How to improve the fertility of sandy soil. How to improve the fertility and composition of the soil on the site

Can "rich" soil in the country give a low yield? Of course it can! Our summer residents do not always understand the meaning of the word "rich", thinking that this concept is equivalent to the term "fertile". In fact, rich soil is called in which there are many useful components. But they may not be available to plants due to the poor structure of the soil layer. Roots just can't get them. And considered fertile is soil rich in substances with a good structure, thanks to which the maximum of substances and water will get to the roots.

Video about the causes of land depletion

And the task of the summer resident: not to “fill up” the land with an abundance of fertilizers, but to make them fertile by processing and adding certain components that will improve air circulation, moisture capacity, etc.

But for this you need to know what is the mechanical composition of the land in your country house: clay, loamy or sandy.

What soil is fertile?

How to determine the composition of the soil yourself

To determine the composition of the soil, take a lump of earth, wet it with water to make a mass that resembles a thick dough. Then roll an elongated cord out of the soil and try to twist the ends into a steering wheel. Look at the quality of the bend. If you managed to mold a bagel, and at the same time the soil did not crack, then it is clay. Small cracks in the fold will tell you that the soil is loamy. If the ground is sandy, then you won’t even be able to twist the tourniquet.

Now that the composition of the soil is clear, let's figure out what is useful and "unuseful" for each of these types of soil, and whether there is a chance to improve it.

Clay soil easily rolls into a tourniquet

How they "fight" with clay soil

This is just the case when the earth is rich, but not a single plant gets these riches. Such "greedy" land is considered infertile, because it:

• heavy;
• weakly warms up;
• with poor air circulation;
• there is a lot of moisture on the surface, but it weakly passes into the deeper layers;
• at hot temperatures, the surface becomes covered with a dense crust.

In order for the harvest to please, it is necessary to facilitate dense structure and make it looser. For this, sand is added (per m² - 30 kg), peat. To increase the number of active bacteria, add manure, compost. To avoid acidification - lime.

Plowing the site should raise layers of more than 25 cm to saturate the earth with oxygen.

Planting crop seeds in clay soil is shallower so that it is easier for the roots to reach the water and get as much air as possible. So the potatoes need a depth of 6 cm.

Seedlings are laid at an angle so that the root system warms up to the maximum by the sun.

Loamy soil: lucky you

Loamy soil occupies the middle between sandy and clay, having a large supply useful substances. At the same time, the structure is much better than clay. All substances of the plant are easily extracted, therefore, special agricultural technology is not carried out on such land. Unless, as she is exhausted, she will have to be fed (as well as everyone else!).

Spread manure or compost effectively as mulch.

Poor soil is sandy

Sandy soil is distinguished by an even yellow color.

If the site "pleased" with sand, then in it nutrients few. Of course, the soil structure is good: it quickly passes moisture, warms up in a short time, there is a lot of air. In spring, the sand is the first to be ready for planting. But the water instantly evaporates, which nullifies the other advantages. Therefore, you will have to establish constant watering in the summer.

The first thing that improves sandy soil is every year, in several stages, components are added to retain moisture: compost, manure, peat. The largest amount of additives is applied for autumn digging (4 kg of manure or 5 kg of compost + peat are scattered per m² of area).

top dressing mineral fertilizers it is necessary to carry out often, but in a small volume, so that the plants have time to absorb until it is washed out by rains.

To increase fertility, it is good to sow sandy lands with green manure plants. They will compact the structure of the soil layer, linking the particles together. By the way, these plants are also effective as baking powder on clay soils.

Seeds are sown deep in such lands (about 12 cm) so that they receive at least part of the moisture before it has time to evaporate. Hilling is not recommended, contributing to even greater drying of the soil. One is enough, shallow, which is carried out after rain.

The second indicator on which soil fertility depends is acidity. If the land is acidified, then even the introduction of additional fertilizers will not improve the yield. More detailed instructions you can read about how to find out the level of soil acidity in the country and how to change it, you can read on our website in the article “Useful tips for summer residents: is liming the soil necessary and does it make sense to fight moles?” .

Ways to improve soil fertility

Even the most fertile land will cease to please you over the years, if only you take from it without giving in return, that is, without taking any action to preserve or improve the soil. What does soil fertility depend on? Here are some ways to help the earth stay "healthy":

Send the ground on vacation

After a year of work, every person has the right to leave. The land in your dacha deserves the same right. Let not in a year, but in 5, but it is necessary to give her the opportunity to “breathe freely”. For this, the lands are not sown at all and are not planted with any crops, but spring and autumn digging, organics, ash and, if necessary, lime are introduced.

"Feed" the soil with green manure

These are annual plants that are planted to improve the microflora of the earth, to enrich it with organic matter. This group includes mostly cereals and legumes. Cereals structure soils, and legumes saturate with nitrogen. You can buy mixtures or plant monocultures.

