The most important types of soils, their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. How to make the soil fertile What grows on sandy soil

Experienced gardeners are well aware that most of the planned seasonal work depends on the composition of the soil in the garden. The maintenance of the garden and vegetable garden is not complete without taking into account the soil composition and characteristics of the soil on the farm. Sowing, caring for and fertilizing the land for an excellent harvest is necessary only after a thorough analysis of the soil.

To improve its quality and characteristics in agriculture, even special methods have been developed for processing and touching green manure, various plants that fertilize and strengthen existing soils with the products of their vital activity. In order to effectively apply such agricultural technologies within your own suburban economy, it is better to use them after a careful study of the existing varieties of soils, their typical properties and characteristics.

The territory of Russia is quite diverse and the soil composition can also vary. When the question arises of introducing green manure for processing and improving gardening, selecting horticultural crops to obtain a high-quality and rich harvest, dividing the site into planting and fertilizing zones, and other work to improve soil quality, it is necessary first of all to study the characteristics of the soil on the site. Such knowledge makes it possible not only to avoid many difficulties with growing plants, but also to qualitatively increase productivity, protect your garden from typical garden diseases and pests.

This variety is very easy to identify. So, when, during the spring preparatory work, the soil is dug up, the clods turn out to be large, stick when wet, and you can easily roll a long cylinder out of the ground that does not crumble when bent. This type of soil has a very dense structure with poor air ventilation. Saturation with water and warming up of the earth is going poorly, and therefore planting and growing capricious horticultural crops on clay soils is quite problematic.
But in gardening, this type of soil can become the basis for a good harvest if you resort to tillage on the site. For the cultivation of clay soils, green manures are rarely used to facilitate their dense structure, they are enriched with sandy, peat, ash and lime additives. An accurate calculation of the amount of various additives can be made only by conducting a laboratory study of soils from the site. But to increase their fertility, it is better to use averaged data. So, to enrich a square meter of land, you need to add about 40 kg of sand, 300 grams of lime and a bucket of peat and ash. From organic fertilizers, it is better to use horse manure. And if it is possible to use green manure, you can sow rye, mustard and some oats.

Recognizing them is very easy. The main characteristics of such soils are friability and flowability. They cannot be compressed into a lump so that it does not crumble. All the advantages of these soils are also their main disadvantages. Rapid heating, easy circulation of air, minerals and water leads to rapid cooling, drying and washing out of nutrients. The substances necessary for plants do not have time to linger in such soil and quickly go to the depth.
Therefore, growing any kind of vegetation on sandstones is a very difficult task, even after the start of processing. For cultivating the land in such a plot, the introduction of substances is used that makes the light structure more dense. Such additives include peat, humus, compost and clay flour. It is necessary to make sealing components for each square meter at least a bucket. It will not be superfluous to use green manure. For this work, you can sow mustard, rye and various varieties of oats, after such processing, even the use of fertilizers will become more effective.

sandy loam priming

This type of soil cover is very similar to sandstones, but due to the greater percentage of clay components, it retains minerals better.
The cultivation of such soils is easier and does not require as much effort as sandy and clay varieties. Types of sandy loamy soils may differ slightly from each other, but the characteristic always corresponds to rapid heating and heat retention for a long period, as well as optimal saturation with moisture, oxygen and useful substances. To determine the sandy loam cover, you can compress an earthen lump, which should take the form of a lump, but gradually disintegrate. These types of soil in the original version are ready for growing any horticultural and horticultural crops. But for greater efficiency and in cases of depletion of the soil cover, you can use the planting of plants of the green manure group rye or mustard. It is enough to plant rye and mustard once every 3-4 years, if the choice fell in the direction of oats, then strengthening is carried out more often.

Loamy priming

Such species are optimal for growing a wide variety of plants. Their characteristic allows to do without additional processing. Such soil contains the optimal amount of microelements useful and necessary for full growth and development, as well as a high level of saturation of the root system of plants with water and air, which makes it possible to achieve not only a large potato yield. On such lands, you can grow all kinds of garden and garden plants. It is very easy to distinguish them from other types of soils. It is necessary to compress the earth into a lump, and then try to bend it. Loamy soil will easily take shape, but break apart when trying to deform it.

