What is the greatest wealth of our planet?Of course, it's air and water, but do not forget about something else.About soil.It is a fertile substrate provides millions of different species of animals and plants, thanks to it there is a big part of the biosphere.You know what it consists of the soil?If you're interested, you can read our article!
What is soil?
Many assume that the ground beneath their feet - the usual dirt, think the same about its composition and did no one would.Meanwhile, the soil is extremely complex natural formation.Conventionally, it is divided into solid and liquid parts, a gaseous fraction and a live component.The composition of the solid component include many minerals, and a certain amount of dead organic matter.The liquid fraction - water and dissolved minerals.
Accordingly, the gaseous part refers to air and other gases that are formed in the ground as a result of leakage there natural biological processes.Live phase - it is millions and billions of mold, mildew, microbes, spores and other biomass.That is what constitutes the soil.
Feature solids
particles of solid mineral elements form the basis of the solid fraction.It is believed that they form a sand and clay.Under the sand refers to items 1 to 0.01 mm in diameter, and all that is smaller than 0.01 mm, forming the clay.All particles larger than one centimeter in diameter form the skeleton of stony soil.
What you need to know all this?The fact that the percentage content of these elements depends on type of soil.Here there is a definition of the soil, which is contained in his writings, almost all the eminent agronomists:
- Loose sand, which contain no more than 5% of clay.
- Sand connected, which has a 5-10% clay particles.
- sandy loam in which the proportion of clay up to 20%.
- Light loam.The content of clay fraction is equal to 20-30%.
- Average loamy soils.It contains 30-45% clay.
- heavy loam in which there is a physical clay 45-60%.
- Clay.
Knowing the name of the ground, you will be able to determine what constitutes the soil.
Some characteristics
Of course, the mechanical structure has a predetermining effect on the quality of agricultural soil, its fertility and biomass therein.So, in practice, sandy loams and sands very light soils are often referred to as their processing takes a little bit of energy and resources.Accordingly, almost all medium sandy loam and clay themselves can be attributed to the heavy soil, because their plowing and cultivation have to spend very much fuel.Other characteristics of the soil is also largely dependent on their texture.
For light soils are very loose and easy to miss because deep moisture and air.In the spring they warm up fastest.That's just fallen into the water, they have virtually no hold, and all organic residues that determine the fertility of the soil is extremely easy easily washed.Clay soil is warmed bad, disgusting absorb moisture and air.But the moisture content is always about the same.A nutrient content much higher if we compare these figures with sandy soils.
Structural elements
All mineral elements of the soil can be aggregated to form larger structures.If this phenomenon is not observed, the soil belongs to the species unstructured.Such soil may not be a suitable substrate for plant growth because it is not properly secured the root system.
Sandy soils
perfect example - sandy soils.So called primer, which contains from 0 to 5% of clay particles.Soils of this type are extremely light, they do not have any structure.Of these, almost instantly washed away nutrients and water quickly evaporates.
To get at least some crop in such conditions often have to lay a large number of fertilizer and make soil structural, contributing to the clay, peat, sawdust overrotten.It should be noted that the sandy soil in this case are extremely expensive, since they have to improve spending a lot of time, resources and money.
Recently, science is trying not to fight with their own lack of structure in the sand, and were selected such plants, which could create it yourself.In particular, there are cultivars derived specifically for desert conditions.
Their fibrous root system development, which several bushes of grass able to tightly mate with each other, forming a solid "canopy."Beneath it is gradually accumulation of nutrients, since the water and the air is no longer able to wash out and blow them.If sown crops like semi-desert land, in a few years there formed quite acceptable for crop soil.
What soil good for agriculture?
scientists, agronomists believe that the best is the soil with a particle size of from 10 to 0.25 mm.It is quite porous and well resists erosion.Furthermore, this primer perfectly watertight, but moreover its evaporation is relatively slow.
main advantage is the fact that on the surface of this type of soil is practically not formed dense caked crust that prevents the growth and development of cultural crops.Even with strong wind ground structure is integral, it is not blown out of the fertile layer.Thus, the structural soil, ceteris paribus will allow to collect much more abundant harvest.
Of course, you can get this result and unstructured ground, but it will need to spend a lot of time and money trying to somehow neutralize the negative characteristics of his.
Humus
Along with various mineral particles in the solid fraction also includes particles of humus.Recall that so-called remains of animals and plants, processed soil microflora.Generally, in normal soil contains a huge amount of nutrients, but most of them are not available to plants.
Only through saprophytic microorganisms that recycle such organic, the plants receive available for absorption of nutrients.In the upper soil layer contains up to 15% humus.What it is, the better the most important properties of the soil - its fertility and ease of processing.
water and gases
is no exaggeration to say that all the soil processes can go only when the moisture in the soil.In any case, without it will not grow and develop plants, and microorganisms perish.All ground moisture and salts of trace elements, which are dissolved in it, together form the soil solution.Because it removes the vegetation necessary for the life and development of mineral elements.
All intervals between the particles, which are not normally occupied by water filled the air.However, in some cases, it can take the place of methane, hydrogen sulfide, or pure carbon dioxide (forest soils in lowland areas).By the way, soil air just the same and differs a high content of carbon monoxide.To feel good plants and saprophytic microorganisms actively perform its activities on processing the substrate in the ground must be at least 15% of the air.
Live fraction
As we have already said in the live fraction consists of bacteria, algae and fungi.Bacteria are incredibly important to the soil, as they convert minerals into forms available to plants.Furthermore, legumes enter into a symbiotic relationship with microorganisms, which are capable of fixing nitrogen in the air and converting it into a digestible form.
Important!If the soil has a low pH (acidic soil), the bacteria in it very little.The work on the decomposition of organic matter in this case, in full compliance with the mushrooms.Of course, in the soil it is also home to a large number of multicellular invertebrates and even vertebrates (moles, mole rats) animals.
Now you know what it consists of the soil.
acidic soil
Since we have mentioned one characteristic sign of acid soils, talk about it a little more ground.What is this all about?
most important factor in determining the quality of soils is their acidity.This indicator is neutral, if the pH is equal to 7. If it is more alkaline soil.Less - is acidic soil.This factor influences not only on the microflora, but also on the soil in the amount of dissolved minerals and nutrients.Most of the crop is in dire need in the neutral to slightly alkaline soil, but there are also those species that require an acidic environment.For example, rye, which alone can significantly acidifying the soil.
Determine the pH alone
This will require bulb and indicator solution (phenolphthalein, for example) that can change color depending on the characteristics of the medium.In a vessel with added thereto a small amount of soil, and then all thoroughly shaken to be mixed as a whole.Then you have to wait until it settles the slurry and the solution does not change color.Using the instructions to the drug, determine the acidity of the soil.That's determined by the characteristics of the soil.
Attention!Contrary to popular opinion, the pH is constant.It may even be different in adjacent sections backyard and therefore studies should be performed several times, taking soil samples from at least three or four locations.After each application of fertilizers (especially mineral) also need to check the level of acidity.
What can be done to change the index?
If the soil is too acidic, it is necessary to deoxidize.For this purpose, limestone, chalk and some buffer mixtures which specifically releases agricultural industry.In the case where the acidity just still need to improve, use the ordinary peat or manure.Yes, acidic soils is often obtained by those gardeners who are used in large quantities it is a natural fertilizer.