What each of the legumes is good for, in addition to increasing the amount of nitrogen:

• beans lower the level of acidity;
• peas and alfalfa are saturated with phosphorus;
• the bird-foot increases the percentage of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium in the soil;
• lupine - the most optimal green manure before planting strawberries;
• vetch-oat mixture - an excellent baking powder, reduces the number of weeds, increases the level of phosphorus;
• mustard suppresses weeds and destroys the wireworm;
• rapeseed loosens heavy soils, destroys bacteria, saturates with sulfur and phosphorus.

How to apply green manure correctly

It is often written that the most effective way is to plow before planting the main crop. But in this case, the root system with nodules, in which there is a lot of nitrogen, turns upside down and collapses, becoming useless. The abundance of green mass during plowing can give an excess of nitrogen, from which the planted crop will “burn out”.

The best way- scatter the seeds after harvesting vegetable crops and close up with a rake. As soon as the green mass becomes high enough, but does not enter the flowering phase, green manure is mowed (with a mower or scythe), leaving the entire mowing on the soil surface. It is not necessary to dig up until spring. During the winter, the root system will decompose itself, having managed to give everything useful to the soil.

If you miss the time and let the green manure seed, then you join the ranks of the weeds, because rise in the spring"Heap team" with which you will have to fight.

In this phase of growth (when flowering has not yet come), green manure is mowed and left to decompose until spring

"Pamper" the earth with manure

Manure additives are only effective when the composition is overripe, because weed seeds and harmful bacteria have already been killed in it. Fresh manure can easily "burn" the roots. Dose - 10 kg per hectare.

If possible, consider the mechanical composition of the soil. For clay lands, it is better to purchase a sheep or horse “product”, because the decomposition process is faster with it. Sandy lands respond well to pig manure or cattle.

The best way- let the manure rot in the compost.

Prepare your compost

With the old "old-fashioned" method, compost was prepared from almost everything that can be called household waste. For this they dug compost pit and threw it in:

• tree pruning waste;
• flying leaves;
• cut grass;
• waste paper;
• uprooted weeds (that haven't started blooming!);
• food waste;
• manure, bird droppings, etc.

What not to compost:

• strawberry rhizomes;
• cabbage "rods" with a root;
• nightshade tops (tomatoes, potatoes, etc.);
• weeds that have begun to bloom, or with seeds.

The pit is periodically watered and turned over to accelerate decay. As a rule, such compost is “prepared” for about 4 years. A faster method is to add to the pile of accelerators that are on sale today and California worms.

If the compost pit is fenced in this way, then more layers can be applied. In this case, the entire compost will be well ventilated.

"Heal" the earth

There are plants that kill disease-causing microbes, thereby improving the quality of the soil. These include garlic, marigolds, wormwood. They can be planted between rows of other crops or along the perimeter of the beds. And the marigolds in the fall should be cut, finely chopped and the whole mass smelled.

Marigolds are an excellent healer for the soil

If you try at least a few ways to improve fertility in your dacha, the beds will thank you with an excellent harvest!

The soil is the foundation of your crop. This means that you need to know everything about the soil in your backyard and about what soil fertility depends on, and also do everything to improve these indicators. Indeed, the growth and development of plants growing on it and the adaptation of transplanted garden crops depend on the quality of the soil. The condition for a healthy and strong garden crop to grow is the saturation of the soil with nutrients.

What is the soil

Quite often, amateur gardeners say that a lot of work was invested, but little was received, and the reason for this is poor soil. From this it follows that it is necessary to know all the properties of the soil. The soil is considered fertile provided that the plant can take enough moisture and trace elements from it. If the soil is poor, then there are few substances useful for plants, and their availability to them is rather weak due to the structure of the earth.

The composition of the soil is: sandy, clay, sandy and loamy.

• Clay soil is infertile because of its poor structure, in which there is little air and which warms up for a long time. Poor penetration of water into the depth contributes to the swimming of clay soil and, when dried, the formation of a crust on its surface. The exception is clayey chernozems.
• Loamy soils are a cross between sandy and clay soils. The soil (except for strongly podzolic) has an excellent structure, considerable reserves necessary elements, increased fertility and is considered quite suitable for growing garden crops and fruit and berry bushes.
• Sandy and sandy soils are considered the poorest. They have a high content of sand and small amount dust and silt. Such land perfectly passes water, but in the lower part all useful microelements are washed out with water. The soil warms up quickly enough, but there is no particular benefit from this, since there is a lack of moisture.
• As a rule, podzolic lands are acidic. high humidity. A lot of sorrel and horsetail usually grow on such soil. Acidic soil is determined by a whitish layer that resembles ash and is not too deep. In this soil useful minerals are located in the lower layers, there is almost no humus and there are few nutrients for growing crops.
• Salt licks at a shallow depth contain easily soluble salt (sodium chloride and sulfate), which is the root cause of soil salinity. Silty particles absorb a small amount of sodium, because of this, salt licks become sticky and structureless at high humidity, and also dry for a long time in spring period. When completely dry, they become hard, and therefore it becomes very difficult to process them.