Lime priming

Very poor variety of land for gardening. Plants grown on calcareous substrates often suffer from iron and manganese deficiencies.
Lime soil can be distinguished by its light brown color and structure with many stone inclusions. Such soil requires frequent processing to obtain a crop. The lack of basic components and the alkaline environment do not allow moisture and organic composition to receive everything necessary for proper growth and development. To improve the fertile properties of the land, the use of green manure is very effective. A simple solution would be to sow rye and mustard. If you grow rye and mustard on the site for several years, you can increase the yield of other crops by several times.

swampy or peat priming

In the original version, these soils are unsuitable for setting up a garden or vegetable garden. But after processing, growing plants is quite possible.
Such soils quickly absorb water, but do not retain it inside. Also, such land has a rather high level of acidity, which leads to a lack of minerals and useful elements for vegetation. After the beautification work, arranged in the fall, you can try to grow unpretentious garden crops in the next season.

Chernozemny priming

Chernozems are a gardener's dream. But among country soils, it is found infrequently. A stable coarse-grained structure, an abundance of humus and calcium, ideal water and air exchange make chernozems the most desirable soils.
But with active cultivation and use for the cultivation of fruit trees and vegetable crops, even such soil can be depleted, so it must be nourished in a timely manner and stimulate fertile properties. For such purposes, the cultivation of green manure is ideal. Rye and mustard are very good to plant after potatoes, which quickly deplete the earth. It is worth repeating the procedure with planting green manure once every 2-3 years. Rye, mustard and varieties of oats are often used in mass agriculture to restore soil fertility, but excellent results can be achieved in home garden conditions. It is easy to establish that there is really chernozem soil on the site, it is necessary to compress the earthen ball and a greasy and black spot will remain in the palm of your hand.

Plant selection by soil composition

To facilitate the work when creating a garden and vegetable garden, it is worth choosing garden crops based on the characteristic features and adherence of plants to soil varieties. So, some representatives of the flora will not grow on land that is not suitable for their cultivation, despite all the efforts made, while others, in the same conditions, will actively grow and bear fruit.

When choosing the vegetation of the garden, the characteristics of the soil of the site must be taken into account.

clayey Earth

The density of the soil does not allow the root system to be fully saturated with air, moisture and heat. Therefore, the yield of vegetable crops in such areas is very small, the only exception can be the cultivation of potatoes, beets, peas and Jerusalem artichoke. But shrubs and trees with a strong root system on a site with clay soil feel quite acceptable.

Sandstones

Even before the application of compacting components, you can increase the level of productivity of the site if you sow carrots, melons, various varieties of onions, currants and strawberries. If the soil is regularly fertilized during the season, then you can get a good harvest of potatoes, cabbage and beets. The use of fast-acting fertilizers can increase the fruiting of fruit trees.

sandy and loamy Earth

Any plant is suitable for these types of soil. The only limitation can be considered the selection of horticultural crops, taking into account the terrain, zoning and climatic conditions.

lime Earth

Growing plants on such soil is quite problematic. It is not suitable for growing potatoes, it is also worth abandoning tomatoes, sorrel, carrots, pumpkins, cucumbers and salads.

swampy or peaty Earth

Without processing on peatlands, only gooseberry and currant bushes can be grown. For other horticultural crops, cultivation work is needed. Growing fruit plants, especially potatoes, in a peat bog is impossible.

Chernozemnaya Earth

The best option for summer cottages and household plots. It is ideal for all garden crops, even the most demanding ones.

For each type of soil, professional agronomists have developed special techniques and methods that ensure the optimal survival of new plants and the full growth of existing ones.

To increase the level of productivity, you can use the following simple recommendations.

Clay

For clay soils recommended:
- high position of the beds;
- it is better to sow seeds at a shallower depth;
- seedlings are planted at an angle for optimal heating of the root system;
- after planting, it is necessary to regularly apply loosening and mulching;
- in the fall, after harvesting, it is necessary to dig up the earth.

Sand

For sandstones there is a technology when a clay base is created on sandy soil, about 5 cm thick. On this basis, a bed is created from imported fertile soil and plants are planted already on it.

