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A Book about Soils for the Home Gardener. Ortloff, S.H. and
H.B. Raymore. 1962. M. Barrows & Company, Inc. New York, NY. (Book)
While 44 years old, this book’s friendly tone and
easy-to-understand text, aimed at the homeowner, make it a great introduction
for understanding soils from a technical standpoint. The authors cover soil
testing, preparing, planting, watering, and maintaining with long-term, healthy
soil in mind. There are clear examples of soil test results, as well as a
discussion of pH in layman terms. What kind of relevance does this have for the
Portland homeowner? Correcting, problems in the landscape should be preceded by
soil tests to indicate what soil type and level of nutrients exist. Landscape
practices and solutions for sandy soils are quite different than those for clay
soils. We found this to be a handy book on basic sustainable gardening practices
and something that might be nice to have around as a reference.
Now here’s getting to know your soil! Wondering if your home
sits on sand, silt, or clay? This short website describes an easy way for
determining your area’s soil type. This simple test requires only that a small
sample of soil be placed in a jar and mixed with water. After shaking and
allowing the mixture to settle, the soil will separate into its different
components by weight; sand falls out first, then silt, and lastly clay. By
applying the chart provided on this website, one can determine whether the soil
is composed of a larger percentage of sand, silt, or clay. For example, soil
with a higher percentage of clay compacts more easily and may need to be amended
in order to adequately drain water. Soil composition analysis is a valuable tool
for determining what native plants will grow in the soil, and what changes you
might need to make in order to alter your soil for specific plants, or because
of specific water or nutrient requirements.
This article brings soil knowledge back into the home and
provides us with a hands-on approach to the real nitty-gritty.
Building Good Soil is the Foundation of a Healthy Garden.
Curly, J. Feb. 1999. Earth Times.
http://www.avant-gardening.com/ogardening.htm
How important is it that we practice organic gardening? Soil
damaged by synthetic chemical compounds will result in an increase in stress for
plants and eventually disease and insect attacks in the long term. Failure to
amend soil with organic nutrients is the single greatest cause of unhealthy
plants and disease. Looking for advice on the subject, we found the website
listed here to be plain-spoken and very helpful, especially for you
do-it-yourself types.
Organic gardening is defined here as growing without chemical
fertilizers and naturally building the soil to support healthy plant life. Soil
chemistry is something many of us in Portland just don’t think about; most of us
live in developed areas with remarkably compacted soil, and the temptation
exists to use chemical additives in order to assure a repeat of last year’s
harvest or growth. If you use chemical fertilizers, you potentially add harmful
nitrates or salts to the soil, and can leave chemical residues in the food you
grow. Whether you are working with healthy, depleted or even near-sterile soil,
the “Building Good Soil” website tells us how to build up good soil and keep it
healthy over the long run. A number of organic additives are described,
including this one, for sandy soil; for every 100 square feet of garden space
use 20 cubic feet of organic compost, 2 lbs. bat or seabird guano, 2 lbs. rock
phosphate, 10 lbs. gypsum or lime, 2 pounds sand, and 2 pounds kelp enzyme (Kelzyme)
or kelp meal. (A local source for guano, and other mineral-rich amendments is
Concentrates, Inc., 2613 SE 8th Ave., Portland, OR 97202, 503-234-7502,
www.concentratesnw.com)
The Secret Life of Fungi. Pennisi, E. June 11, 2004. Science.
304(5677):1620–1622. (Journal article)
It turns out that there are fungi in that dirt and in those
plants. Read about fungi such as mycorrhizae, a history of studies on them, and
see photographs showing the places where each species specifically grows. They
were once considered pathogens but now we know that they live in the soil and
shape plant communities, aiding in efforts to restore the environment. One rare
flower, growing in an otherwise barren landscape, is totally dependent on a
species of mycorrhizal fungus. Their connection and integral relationship is one
that, unless you were aware of it, would never be seen. Orchids are heavily
reliant on nutrients supplied to them by underground fungi.
The main focus of this article is how fungi remove toxins from
polluted soil. The non-charismatic part of the earth not only feeds plant life
but also repairs the soil. After reading this article, we gained renewed
respect for that non-charismatic, underground side of life and headed outside to
encourage growth of various types of fungi in the backyard soil.
Ecological Linkages between Aboveground and Belowground
Biota. Wardle, D.A., R.D.Bardgett, J.N.Klironomos, H.Setala, W.H. van der Putten,
and D.H. Wall. June 11, 2004. Science. 304(5677):1629-1633. (Journal article)
What actually goes on between organisms on the surface and
those belowground in your backyard? It turns out, according to David Wardle,
that it is a two-way street. Aboveground biota influences life below, and life
belowground affects plant diversity and health. Climate change enters into the
interactions linking these two spheres, but much less is understood about the
effects of such change on belowground organisms. Interesting graphics are
presented to portray linkages between aboveground and belowground processes and
the climate. In this article, learn to foster these linkages both by selecting
the right types of plants and gardening practices, which can encourage diversity
of plants and insects; and, in turn, a healthy, sustainable environment.
The Food Web & Soil Health. Ingham, E.R. 2006. Natural
Resource Conservation Service, “Chapter 2.” United States Department of
Agriculture.
http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/concepts/soil_biology/fw&soilhealth.htm
Everything one would want to research or review about soils
and the environment is packaged in this USDA website. Ingham works in Corvallis
and this chapter of the report features scientific but not overly technical
narratives. Healthy soil effectively supports plant growth, protects air and
water quality, and ensures human and animal health. The physical structure,
chemical make-up, and biological components of the soil combine to determine how
well a soil performs its services. As one of the foremost soil experts in this
country, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRSC) offers guides to soil
structures, soil components, soil properties, and many more topics that you will
enjoy reading and researching. Ingham focuses on insects in order to convey
ecosystem connections that exist between healthy soil and insect diversity — the
soil food web, that’s Ingham’s specialty.
Drought Resistant Soil. Sullivan, P. November 2002. National
Center for Appropriate Technology.
www.attra.ncat.org
Composition of the soil (the soil type) and how the different
components can be modified to actually create drought resistant soil are covered
in this interesting website. Drought resistant soil refers to soil that is able
to store water below the surface for an extended period of time. Soil components
and their effects on water-holding capacity include such topics as texture,
aggregation (porosity), organic matter, and ground cover. To illustrate the
importance of thoughtful soil management, or recombination of the soil, the
author tells the story of three successful farmers in Georgia, North Carolina,
and Pennsylvania.
With fresh water availability becoming more of a concern globally and water
quality a concern locally, this article discusses simple, low-impact, and
sustainable steps to protect soil from the effects of drought.
Visit this site to learn more about the elements and processes
that amend soil over time in order for it to be sustainable. A little bit more
detailed than its simple three-word title suggests, you can obtain good
information on:
- increasing oxygen to the soil
- amending with organic matter
- reducing tillage
- promoting earthworms, fungi, and bacteria
- monitoring soil progress one step at a time (good advice
for all sustainability projects)
As you learn about the intricate matrix of life that
constitutes healthy soil, you may begin wonder how that translates to caring for
soil in a garden or landscape over the course of a season or year. “Garden
Simply” gives a month-by-month care plan for soil during any time of the year.
For example, April is the time for garden preparation and adding nutrients with
tasks such as low-till to no-till methods. A useful table is included to list
important nutrients and an explanation of why they are required.
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