Determination of soil fertility

If you decide to build a garden on your site, then you need to make sure that your soil meets these goals. If she does not suit you, then this can be corrected by increasing her fertility. First you need to consider what fertility is.

There are several types of soil fertility:

1. natural fertility. This indicator characterizes the properties of the soil, or rather the landscape, in its natural state, which is determined by the productivity of natural phytocenoses.
2. artificial fertility. This fertility is possessed by the agrolandscape, that is, the soil that has been changed as a result of economic activity of people. In its pure form, this applies to reclaimed and greenhouse soils.
3. potential fertility. The ability of soils to produce a given crop. However, these opportunities are not always realized, since everything depends on the economic activity of a person and weather conditions. High potential fertility is inherent chernozem soils, low - podzolic soil. But everything is relative: arid conditions the yield of chernozems is much lower than that of podzolic soils.
4. Efficient fertility. This is potential fertility, which is realized under certain conditions - climatic and agrotechnological. Effective fertility depends not only on the type of landscape, soil properties, economic activity, but also on the crops grown.
5. economic fertility. In this case, effective fertility is measured in economic terms, that is, the cost of the crop is taken into account.

To determine the composition of the soil, it is recommended to do the following: we take a handful of earth from arable land and add a small amount of water, then mix thoroughly, bringing it to a pasty state. Roll the resulting mixture into a tourniquet and give it the shape of a donut. And we analyze the result:

• If the “donut” does not crack during bending, then such soil is clayey.
• If, nevertheless, cracking occurs during bending, then you have loam in front of you.
• With sandy soil, the tourniquet still rolls, but a “donut” will not work out of it.
• But you can’t even knead the “dough” from sandy soil.

Now it’s worth knowing the conditions of soil fertility by measuring the depth of the fertile layer of the earth, because often the soil is suitable exclusively for growing weeds:

1. If the thickness of the fertile layer is less than 10 cm, then it will not even be possible to form a lawn. For the lawn fertile soil should be more than 10 cm.
2. To sow perennial grass crops, the thickness of the fertile soil should be in the range of 15-17 cm.
3. If you are going to plant trees, the thickness of the soil should be 25-30 cm due to the fact that the root system is formed at this depth.
4. for shrubs fertile soil should be 15-20 cm thick.
5. According to experts, on average fertile layer should reach 18-20 cm.

Methods for fertilizing the soil on the site

So, you figured out the properties of the soil and decided on the type of soil on your suburban area. Almost all owners are beginning to comprehend the need to improve the land. But still, how can this be done without harm? After all, every professional gardener knows that any poor soil will not tolerate a large number fertilizer, everything is good in moderation. And also remember that the introduction of peat is not the most effective way for soil optimization.

clay soil

If your site has clay soil, then the restoration of soil fertility is carried out in accordance with the following instructions:

• To increase the fertility of clay soil, it is necessary to autumn period start fertilizing - 3 kg per 1 m2, add ash - 0.2-0.3 kg and add lime - 0.35-0.6 kg.
• Such soil is plowed to a depth of not less than 25 cm. On similar soils thermophilic crops and vegetables are grown on ridges as well as ridges.
• When working on heavy soil, it must be remembered that the seeds are sown at a shallower depth, and the seedlings are planted at an angle so that its roots are in warmer layers.
• Potato tubers, planting on a flat surface, should be at a depth of no more than 6-8 cm. When filling the tubers, special composted peat should be added to the ground.
• Hilling plants is carried out in two stages. The height of the ridge after the second stage should be 15-18 cm.

sandy soil

To increase the fertility of sandy soil, you need to improve the structure, as well as optimize its moisture content:

1. Fertilizer is applied to the soil in several stages and at different depths for better breeding micro-organisms useful for plants, which make it possible to increase the yield.
2. We take the annual rate of fertilizers (lime - 0.4 kg, manure 4 kg per 1 m2) and divide into two equal parts.
3. One part is introduced into the soil in autumn to a depth of 25 cm, and the other - in spring to a depth of 15 cm.
4. Ash for the best effect should be placed in rows and holes.
5. One option to improve the fertility of sandy soil is to plant lupine.
6. Mineral fertilizers must be applied to the soil along with organic fertilizers in the spring. More effective is a mixture of fertilizer with humus in a ratio of one to two.
7. After fertilizing sandy soil, early heat-loving plants grow well. It is necessary to grow crops on a flat surface.
8. Seeds are sown much deeper into the soil, and potato tubers are planted at a depth of at least 12 cm.
9. There is no need to carry out hilling. And when it rains, you only need one treatment.

acid earth

To enrich the composition of acidic soil, they usually make wood ash, lime, which includes calcium, which is often not found in acidic soil. In sufficiently acidic soil, it is applied for one square meter kilogram of limestone to get rid of acidity. After such a procedure, various types of fertilizers will be needed - mineral and organic.