Sandy soils

Such soils respond well to the introduction of a variety of organic fertilizers. It is also recommended to periodically mulch, especially in the fall after the end of the harvest.

Loam

loams do not require additional processing. It is enough to support them with the help of mineral fertilizers, and in the fall, when digging, it is very good to introduce a small amount of manure.

Limestone

For limestone the following should be carried out regularly:
— saturation of the earth with organic fertilizers;
- mulching with the introduction of organic impurities;
- it is often necessary to sow plants of the green manure group: rye, mustard, varieties of oats;
- it is necessary to sow seeds with frequent watering and loosening;
- a good result is the use of potash fertilizers and additives with an acidic environment.

Peat

For peatlands quite a lot of garden work is required:
- you need to strengthen the soil with sand or clay flour, for this you can carry out in-depth digging of the site;
- if the soil is found to have increased acidity, then it is necessary to carry out liming;
- You can increase the fertility of the land by introducing a large amount of organic matter;
- the introduction of potash and phosphorus equations well increases the yield;
- for fruit trees, planting in deep pits with the introduction of fertile soil or planting on artificially created earthen hills is necessary;
- as for sandstones, under the garden it is necessary to create beds on a clay pillow.

For chernozem no special processing required. Additional work can be associated only with the characteristics of specific groups of plants. It is also necessary to regularly carry out work to prevent soil depletion. It is enough to plant a few green manure plants: rye, mustard and oat varieties, and the soil will be strengthened and saturated with useful elements for a few more years.

It is not always necessary to choose the land for the site. For the most part, it frankly does not really fit the description of fertile lands: either some former peat bogs, or former sand pits, or even heavy clay soils. To begin with, we will try to determine what type of soil the land you have inherited belongs to.

Determine the type of soil

We divide all soils into four conditional types: clay, loamy, sandy, sandy loam. To determine, you can conduct a simple well-known test: take a sample of the soil and carefully moisten it, adding water to the point where something can be blinded. First, a ball is molded, then we roll out a thin stick from it (approximately 3 mm in diameter). And at the third stage, we try to roll it into a ring. If the ball does not roll up, it is most likely sandy soil. If it was not possible to roll out the stick, then this is sandy loamy soil. If everything worked out, then it is loam or clay. Dry the ring. If cracks appear and the ring collapses, then it is loam. A clay ring will keep its shape well.
very poor, it contains practically no organic compounds and alo inorganic. Improve such soil by adding peat.

sandy soil are sand and clay. Improved by adding organics and peat.
loamy soil- is considered quite fertile. She knows how to accumulate moisture, stores heat, retains nutrients. You can improve such soil by adding mineral fertilizers and organic matter.
- very heavy. It is waterlogged in the rain, as it passes water very poorly, and in the heat it overheats, becomes covered with a crust, which makes it impossible to grow crops on it. To improve it, sand, organic matter are added, and sometimes it is even necessary to bring fertile land from other places.

Determine the acidity of the soil

Wouldn't it be nice to know how acidic your soil is? The plants that settled here can tell about this. For acidic soils are typical: horsetail, plantain, oak veronica, passerine sorrel. Neutral and slightly acidic soils are characterized by: coltsfoot, chamomile, field bindweed, meadow clover, creeping couch grass, field horsetail. Healthy, dense stinging nettle grows on good fertile soil.
The acidity of the soil can also be determined using ordinary school litmus paper. A little earth is taken, water is added. We wait until the whole earth gets wet. Now we put litmus paper on the soaked clod of earth and press it firmly. Red color will report strongly acidic soil. Green means neutral. Pink is medium acid and yellow is slightly acid.

Acidic soil is poorly fertile, the plants on it do not develop well enough, they often get sick. It is necessary to strive for slightly acidic, and preferably neutral soil. The acidity of the soil decreases by liming, that is, when lime dust, chalk, and lime fertilizers are added to the soil. As a rule, lime is applied in autumn, when cultivated plants are harvested. Application rates of slaked lime: for strongly acidic soils - 50 kg per 1 hundred square meters, for medium acid soils - 40 kg, for slightly acidic soils - 30 kg with a frequency of 5-7 years. Having scattered slaked lime over the surface, it is necessary to dig the soil well. It is also impossible to abuse the introduction of lime, because this leads to negative consequences.

