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.
If you are planting a garden on peat soils, it is better to plant trees either in holes with individually laid soil for the crop, or in bulk hills with a height of 0.5 to 1 m.
Carefully cultivate the soil under the garden, or, as in the case of sandy soils, lay a clay layer and add loam mixed with peat, organic fertilizers and lime onto it. But if you grow only gooseberries, currants, chokeberries and garden strawberries, then you don’t have to do anything - just water and pull out the weeds, since these crops can be grown on such soils without cultivation.
Chernozem. © carlfbagge
Chernozems
And, of course, speaking about soils, it is difficult not to mention black soils. On our summer cottages They are not found so often, but are worthy of special attention.
Chernozems are soils of high potential fertility. A stable granular-lumpy structure, high humus content, a high percentage of calcium, good water absorption and water retention abilities allow us to recommend them as the best option for growing crops. However, like any other soils, they tend to deplete from constant use, so already 2-3 years after their development, it is recommended to apply organic fertilizers to the beds and sow green manure.
In addition, chernozems can hardly be called light soils; therefore, they are often loosened by adding sand or peat. They can also be acidic, neutral and alkaline, which also requires its own adjustment.
Chernozem. © Axel Hindemith To understand that you really have black soil in front of you, you need to take the guest of the earth and squeeze it in your palm; a black, greasy imprint should remain on your hand.
Some people confuse black soil with peat - here, too, there is a way to check: squeeze out a wet lump of soil in your hand and put it in the sun - the peat will dry instantly, but the black soil will retain moisture for a long time.
There are several types of soils that differ in their content of sand, clay and other elements. Knowing their main characteristics and features, it will be easier for you to organize planting, since you can improve their properties by treating the soil and adding the required substances and fertilizers to it.
Characteristic:
- Clayey, characterized by a high level of fertility and at the same time difficulties in processing. Such soil will retain water, compacting over time. In the spring, planting in an area with clay soil must be carried out later than planned, since it takes a long time to heat up and dry out - because of this, it also needs to be watered frequently in the summer. In order for it, like other crops, to proceed efficiently, it is best to add peat, coarse sand, leaf humus, and once every three years the land is limed. If you cultivate the land well, then fruit trees and many garden crops (potatoes) and flowers (knotweed and) will develop well and produce rich harvests.
- Sandy ones, which are easy to process. However, due to the fact that they are accessible to water, problems may arise when applying fertilizers - they will simply be washed out of the soil. To avoid this, it is necessary to add nutrients and organic matter in small doses twice a year: in autumn and spring. In an area where sandy soil predominates, it is best to grow grapes, pears, and strawberries.
- Loamy soils that are best suited for gardening. Among their main characteristics, it is worth noting good moisture capacity, air capacity and ease of processing, due to which they do not need to be constantly dug up and improved by applying fertilizers. Any crop can be grown on such land.
- Peat, characterized by a low content of phosphorus, potassium and calcium. If treatment is not carried out, trees and bushes, flowers and other crops will develop poorly. Soil properties can be improved by draining and liming.
- Calcareous, which warms up quickly and is well processed. True, they are also distinguished by poor moisture absorption, and therefore, with infrequent watering, your plants will not have enough water. However, crops such as grapes, berry bushes, Walnut, maple
Breakdown of soils by zones and regions
Zonal soil types are a new concept; they imply soil characteristics depending on the region. Each zone has its own characteristics, which gardeners should also be aware of.
After all, 80% of success in the garden depends not on fertilizers and plant care, but directly on the quality of the soil.
The main zones of our country include:
- Tundra, which is located along the coast of the Arctic Ocean and occupies a fairly large area. Unfortunately, it is quite difficult to grow crops on such land, since it is very swampy and has a small amount of nutrients. However, you can also grow potatoes and oats here.
- Taiga forest, located in an area that occupies approximately 70% of the entire area of the country. Alas, without adding minerals and organic fertilizers In such a region, it will not be possible to achieve productivity. Not happy either high level acidity, due to which owners of summer cottages will have to add limestone. But if the processing is carried out correctly, you can expect good results when planting vegetables, grains and perennial herbs.
- Swamp, which is most often used to create hayfields.
- Forest-steppe, found in Omsk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk regions. With proper cultivation and care of plants on the soils located in this zone, it is possible to grow corn, potatoes, and various winter crops. The most important thing is protection from erosion (destruction), which requires deepening the topsoil, applying liming and fertilizers.
- Chernozem-steppe - such soils are considered the most fertile, since the land within the boundaries of this zone is distinguished by a large amount of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus).
As you can see, it is quite important to know these types, their locations and gardening capabilities. This will allow you to properly treat the soil and spend less time caring for the plants.
Determining soil fertility
The main factor in determining soil fertility is soil acidity, which reflects the presence of nutrients in it. Knowing this indicator, you can quickly take measures to improve soil characteristics. Thus, an acidity level of 7 pH is considered a normal indicator: in such soil fertilizers are quickly absorbed. To determine acidity, it is best to use a special indicator or contact a laboratory specialist.