Salt licks

If salt licks predominate in the country, then follow the tips below to increase soil fertility:

• A deep plowed salt lick will not give a good result without adding special additives to it, such as phosphogypsum.
• This additive is applied on salt licks per 1 sq.m in the amount of 500 grams. On solonetzic soils, the dosage will be less and is up to 200 grams per 1 sq.m.
• Finely ground gypsum can also be used to improve solonetzes. It is very good when it is combined with manure, that is, gypsum is first applied, and then next year- manure.
• On not very large areas of solonetzic soils, fertile soil is introduced, the thickness of which is 20 cm.
• Even to improve saline soil, it is necessary to add calcium sulfate. Its function is the absorption of calcium, as well as the removal of salt from the lower layer. After this procedure, the soil becomes structural and absorbs water well.

waterlogged horizons

There are situations that the soil on the site is too moist, in this case, do this:

1. With high soil moisture, it is necessary to remove surface, as well as ground water.
2. Via various ways soil erosion can be prevented in certain areas. Usually the beds are placed across.
3. Well-cultivated soil absorbs water much more if it is located on a slight slope.
4. Eroded lands are being planted perennials which have a small root system.
5. It is good to practice terracing on the steepest slopes. The upper fertile layers are removed, they are sent to a new place. After that, the slopes of the terraces are laid out with the help of sod.

Ways to improve soil fertility

If there is a decrease in soil fertility, then this is manifested not only in a decrease in yield. Also, plants become more susceptible to various diseases and pests. And they may even die. Therefore, we will find out what measures need to be taken.

• Organization of crop rotation. One of the main roles in improving soil fertility is played by a properly performed crop rotation. Its task is that in the same place annual and biennial crops should be planted after about 5 years. It follows from this that it is recommended to change the place of sowing crops every year.
• Sowing medicinal plants. There is such a way - soil treatment by sowing special plants. These therapeutic effects are following plants: nettle, marigold, garlic, wormwood, shepherd's purse, etc.
• Using California worms. This is not a very common method, but it is becoming popular every year, because the soil rich in worms gives a good harvest. California worms(a subspecies of ordinary) will help restore the soil, performing their useful functions. This is especially true for long-lived red Californian worms. Their advantages are high fecundity and increased digestibility of various organic matter.
• Thermal processing of the soil. A radical way to improve soil fertility is heat treatment. In the process, weeds and all kinds of pests are destroyed. The main disadvantage heat treatment there is no possibility of such processing on large areas. Usually the method is used in greenhouses, as well as in greenhouses.
• Application organic fertilizers. There is no need to write off the method of our grandparents - organic fertilizers, in particular, the introduction of manure, compost and ash into the soil.
• Mixed planting crops. It is recommended to plant a satellite plant next to the main plants. With such a neighborhood, the general condition of plants becomes much better, and there is also a decrease in the incidence of crops and an increase in the taste of fruits. This method makes it possible to avoid soil depletion. For these purposes, various plants are used, such as rosemary, basil, chamomile, marigolds. They are planted between beds, rows, along garden paths and curbs. Among other things, they are attractive to bees. This contributes to the pollination of the main plants, so the yield increases.
• Rest for the soil. To preserve the fertility of the soil, take a break for the soil, because it also "gets tired". This can be achieved by not planting crops for one year. In this period of time, weed, mulch and fertilize. In the autumn, dig such a site so that upper layer turned out at the bottom of the soil.
• Sowing green manure. An excellent way to increase soil fertility is to sow green manure (plants in which an increased content of protein, nitrogen, starch is recorded). Siderates are oats, rye, sunflower, and mustard. Sowing is carried out at the end of August or in September, after the main harvest. Siderants are grown before flowering and then mowed, while leaving for the winter on the soil itself.

Thus, you have a very serious job ahead of you. After all, without improving the fertility of the soil - do not reap a good harvest!

Each person wants to use a garden or personal plot to the maximum: plant vegetables, sow greens, and blooming flower bed create. However, the soil tends to deplete. That is why it is worth figuring out in advance how to improve the soil, enriching its composition to increase fertility.

How to effectively improve the structure of the soil in your own garden, you need to understand thoroughly. Determining whether the substrate needs top dressing is simple - to do this, carefully inspect the soil composition. If it takes on a pale hue, it means that the soil lacks nutrients. Brown soil is direct evidence that the amount of humus in the substrate is too small. When you need to approach this issue more seriously, give a sample of the earth for laboratory analysis.