Growing the same plants in the same place, we greatly deplete the soil. Yes, and the earth accumulates a large number of diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to apply crop rotation. This will increase soil fertility and crop yields.

Weeds are also plants, and they also deplete the earth. Therefore, weed control is simply necessary, and even when cultivated plants have already been harvested.

It must be remembered that the formation of fertile soil is a laborious and long-term process. Especially for clay soils. Manure, compost, peat - this is what will lighten and improve such soil. Before spring planting, compost and fresh manure must be applied. It is advisable to do this every season. Also, for clay soils, it is recommended to raise the beds. This will free them from excess water. The edges of the beds are best reinforced with sides. By the way, compost can be added to clay soil at any time.

There are three main types of soil: clay, loamy, sandy. Loamy is considered ideal for agriculture. Knowing what types of soils exist, their characteristics, properties, advantages, disadvantages, is one of the main conditions for the proper cultivation of vegetables and fruits on your site, as well as increasing their yield.

Soils, at least most, are made up of a combination of three basic constituents: sand, silt, and clay. It all depends on what percentage of clay, sand, silt is present in it. Depending on the size of the particles present in it, it is classified into different types. The soil makes up the top layer of our planet. This is the medium from which plants obtain their nutrients. Below is a classification of soil types, their characteristics.

Soil type: sandy

Advantages:

• warms up quickly
• good air condition
• well absorbs atmospheric precipitation,
• can be processed.

Flaws:

• cools down quickly
• low moisture content
• ability of subsurface capillary irrigation,
• manure decomposes very quickly;
• mineral fertilizers are washed into the deeper layers of the earth,
• plants need frequent watering.

How to fix:

• use only cow or pig manure,
• use mineral fertilizers in small quantities, but often,
• do not mix decomposed manure or peat with the ground, but lay it out in a layer on the surface.

Soil type: sandy-humus

Advantages:

• heats up quickly
• slowly cooling down
• easy to process
• good air properties,
• well absorbs mineral fertilizers,
• good moisture capacity
• considered very good for growing vegetables.

Flaws:

• in dry weather, silty particles are blown out of it, which is very harmful to plants;
• the surface of the earth dries up quickly.

How to fix:

• use only manure, apply mineral fertilizers in small quantities, but often;
• decomposed manure or peat should not be brought into the ground, but laid out in a layer on the surface.

Soil type: sandy loam (medium cohesive)

Advantages:

• moisture capacity and subsoil irrigation ability are good,>
• mineral, organic fertilizers are used by plants to the full extent.

Flaws:

• heats up more slowly than sandy-humus;
• low moisture content.

How to fix:

• it is better to use cow or horse dung;>
• mulching is very important to limit water loss through capillary evaporation.

Soil type: loamy (medium cohesive)

Advantages:

• suitable for almost any vegetable,
• moisture capacity and subsoil irrigation ability are good,
• sufficient aeration,
• manure is well used.

Flaws:

• if regular application of humus is ensured, no significant shortcomings are noted.

How to fix:

• mulching is recommended, which saves labor on watering, loosening;
• for liming it is better to use slaked lime.

Soil type: clay

Advantages:

• water holding capacity and subsoil irrigation ability are very good,
• mineral fertilizers are washed out of the earth insignificantly,
• manure is used very well,
• with a high content of humus, this is the best garden soil.

Flaws:

• poor aeration,
• tendency to form a crust on the surface,
• warms up rather slowly in spring,
• difficult to handle
• requires intensive loosening.

How to fix:

• mulching can limit the tendency to form a crust, which improves aeration;
• manure is best used horse,
• regular application of quicklime also improves aeration.

Soil type: peat

Advantages:

• absorbs water very well
• especially suitable for plants growing on peatlands;
• mineral fertilizers are not washed out of it,
• the use of manure is unnecessary.

Flaws:

• most often sour
• poorly ventilated,
• often very cold, especially with clay subsoil.

How to fix:

• dig or plow a shovel into three bayonets to improve the structure of the subsoil layers;
• abundantly lime,
• add coarse sand to the top of the earth.

Thus, any soil can become suitable for growing horticultural crops. Within 10-15 years of intensive cultivation, the introduction of humus, liming, the correct alternation of crops, the earth will completely lose its original properties, acquire the characteristics necessary for growing horticultural crops.

