Soil amendment is a substance added to the topsoil to alter or modify its properties. It also enhances plant growth. Using soil amendments, soil can become physically, chemically, and biologically better so that plants can thrive there.
Soil structure is enhanced by compost, for example, as it increases the amount of organic matter in the soil, causing the soil to breathe, drain better, and hold more water. A lime amendment raises the pH of soil, turning acidic soil alkaline and improving the availability of nutrients to plants.
In addition to the type of soil, nutrient needs of plants, and climate, soil amendments should be designed based on these variables.
Current soil quality:
You should consider the current soil quality and the plant's needs when buying a soil amendment or fertilizer. Examine the nutrient status, physical characteristics, and tilth of the soil. In order to determine current nutrient status, consider previous years' fertility: fertilization, manures, and residues do not reset themselves at the start of every growing season.
You can use your own observations in conjunction with laboratory analyses of soil samples or leaf and petiole samples from crops that are growing. In order to grow organically, growers must be aware of the products that are allowed by organic certification standards.
Additionally, one must keep in mind that some materials might be biologically effective, yet their use would not necessarily be economical - the costs might outweigh the benefits. Farmers should evaluate products within their own operations when evaluating products. Performing on-farm research trials takes a bit of effort, but they are not difficult.
Fertilization and soil conditioning are necessary for most landscape projects. The fertilization process identifies the soil's missing nutrients and adds them to it based on the soil's needs. An amendment to the soil corrects a problem or condition already present. A soil amendment is typically used to address problems related to low organic matter, compaction.
A key to improving soil is identifying the limiting issue and then finding the right product to address it. To avoid problems with the soil, you should test the soil before you start a project. The soil texture, for instance, cannot be altered without excavation; some soil conditions can be changed more easily than others. The texture of soil refers to the amount of sand, silt, and clay in it.
The most effective way to fix soil issues is through organic matter. Healthy and productive soil is built on soil organic matter Most landscape projects don't add enough organic matter to the soil.
There are many existing soil problems that can be corrected by adding organic matter. Adding soil conditioners that contain organic matter is a good way to address this issue. If the soil organic matter is under three percent, review the soil test.
Salt can be found in many composted products made with manure and biosolids. Do not add these amendments to soils where salt levels are already high (over 3 mhos/cm) or to soils where salt-sensitive plants are grown.
It is important to pay attention to salt sensitivity when planting certain landscape plants, including raspberry, strawberry, bean, carrot, onion, Kentucky bluegrass, maple, pine, viburnum, etc. Choose a compost based on plant material or peat based on sphagnum.
Make sure to avoid soil amendments that contain salt. Colorado soils are often characterized by high salt content and high pH. In light of this, avoid soil amendment that are high in salt or that have a high pH level, such as wood ash, peat, manure, manure-based compost, and biosolids.
Low-salt soils can accept amendments with up to 10 mhos/cm total salt if well mixed. It is questionable to use amendments containing a salt content higher than 10 mhos/cm. Choosing a low-salt amendment is necessary when soils have high salt levels.
Ammonia -- a major constituent of explosives during World War II -- was heavily manufactured, but after the war, there was no longer a need for more explosives, and it was discovered that nitrogen-rich ammonia was good for crops.
Consequently, nitrogen fertilizer sales exploded. The crop yields were higher, but farmers were rotating crops less and less. In other words, they had to use more chemicals in the ground to artificially replace the nitrogen that their crops took out.