It is believed that when the earth becomes whitish in the garden, it means that it is saturated with too much carbonates. You can verify this as follows: put a few drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid on a lump of soil. If a reaction occurs and the liquid begins to sizzle, your doubts have been confirmed.

In the process of identifying signs of depleted soil composition, it is very important to pay attention to the type of soil. Take a small handful of earth in your hand, form a lump out of it and then see if it crumbles. If it has broken up, it means that the soil in your garden is sandy. Otherwise clayey.

However, do not forget about intermediate options: loamy and sandy loamy soils. It must be remembered that when the substrate is sandy, it absorbs moisture well and rather quickly, but also loses it instantly. All the same, it is simply necessary to improve the structure of the soil in this case.

Video "How to improve the quality of the soil on the site"

In this video, an expert will talk about what needs to be done to increase soil fertility.

We change the structure of the soil

How to quickly improve soil fertility on your own garden plot experienced gardeners know. The first rule is a reasonable and well thought out agricultural technique, especially if we are talking on the cultivation of plants over large areas. However, even in this case, over time, mineral salts, nutrients and trace elements gradually disappear from the soil. In this case, the salt composition of the substrate is significantly disturbed. This is an important signal that it is time to change the structure of the soil. This procedure is carried out different ways, and the features of its implementation depend on the type of soil.

If you have heavy loamy soil in your garden, you need to dilute it with sand and fine expanded clay. When you have to cultivate greens and vegetables on poor sandy loam, it is recommended to include clay and humus in the soil. In both cases, do not forget about organic matter, which saturates any substrate with nutrients.

We sow green manure

For those who want to quickly and effectively enrich the soil composition, it is necessary to take into service plants that improve the soil. Siderates include annual crops, which are planted in the garden, grown, and then mowed and embedded in the ground. Most often, it is recommended to sow such herbs after harvesting potatoes. In this case, by the onset of winter cold, you can grow green manure and process them in such a way as to saturate the substrate. The use of these nutrient herbs is primarily remarkable in that with their help you replenish the soil with organic matter and at the same time loosen it well.

If the soil in your garden is really poor, you can sow perennial clover. In this case, you will let the soil rest for several seasons, and during this time the grass will saturate the substrate with nutrients. Three years later, the garden will need to be dug up (plowing is useful for cultivated plants), and then boldly plant any vegetables or other cultivated plants.

We mulch

How to improve clay or sandy soil, you need to find out in detail. It is not necessary to prefer one option if you can approach the solution of the problem in a complex way. For example, adding mulch is considered a good way to increase soil fertility. To do this, in the autumn, the cultivated and fertilized soil must be covered with a layer of natural mulch.

The best option is sawdust, straw, bark, grass or some kind of covering material. Moreover, you can resort to such a procedure not only at the end of the growing season, but also in its midst. The benefits of mulching are many:

• prevents evaporation of moisture from the soil;
• protects the rhizome of plants from overheating or freezing;
• allows you to achieve the optimal level of acidity in the substrate;
• enriches the earth;
• prevent the growth of weeds;
• protects vegetables and greens from overgrowing with weeds.

You can also increase the fertility of clay or sandy soil with the help of mulching.

We make fertilizers

Structure garden soil can be safely diversified by fertilizing. Compose them or add alternately now organic, then mineral compositions. Among the most popular organic nutrient mixtures, it is worth highlighting manure. It includes a large number of trace elements (cobalt, copper, boron, manganese), as well as microorganisms that help to decompose and assimilate organic matter much faster.

Even more nutritious is bird droppings. That is why it is recommended to use it in a diluted form, since the content of useful components in it is concentrated.

If you make bird droppings that are not diluted with water and other compounds, you can cause a burn on the root system of your greens.

Take care of the plants own site, apply high-quality fertilizers and be sure to alternate them. If you wish, use other methods of enriching the soil composition (sowing green manure and plowing, mulching), and you will extend the life of your garden.

Garden, vegetable garden, dacha, harvest - with these words summer is associated with most of our compatriots. It is not surprising that the quality of the soil in this case is given great importance. The soil, rich in trace elements useful to any plant, is not always a guarantee good harvest. Often, due to the structure and density of the earth, plant roots simply cannot absorb useful substances. Therefore, the richness of the soil does not ensure its fertility.

Land on the plot

The easiest way to get a beautiful front lawn

Of course, you have seen the perfect lawn in the movies, on the alley, and perhaps on the neighbor's lawn. Those who have ever tried to grow a green area in their area will no doubt say that this is a huge job. The lawn requires careful planting, care, fertilization, watering. However, only inexperienced gardeners think so, professionals have long known about the innovative tool - liquid turf AquaGrazz.

In order for the soil to become not only rich, but also fertile, it is necessary to improve its structure. First you need to determine what type of soil you have on the site.