The type of soil in a garden plot can be determined relatively accurately using the "finger method" (manually) according to the following scheme.

Scheme for determining the type of soil "finger method" in the field

Step 1. Try rolling it by hand into a pencil-thick sausage...

• if it does not roll, then it belongs to the “sands” group,
• if it rolls down, then it belongs to the “sandy loam and clay” groups.

Step 2 Viscosity test with thumb and forefinger:

• if not viscous, i.e. does not smudge between fingers - go to step 3;
• if viscous, i.e. smeared between the fingers, it contains 14-18% clay and belongs to the type: loamy sandstone.

Step 3 Rubbing the soil in the palm of your hand:

• if nothing remains on the lines of the palms, then it contains 0-9% clay and belongs to the type: sand;
• if traces of it remain on the lines of the palms, then it contains 10-13% clay and belongs to the type: slightly loamy sandstone.

Step 4 An attempt to roll the soil by hand into a sausage half a pencil thick:

• if it does not roll, then it contains 19-24% clay and belongs to the type: strongly sandy loam;
• if it rolls, then go to step 5.

Step 5 Rub the sample with thumb and forefinger near the ear:

• if a strong crunch is heard, then the soil contains 25-30% clay and belongs to the type: sandy loam;
• if there is little or no crackling, go to step 6.

Step 6 Evaluation of slip when crushing the sample with fingers:

• if the sliding surface is matte, then it contains 30-44% clay and belongs to the type: loam
• if the surface is shiny, go to step 7.

Step 7 Soil testing with teeth:

• if it crunches on the teeth, then it contains 45-65% clay and belongs to the type: loamy clay
• if there is no crunch, and the soil has an oily consistency, then it contains more than 65% clay and belongs to the type: clay.

The "finger method" is a method that is used for analysis not only in garden plots, but also in laboratories. For a more accurate analysis, screening and analysis of the silt fraction is carried out.

Every gardener is interested in getting sustainable crops. Good for someone who has already mastered the ABC of agriculture. What if it's the first time you've got land? Watch the video. It will help to solve many soil problems not only for novice gardeners and gardeners.

How to improve the soil on your site, increase fertility, if the type is loam or loamy clay? Such soil needs to be cultivated.

To do this, you can use manure, compost, humus, sawdust, chopped bark. But be patient, it will take a lot of time, more than one year.

If heavy soils are not flooded by groundwater, the cultivation process consists in a gradual increase in the thickness of the arable layer due to the underlying layers and the addition of organic and mineral fertilizers.

The addition of sawdust or crushed bark to heavy soils requires the mandatory application of nitrogen fertilizers, since the decomposition of these materials occurs under the influence of microorganisms that absorb nitrogen. It is good to bring in sawdust not fresh, but lain in a heap for one or two years. Better yet, run them through the compost heap.

Clay soils have a good absorbing complex, that is, they contain a sufficient amount of nutrients in their composition. In terms of fertility, they are better than light, sandy loamy ones. On the territory of the Krasnodar Territory, there are all types of soils characteristic of the European part of Russia, ranging from the primitive high-mountain soils of the Caucasus Mountains to the most fertile heavy-duty chernozems of the Azov-Kuban lowland. These are soils of plain steppes (chernozems), foothill forest-steppe (gray forest-steppe), foothills and mountains (gray forest, brown forest, podzolic-brown forest, sod-calcareous, brown, meadow-forest gray, mountain meadow), soils of steppe depressions, river deltas and valleys (meadow-chernozem, meadow, meadow-marsh, alluvial), saline (salt marshes, solonetzes, solods), soils of rice fields (rice), humid subtropics of the Black Sea coast (yellow soils).

Each of us who is at least a little familiar with biology understands that the success of growing horticultural crops immediately depends on a combination of many versatile factors. Climatic conditions, planting dates, variety, timeliness and literacy of agricultural practices - these are far from all that have a direct impact on the harvest.

