A good soil test will evaluate the basic texture of your soil—sand, silt, or clay—and determine its acidity—the pH level. The available nutrients, including magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium, will be calculated, and recommendations will be made for raising each to the correct le...
Before you start dumping on the lime and fertilizers, your first step should be taking a soil sample to send off for testing. A good soil test will evaluate the basic texture of your soil—and, silt, or clay—and determine its acidity—the pH level. The available amounts of nutrients in...
This review explores how soil texture and nutrient availability influence root exudate composition and their effects on rhizosphere microbial dynamics and disease suppression, ultimately affecting plant health and resilience.The findings reveal that clay soil has a dense structure and limited aeration. As ...
Knowing how to test soil pH is essential for proper plant growth. Most plants prefer a pH level ofacidity or alkalinity in the soil, measured by a scale ranging from 0 (extremely acidic) to 14 (extremely alkaline); the middle point (7) is neutral. When the pH is off balance, a plant...
This brief mobile-friendly quiz was designed to test what you know about using a soil texture triangle. Topics of interest include an example of a soil composition that's a clay and the percentage of clay in a soil that has 75 percent silt and 15 percent sand. ...
How to Test the pH of Soil A few different approaches exist, but the overall concept involves taking soil, making a slurry (mud), and using a pH test device to measure the pH of soil. Certain test strips and pocket probes will provide a general pH value (i.e. acidic or basic). Eve...
WHAT IS CLAY SOIL? Soils that are primarily clay in texture are good at binding mineral nutrients but tend to have poor drainage and aeration. Loamy soils tend to be aggregated into chunks that are ideal for aeration and root growth, but can be easily compacted by machine or foot traffic,...
Lately, readers have asked how to identify their soil type. So, in this post, I discuss the different types of garden soil. You’ll discover their distinctive traits, such as texture, fertility, and drainage capacity. I also describe the jar soil test and the best plants for each soil ca...
Does manure improve the texture of the soil? Organic manure adds organic matter calledto the soil, which restores the soil texture for better retention of water and aeration of soil. What is tillage and tilth? Tillage is the mechanical manipulation of soil with tools and implements for obtaining...
Remove it from its pot, checking the roots to make sure they’re intact and in good shape. If it’s rootbound, loosen the roots somewhat so that they can spread naturally. Plant in well-draining, pre-prepared soil slightly deeper than it was originally planted (about a quarter to a ...