Wet the clod of earth to the consistency of a tight dough. Try to roll it into a sausage, and roll the sausage into a ball. If the kalachik turned out to be even, without cracks, then the soil is clayey. If small cracks have formed in the places of the greatest bend, then the earth is loamy. If the kalach crumbled, then the soil is sandy.

Clay soil is rich in trace elements, but it cannot be called fertile. The earth is poorly warmed up, poorly ventilated, heavy. Despite the fact that there is a lot of water on the surface of the soil, it does not penetrate deep to the roots. At high temperatures, the surface turns into a crust.

Loosening and careful deep digging are the main jobs that can help with this type of soil. To make the earth looser, add thirty kilograms of sand or peat per square meter. You should also add manure and lime. When plowing the area, the depth of the raised layer should be at least twenty-five centimeters.

Soil after loosening

Planting is carried out at a depth less than with other types of land. This is done so that the roots can get enough heat and moisture. For example, it is recommended to plant potatoes in clay soil to a depth of six to seven centimeters. Seedlings should be planted at an angle so that the roots receive enough heat.

Loam is a type of soil that is classified between clay and sandy soil. In this case, we have a lot of useful substances and a good soil structure. Special agricultural technology is not required, however, as for other types of soil, top dressing is required.

On the one hand, the owners of sandy soil are lucky, since the earth is loose, passes moisture well and heats up quickly, it is ready for planting before other species. On the other hand, the water evaporates too quickly, the plants do not have time to get enough of it. Therefore, it is necessary either to introduce components to retain moisture, or to establish an irrigation system, or to plant green manure plants.

To retain moisture in the soil, add manure, peat or compost. Most of the components are applied before autumn plowing. There are about four kilograms of manure or five kilograms of compost per square meter. Green manure plants are another important helper in improving soil quality. They are also used to loosen clay soil in order to increase its fertility.

Planting seeds in sandy soil occurs deep, at least ten to twelve centimeters, since they need to receive moisture. Hilling the soil is not recommended to avoid evaporation of water. It is enough to carry out one hilling per season, and then only after a good rain.

Planting seeds in the soil

How to improve soil fertility

When you take something, you have to give something in return. This simple law of the exchange of energy (or material values) also works in the case of soil. The land must be fertilized and cultivated in order to obtain decent harvest and good fertility. What does the soil need?

First, the earth must be given rest. Each of us has a rest at least once a year. Of course, the land does not work all year round; in winter, as a rule, it is not sown. However, she must be given rest in the warm season, at least once every five to ten years. So that the release of the soil does not affect the crop, you can make it a rule to give rest to some part of the site every year. However, even during this period, this part of the site requires digging and fertilization.

Secondly, it would be nice to plant green manure plants. These annuals improve the microflora of the earth, structure the soil and saturate it with nitrogen. Green manures mainly include legumes and cereals. The stores sell both monocultures and mixtures.

The best period for planting green manure is the end of summer, autumn. After the crop has been harvested, the land should be sown with green manure seeds. After the plants grow, but before the flowering phase, they are mowed. cut grass and root system they don’t clean it - over the winter it will all turn into decomposed organic matter.

Do-it-yourself soil fertilization

Thirdly, do not forget to make manure. Even before the advent of videos and even newspapers, all peasants knew how to fertilize the soil with manure. However, do not forget that the fertilizer must be rotted, otherwise you can burn the plants. With a wealth of choice for clay soils, sheep or horse manure can be advised; for sandy lands, pig manure or a waste product of cattle is suitable.

Fourth, compost. Almost everything is suitable for making compost: weeds, mowed grass, foliage, manure, food waste, young shoots of shrubs. Cabbage rhizomes, weeds in the flowering stage, strawberry roots and nightshade tops should not be added to the compost. Everything that is suitable for compost is buried in a pit. For quick processing, the mixture is poured with water and stirred. You can buy special accelerators or get Californian worms.

Fifthly, it is necessary to treat the earth. Pathogenic bacteria multiply in any environment, and soil is no exception. Marigolds, garlic, and mugwort help improve soil quality by killing bacteria. They are planted between garden crops or along the perimeter of the beds. Marigolds and wormwood can be cut, chopped and buried in autumn in places where soil treatment is required.

These are simple but important rules help improve soil fertility and enjoy a bountiful harvest.

Nature has rewarded man with many amazing and priceless gifts, one of which is the soil. We use the earth completely and do not think about how many millions of years it took to form it. Soil is the source of all life on the planet. If the surface of the Earth was not covered with soil, a person simply could not live here - there would be no vegetation, animals would have nothing to eat, people would not be able to get food for themselves.