Chernozem, humus-rich soil. © NRCS Soil Health

One of the fundamental points that often plays a dominant role in the outcome of laying a garden and laying out a vegetable garden is the type of soil. It is on what kind of soil is on your site that the possibility of growing certain crops, the need for certain fertilizers, the frequency of watering and weeding will depend. Yes Yes! All this can have significant differences and be beneficial or harmful if you do not know what kind of soil you are dealing with.

Main types of soils

The main types of soils that gardeners in Russia most often encounter are: clay, sandy, sandy loam, loamy, calcareous and swampy. Each of them has both positive and negative properties, which means it differs in recommendations for improving and selecting crops. In their pure form, they are rare, mostly in combination, but with a predominance of certain characteristics. Knowing these properties is 80% of the success of a good harvest.

Clay soil. © nosprayhawaii

It is quite easy to determine the clay soil: after digging, it has a large-lumpy dense structure, sticks to the feet in rainy weather, does not absorb water well, and easily sticks together. If you roll a long sausage from a handful of such earth (wet), it can be easily bent into a ring, while it will not crumble into pieces or crack.

Due to the high density, such soil is considered heavy. It warms up slowly, is poorly ventilated, and has a low water absorption coefficient. Therefore, growing crops on it is quite problematic. However, if clay soil is properly cultivated, it can become quite fertile.

To facilitate and enrich this type of soil, it is recommended to periodically apply sand, peat, ash and lime. Sand reduces moisture content. Ash enriches with nutrients. Peat loosens and increases water-absorbing properties. Lime reduces acidity and improves soil air conditions.

How much to contribute is an individual question, directly related to the indicators of your particular soil, which can only be accurately determined in laboratory conditions. But, in general: sand - no more than 40 kg per 1 m², lime - about 300-400 g per m², for deep digging once every 4 years (on soils with a slightly acidic reaction), there are no restrictions for peat and ash. If there is a choice of organics, then the best option for increasing the fertility of clay soils is horse manure. It will not be useless to sow green manure, such as mustard, rye, oats.

Plants on clay soils have a hard time. Poor warming of the roots, lack of oxygen, stagnant moisture, the formation of a soil crust do not work in favor of the crop. But still, trees and shrubs, having a fairly powerful root system, tolerate this type of soil well. From vegetables on clay, potatoes, beets, peas and Jerusalem artichoke feel good.

For other crops, it is possible to recommend high beds, planting on ridges, using a smaller depth of seed and tuber placement in the soil, planting seedlings in an oblique way (for better warming of the root system). Among agricultural practices, special attention should be paid to loosening and mulching on clay soils.

Sandy soil. © extension

Sandy soil refers to light soil types. It is also not difficult to recognize it: it is loose, free-flowing, easily passes water. If you pick up a handful of such earth and try to form a lump, nothing will work.

All the qualities inherent in sandy soils are both their plus and minus. Such soils warm up quickly, are well aerated, are easily cultivated, but at the same time cool quickly, dry out soon, and weakly retain minerals in the root zone (nutrients are washed out by water into the deep layers of the soil). As a result, they are poor in the presence of useful microflora and are poorly suited for growing any crops.

To increase the fertility of such soils, it is necessary to constantly improve their compacting and binding properties. Regular application of peat, compost, humus, clay or drill flour (up to two buckets per 1 m²), the use of green manure (with incorporation into the soil), high-quality mulching after 3-4 years give a decent stable result.

But even if the site is still in the process of cultivation, it is possible to grow carrots, onions, melons, strawberries, currants, fruit trees on it. Cabbage, peas, potatoes and beets will feel somewhat worse on sandy soils, but if you fertilize them with fast-acting fertilizers, in small doses and often enough, you can achieve good results.

For those who do not want to mess with cultivation, there is another way to improve these soils - the creation of an artificial fertile layer by claying. To do this, in place of the beds, it is necessary to arrange a clay castle (lay out clay with a layer of 5-6 cm) and pour 30-35 cm of sandy or loamy soil taken from the side onto it.

Sandy soil. © pictonsandandsoil

Sandy loamy soil is another variant of soils that are light in texture. In terms of its qualities, it is similar to sandy soils, but contains a slightly higher percentage of clay inclusions, which means it has a better holding capacity for mineral and organic substances, not only warms up quickly, but also retains heat for a long time, passes moisture less and dries out more slowly, is well aerated and easy to process.

