Soil Amendments

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Soil Amendments

• Kathryn Carlisle

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Soil Amendments

• Any addition to the soil that improves its
  physical or chemical condition.

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Amendments to Change pH Nutrient Levels

• Lime sulfur are commonly used to change soil pH
• Some other additives
• Dolomitic limestone
• Adds calcium, magnesium
• Increases pH
• Gypsom
• Adds calcium, some sulfur

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More additives

• Wood ashes
• Adds potassium, phosphate, boron, others
• Increases pH
• Cannot come in contact with germinating seedlings
  of plant roots
• Spread a thin layer over the winter incorporate
  into soil
• Important to check pH yearly when ashes are used

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• NEVER use coal ashes or large amounts of wood
  ashes as toxicity can occur
• No more than 20 lbs per 10002ft

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Amendments to Improve Nutrient Levels

• Greensand granite meal are sources of potassium
• Granite meal is finely ground granite rock that
  releases potassium slowly
• Greensand is relatively low in potassium, but is
  readily dissolved
• Neither should be considered a sole nutrient
  source

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More for Nutrient Level Improvements

• Cottonseed meal, kelp meal, leather meal, worm
  castings
• Organic amendments are particularly useful where
  a trace element deficiency exists
• Synthetics are generally more available less
  expensive have quicker results

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Amendments to Improve Soil Quality

• Course sand or perlite can be added to clays
• But these can be expensive require large
  amounts to work

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Improving Soil Quality cont

• Organic matter is great to improve soil
• Manures, Leafmold, Sawdust, Straw
• These are decomposed in soil by microbes
• Factors such as moisture, temperature, N2
  availability determine rate of decomposition

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Improving Soil Quality cont

• Adequate water must be available
• Warm temperatures increase rate of microbial work
• Proper balance of carbon nitrogen
• Adding N2 might be necessary
• Green waste needs less supplementation

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Compost!

• Using composting gets around the N2 decomposition
  problem
• Animal manure can be used
• Can be high in nitrogen may burn plants
• Best applied in fall tilled under
• Has fewer nutrients
• May be a source of weeds

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Cover Crops

• Green manures such as annual rye, ryegrass oats
  are planted in the fall for spring incorporation
• Plant between the rows any cleared areas

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Cover Crops

• Provides organic matter
• Hold nutrients that might have been lost over
  winter
• Helps reduce erosion loss of topsoil
• Legume cover crops fix N2 reduce fertilizer
  needs
• Deep-rooted cover crops allowed to grow can help
  fix problem soil

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• The regular addition of manure, compost, cover
  crops other organic materials can raise the
  soil nutrient physical level to a point at
  which the addition of synthetic fertilizers is no
  longer needed, or is greatly reduced.

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Remember

• Soil is alive!
• Keep it fertile rich many gardening problems
  may be diminished!