Characteristics of soils by mechanical composition

The main task of any gardener is to obtain a stable quality crop with minimum investment time, effort and material resources. In order for the plants to feel good, it is necessary, first of all, to understand what the mechanical composition of the soil in your area is. This will depend on the basic methods of cultivation and the choice of the most suitable crops. According to the mechanical composition, the following main types of soils are distinguished today:

• clayey
• loamy and sandy
• sandy
• limestone
• peat

In order to determine which type of soil prevails in the garden, it is necessary to observe the ground during heavy rains or at the time of drought. It should be noted that on many land plots a combination of several types is sometimes found, so it is extremely important to study the features of each of them.

Clay soils

If, after heavy rain, puddles remain on the surface of the soil for several hours, and in hot dry weather the earth is “taken” by a hard crust, then we can safely say that the soil in the area is clayey. It is felt in the hands as a dense substance, from which, when wet, you can easily mold various figures.

The main characteristic of this type is its lack of structure or the complete absence of structure. It is extremely difficult to loosen such land, and in the rainy period it is generally impossible, as it blurs underfoot. The terms of work in the spring are limited here due to the fact that the clay soil slowly warms up and dries out. Given the lack of structure, plants constantly experience either a lack of moisture or an excess of it, which negatively affects their growth and development.

In areas with clay soil, only those plants that love excess moisture, for example, some varieties of roses, raspberries, swedes, cherries. It is recommended to plant vegetables on such land only after taking measures to improve the soil structure.

Clay soil can be improved by adding ash and coarse sand to it, which will contribute to loosening. The application of organic fertilizers, compost, mulching and green manure will make the alumina more fertile and structured. On clay lands treated in this way, beans, peas, almost all types of cabbage, potatoes, most shrubs and fruit trees feel great.

Loamy and sandy soils

These types of soils are considered the most fertile and suitable for growing both various vegetable crops and laying gardens and vineyards. If, after rain, water is absorbed into the ground quickly enough, and, at the same time, moisture lasts for a long time, then we can say that the soil in your garden is loamy or sandy loam. Loams consist of clay and sand in a percentage ratio of 70 to 30, respectively. The highest quality soil is considered to be where grains of sand are present. big size and bits of silt.

Sandy loam soil consists of approximately 20% clay and 80-90% sand. This is also a good combination, however, it should be borne in mind that if the amount of sand exceeds the indicated values, then the quality of the soil is significantly reduced.

Loams and sandy loams are characterized by a highly structured composition, good air and water permeability. These types of soils are rich in minerals necessary for plants, which contributes to high quality yields. It is a pleasure to work on such land, it loosens wonderfully, has dark color and rich in humus. To the touch, wet loams and sandy loams are granular and smear hands a little.

Loamy and sandy soil does not need any additional improvement; it is easy to grow a rich harvest of any crop on it. And if such soil is protected and cultivated, following the principles of organic farming, described in the article “Organic farming. Main features ”, then she will pamper your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with environmentally friendly crops.

sandy soils

If the earth quickly absorbs moisture, but also quickly evaporates it, then we should talk about the sandy type of soil. Such soils have both advantages and disadvantages.

The main advantages include low labor intensity during processing - they practically do not need loosening. Good air permeability provides oxygen access to the roots, which has a positive effect on the development of the root system. Sandy soils are very warm, they warm up much earlier than others, so they are ideal for growing. early vegetables and fruits.

The disadvantages of sandstones are as follows: sand does not retain moisture well, which does not linger in the root area, but seeps either deeper or evaporates. Lack of rain or irrigation leads to drought very quickly. Excellent air permeability contributes to the decomposition of nutrients into mineral components in a form inaccessible to plants, and rains and irrigation easily wash out organic matter, and humus does not accumulate. Metal and alkali salts are also easily washed out of sandy soils, which leads to their strong acidification. More details about chemical composition Soils will be discussed a little later.

To increase the fertility of sandstones will help the introduction of biological fertilizers in sufficient large quantities. Planting green manure will improve the structure of the soil and saturate it with additional organic residues, and prevent the leaching of nutrients. Mulching with any materials at hand will help save soil moisture, and the mulch layer in this case should be at least 7 cm.

Sandy soil can be turned into sandy loam by adding clay to it at the rate of 3 buckets per 2 sq. m every year for 5-6 years. The clay must be in a powdery, dry state, otherwise it will not mix properly with the sand. This method of improvement is a task that requires a lot of time, effort and money.

On well-cultivated sandy soils in the manner described above, potatoes grow well, various varieties onions, almost all root crops. Tomatoes will love it too.

calcareous soils

This type of soil can be identified by the following features: the rapid absorption of water after rainstorms, and when dry hot weather sets in, the earth acquires a dirty white or grayish tint.

In terms of structure and properties, calcareous soil resembles sandy soil. It also does not retain moisture, and leaching of nutrients greatly reduces fertility. Lime soil differs from sandstones in the presence of a large amount of calcium salts, in other words, lime, and has a pronounced alkaline reaction.