You can determine it by the same method of squeezing a handful of moist earth into a sausage or lump: if it forms, but does not hold its shape well, you have sandy loam soil in front of you.

Anything can grow on such soils, with the usual methods of agricultural technology and the choice of zoned varieties. This is one of the good options for gardens and orchards. However, methods of increasing and maintaining fertility for these soils will also not be superfluous. It is recommended to regularly apply organic matter (in normal doses), sow green manure crops, and mulch them.

Loamy soil. © gardendrum

Loamy soil is the most suitable type of soil for growing horticultural crops. It is easy to process, contains a large percentage of nutrients, has high air and water permeability, is able not only to retain moisture, but also to evenly distribute it over the thickness of the horizon, and retains heat well. If you take a handful of such earth in the palm of your hand and roll it up, you can easily form a sausage, which, however, cannot be bent into a ring, since it will fall apart when deformed.

Due to the combination of existing properties, loamy soil does not need to be improved, but it is only necessary to maintain its fertility: mulch, apply manure for autumn digging (3-4 kg per 1 square meter) and, if necessary, feed the crops planted on it with mineral fertilizers. Everything can be grown on loamy soils.

lime soil. © midhants

Lime soil belongs to the category of poor soils. Usually it has a light brown color, a large number of stony inclusions, is characterized by an alkaline environment, quickly heats up and dries out at elevated temperatures, poorly gives iron and manganese to plants, and can have a heavy or light composition. In crops grown on such soil, foliage turns yellow and unsatisfactory growth is observed.

To improve the structure and increase the fertility of calcareous soils, it is necessary to regularly apply organic fertilizers, not only for the main cultivation, but also in the form of mulch, sow green manure, and apply potash fertilizers.

Everything is possible to grow on this type of soil, but with frequent loosening of row spacing, timely watering and thoughtful use of mineral and organic fertilizers. Potatoes, tomatoes, sorrel, carrots, pumpkins, radishes, cucumbers and lettuces will suffer from low acidity, so they need to be fed with fertilizers that tend to acidify rather than alkalize the soil (for example, ammonium sulfate, urea).

Peat medium decomposed horizon of soddy-podzolic soil. © own work

swampy soil

Marshy or peaty soils are also used for laying out horticultural plots. However, it is rather difficult to call them good for growing crops: the nutrients contained in them are not very accessible to plants, they absorb water quickly, but they also give it away just as quickly, they warm up poorly, and often have a high acidity index. But, such soils retain mineral fertilizers well and are easy to cultivate.

In order to improve the fertility of swampy soils, it is necessary to saturate the earth with sand (for this it is necessary to carry out deep digging in such a way as to raise the sand from the lower layers) or clay flour, apply abundant liming on especially acidic options, take care to increase the content of beneficial microorganisms in the soil (apply manure, slurry, compost, do not bypass microbiological additives), do not forget about potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.

If you plant a garden on peat soils, then it is better to plant trees either in pits, with soil individually laid for cultivation, or in mounds, from 0.5 to 1 m high.

Carefully cultivate the ground under the garden, or, as in the variant with sandy soils, lay a clay layer and already fill it with loam mixed with peat, organic fertilizers and lime. But if you grow only gooseberries, currants, chokeberries and garden strawberries, then you can do nothing - just water and weed, since these crops on such soils work out without cultivation.

Chernozem. © carlbagge

Chernozems

And, of course, speaking of soils, it is difficult not to mention chernozems. In our suburban areas, they are not so common, but worthy of special attention.

Chernozems are soils of high potential fertility. A stable granular-cloddy structure, a high humus content, a high percentage of calcium, good water-absorbing and water-retaining abilities allow us to recommend them as the best option for growing crops. However, like any other soil, they tend to be depleted from constant use, therefore, already 2-3 years after their development, it is recommended to apply organic fertilizers to the beds and sow green manure.

In addition, chernozems can hardly be called light soils; therefore, they are often loosened by adding sand or peat. They can also be acidic, neutral and alkaline, which also requires its own adjustment.

Chernozem. © Axel Hindemith

To understand that you really have black soil in front of you, you need to take the guest of the earth and squeeze it in your palm, a black greasy print should remain on your hand.

