Soil - What is in Healthy Soil?

“What’s Included in Healthy Soil”

Healthy soil is a balance of physics, chemistry and biology.  It’s a mixture of minerals, organic matter, living organisms, water and air.  It contains 25% air, 25% water, 45% minerals, 5% humas and active populations of living organisms.

Organic Matter             When organic material such as leaves, twigs, bodies of animals, etc. break down, become dark brown and crumbly, the result is organic matter 

 of humus.

Soil microorganisms    They are the life of the soil.  They include bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, algae, protozoa, yeast, germs, ground pearls, nematodes and other

 microbes.  About 50 billion in one tablespoon.  Their job is to break organic material into humus, then humic acid ultimately into basic elements.  

 They must have a constant supply of organic material.

Actinomycetes            They release carbon and ammonia making nutrients available to plants.  

Algae                           Produces organic matter by taking carbon dioxide from the air and energy from sunlight to create new cells.

Bacteria                       Helps in the decay of organic matter and mix nitrogen from the air in the soil.

Fungi                          Mycorrhizal fungi helps the development of healthy root systems by growing on roots and enlarging the length and surface area.

Nematodes                 Destructive and beneficial – control termites, grubworms, fire ants, fleas and other pests.

Protozoa                     Are a simple, single-celled animal that regulate the size of the bacterial community.

Soil Microorganisms  They can be seen with the naked eye and range in size from tiny mites to rodents.  The most famous are earthworms which till and aerates soil                                   which increases drainage.

Minerals                       Occur as a result of physical or chemical decomposition of parent rock near the soil surface.  Plants depend on 13 nutrients derived from minerals.

                                             Oxygen       45%                                                 Sulfur          .5%                                      Boron

                                             Carbon        44%                                                 Calcium       .6%                                      Zinc

                                             Hydrogen    6%                                                   Magnesium  .3%                                      Copper

                                             Nitrogen      2%                                                   Iron

                                             Potassium 1.1%                                                  Manganese 

                                             Phosphorus  .4%                                                  Chlorine     

                                             + 7% more trace minerals

Oxygen                        Can be created by aerating, ripping or tilling.

Nitrogen                            It is essential for plant growth, however too much is bad and too little is bad.  Lack of vigor, yellowing of oldest leaves are signs of deficiency.   

            Sources:  alfalfa, bat guano, blood meal, cotton seed meal, fish emulsion, horse manure, rabbit manure, poultry manure and sludge compost.

Phosphate                    It is needed for color, vitality at bloom time, increased seed and flower size.  Sources:  colloidal phosphate, superphosphate, rock phosphate

  phosphoric acid, humite compost, greensand and rock powders. 

Carbon                         It is for soil energy.  Sources: compost, manures, humites, molasses, organic fertilizers and natural mulches.

Calcium                       It is the king of nutrients and responsible for plant cell walls and stem thickness.  Sources:  lime, gypsum, clay and calcium carbonate.

Hydrogen                     Water.

Magnesium                  Needed for photosynthesis and holding soil together.  Sources:  Sul-po-mag, magnesium sulfate, epsom salts, magnesium oxide and compost.

Potassium                     Necessary for water and summer hardiness.  Sources:  Sul-po-mag, molasses and compost.

Sulfur                           Can be used in alkaline soils to help balance calcium and magnesium.

Chloride                       Too much is bad.  Treat wit city water, fish products and compost.

Sodium                        Helps to prevent diseases.  Sources:  most manures, baking soda, organic fertilizers, fish products and compost.

Boron                           For nitrogen  efficiency and disease resistance.

Iron                              Essential for nice green color of plants.  Sources:  copperas, chelated iron and greensand and compost.

Manganese                   Deficiency shows as white tissue between veins, dwarfed plants and dead spots on leaves.  Sources:  sulphate, chelates, organic fertilizer, fish

 products and compost.

Copper                         For disease resistance.  Sources:  copper sulphate, organic fertilizers, fish products and compost.

Zinc                              Requires well aerated soil and is important for sweet tase in fruits and vegetables.  Sources:  kelp meal, fish products, liquid seaweed, zinc sulfate,

 organic fertilizer and compost.

SUMMATION

The health, balance and productivity of the soil depends on three basic pieces being in place:  chemistry – biology – physics.  All three are dependent on each other.  The

chemistry must be balanced for the physics and biology to be correct.  The living portion of the soil must be healthy for the tilth and drainage to work properly and the physical properties of the soil must be correct for the living organisms to thrive.  Nature will balance the soil for you over time if a few basic ingredients are added and maintained:  organic matter, air and moisture.  Other organic amendments simply speed up the process.