Application of organic fertilizers and green manuring will help replenish nutrients and improve soil structure, thick layer mulch will conserve moisture. It is easy to work on this land - it, like sandy, practically does not require loosening.

Calcareous soils, with sufficient organic fertilizers and appropriate cultivation, are suitable for growing most types of plants, the only exception is potatoes, which prefer soils with a slightly increased acidity.

Peat soils

This type of soil is found in vegetable gardens and household plots extremely rare, where there used to be swamps. With perfect processing, peatlands can produce stable crops for a long time.

Drained peat soils are rich in organic matter, but poor in nitrogen and others. minerals in a form available to plants. To speed up the transformation of minerals into such soil, it is necessary to add sand and clay per 10 square meters. m - 20 buckets of clay and 40 buckets of sand. Clay, as in improving the structure of sandy soils, should have a dry powdery consistency. To speed up the conversion of nitrogen, it is also recommended to add compost to peat soil (10-15 kg per 10 sq. M).

Peatlands have a porous structure and remarkably retain moisture, such land practically does not require loosening, however, the increased acidity of peat soil can cause a number of dangerous fungal diseases such as cruciferous keel.

Potatoes and bush berries grow well here, strawberries and wild strawberries feel good. When planting vegetables, it is necessary to pay attention to the level of groundwater, if they are at a height of less than 1 meter to the surface, then crops should be planted on raised ridges. How to organize them correctly is described in detail in the article "How to lay smart beds". Because of high level groundwater is not recommended to be planted on peat soils fruit trees.

What is acidity and how to determine it

Acidity is the most important characteristic chemical properties soils of various types. Increased or, conversely, reduced acidity can cause many garden crops to feel unwell.

Acidity is measured by the pH unit (acidity level), depending on which soils are divided into acidic (pH 4-6.5), neutral (pH 6.5-7) and alkaline (pH 7-9). This scale has extreme values ​​from 1 to 14, however, in Europe, such indicators are not actually found.

How to practically determine the acidity of the soil in a personal plot? You can, of course, take its samples to the laboratory. But not always and not everyone has such an opportunity. You can also purchase a special pH tester from garden centers and take measurements with it.

However, the approximate pH level can be determined even more simple ways. If you pour a piece of earth with ordinary table 9% vinegar and it “hisses” - the soil in the area is alkaline.

You can determine the level of acidity as follows: dig a hole wide and deep for a bayonet, cut off around the entire perimeter thin layer earth, mix it well and moisten with rain or distilled water. Then the earth must be squeezed together with litmus paper in hand. If the paper turns red - the soil is strongly acidic, if pink - medium acidic, and yellow will be indicative of slightly acidic soil. If the litmus paper turns green-blue, you can safely say that the pH level is approaching neutral, blue color means neutral acidity, and green indicates that the earth in the garden is alkaline.

Soil acidity can be determined quite accurately by certain types of weeds growing on the site. For example, sorrel, creeping ranunculus, plantain, horsetail, tricolor violet love acidic soil. If you notice chamomile, couch grass, coltsfoot, clover and thistle in the garden, then the acidity is most likely neutral or slightly acidic. Field bindweed, poppy, larkspur indicate alkaline soil.

All plants that we plant in home gardens are different levels pH is different. According to this principle, four groups are distinguished:

1. Crops that prefer neutral or slightly alkaline soil and cannot tolerate acidic soils- currants of all varieties, any kind of cabbage, beets.
2. Plants that do well on soils with a slightly acidic reaction are legumes (peas, beans, etc.), onions, cucumbers, wild roses.
3. Garden crops that calmly tolerate soil of moderate acidity - tomatoes, carrots, pumpkins, turnips, gooseberries, raspberries.
4. Increased acidity likes sorrel and potatoes.

To neutralize soils with high acidity, it is recommended to carry out liming every 4-5 years with the introduction of slaked lime into the soil, dolomite flour, oven ash. These materials are introduced in the fall per square meter. m:

• sandy and loamy soils - 3 kg;
• heavy loam and clay soil - 4.5-5 kg.

It should be noted that it is impossible to carry out liming simultaneously with the introduction of manure, since such a combination will contribute to the loss of nitrogen, which is contained in large quantities in manure.

There are times when the soil in the garden needs to be acidified, for example, if the earth is of a calcareous type. This is especially true when planting potatoes or coniferous plants. To increase the acidity, high-moor peat or coniferous soil from the forest can be added to the planting pits or furrows.

From the foregoing, it can be concluded that in order to obtain a high-quality high yield it is necessary not only to comply with the necessary specific type cultivated plants agricultural techniques, but also carefully study the chemical and mechanical composition of the soil, its structure and characteristics. Only an attentive and careful attitude to the earth will allow you to pamper your family with environmentally friendly vegetables and fruits year after year.

Turishcheva Olga, rmnt.ru