Some confuse chernozem with peat - there is also a trick for checking: a wet lump of soil must be squeezed out in your hand and put in the sun - peat will dry instantly, while chernozem will retain moisture for a long time.

For a gardener and gardener, the most important factor is the quality of the land on his site.

The different types have the following characteristics:

• structure;
• ability to pass air;
• hygroscopicity;
• heat capacity;
• density;
• acidity;
• saturation with micro and macro elements, organic matter.

For a practicing gardener, knowledge of the types of soil and their characteristics will allow you to choose the right crops for cultivation on a personal plot, select and optimally plan agrotechnological processes.

clayey

This is a land with a high density, a weakly expressed structure, contains up to 80% clay, slightly warms up and releases water. Poorly passes air, which slows down decomposition in it. When wet, it is slippery, sticky, plastic. From it you can roll a bar 15-18 cm long, which is then easily rolled into a ring without cracks. Clay soils are usually acidic. It is possible to improve the agrotechnical indicators of clay soil in stages, over several seasons.

Important! For better heating of the beds in clay areas, they are formed high enough, the seeds are buried less into the ground. In autumn, before the onset of frost, they dig up the earth, do not break the lumps.

Optimize such soils by introducing:

• lime to reduce acidity and improve aeration - 0.3-0.4 kg per sq. m, is brought in the autumn period;
• sand for better moisture exchange, no more than 40 kg / square meter;
• to reduce density, increase friability;
• to saturate with minerals;
• for replenishing organic matter, 1.5-2 buckets per sq. m per year.

Peat and ash are brought in without restrictions.

This type of soil must be carefully loosened and mulched. and with a developed root system grow quite well on clay soils.

Did you know? Red grapes of technical grade« Merlot» grows well on clay-pebble soils of Pomerol, the smallest wine region in France, province of Bordeaux.

loamy

Outwardly similar to clay, but with the best characteristics for agriculture. Loam, if you want to visualize what it is, is soil, which can also be rolled into a sausage when wet and bent into a ring. A sample of loamy soil holds its shape, but will crack. The color of loam depends on impurities and can be black, gray, brown, red and yellow.

Due to neutral acidity, balanced composition (clay - 10-30%, sand and other impurities - 60-90%), loam is quite fertile and versatile, suitable for growing almost all crops. The structure of the soil is distinguished by a fine-grained structure, which allows it to remain loose and pass air well. Thanks to clay impurities, loam retains water for a long time.

To maintain the fertility of loams, perform:

• fertilizing crops with fertilizers;
• manure application for autumn digging.

Sandy

Light, loose, loose sandy soil contains a high percentage of sand, does not retain moisture and nutrients.

The positive properties of sandstones include high air permeability and rapid heating. Grows well on this kind of soil.

• and berry trees;
• plants of the gourd family.

To increase the yield under crops, they also apply

Sandstone can be cultivated by adding additives that increase viscosity:

Sideration improves the mechanical structure and saturates it with organic and mineral substances.

To save resources, there is another method of organizing beds - a clay castle.

In place of the beds, a layer of clay 5-6 cm is poured, on top of which a layer of fertile soil is applied - loam, black soil, sandy loam soil, into which plants are sown. The clay layer will retain moisture and nutrients. If there is no fertile soil to fill the beds, it can be replaced with improved sandstone mixed with additives for viscosity and fertility.

sandy loam

To determine this type of soil, we also try to mold a bagel from wet earth. Sandy loamy soil will roll into a ball, but it will not be possible to roll it into a bar. The content of sand in it is up to 90%, clay up to 20%. Another example of what kind of soils are that do not require costly and long cultivation. The substrate is light, warms up quickly, retains heat, moisture and organic matter well, and is quite easily processed.

It is necessary to choose zoned plant varieties for planting and maintain fertility:

• dosed application of mineral and organic fertilizers;
• mulching and sideration.

Lime

Soils of this type can be light and heavy, their disadvantages are:

• poverty - low levels of nutrients;
• low acidity;
• rockiness;
• fast drying.

Improve the following soil:

• making
• enrichment with ammonium sulfate and to increase acidity;
• mulching;
• sideration;
• application of organic fertilizers.

To retain moisture, calcareous soils must be loosened regularly.

Peat