Natural ways to increase the fertility of the earth. What is it, what does it depend on and how to increase soil fertility. What is the soil
The soil is the basis of the harvest. The development and growth of plants depends on the quality of the soil. Therefore, everything must be known about the soil on the site - in particular, what determines its fertility and how to increase it. In order for all garden crops to grow strong and healthy, the soil must be saturated nutrients. In the article we will tell you how to increase soil fertility in various agrotechnical ways.
What are the types of soil?
The soil is fruitful if the plants can absorb essential trace elements and moisture. In poor soil, there are few substances necessary for plants, and its structure is such that access to them is poor.
The composition of the soil can be: sandy, sandy, clay, loamy and podzolic.
Soil fertility can be improved by folk ways and chemical fertilizers- Clay soil is infertile, because it has a poor structure: it warms up for a long time, and there is not enough air in it. Water does not penetrate deep into such a land, it swims and, drying up, forms a crust on the surface. Clay chernozem is considered an exception.
- Loamy soil is a cross between sandy and clay. It (except for strongly podzolic) has an excellent structure, a large reserve necessary elements and has increased fertility, therefore it is suitable for growing various crops on it.
- Sandy and sandy soils are the poorest. They contain a lot of sand and little silt and dust. Such lands pass water well, but in their lower part everything useful trace elements washed out with water. They warm up quickly, but due to lack of moisture, they are not highly valued.
- Podzolic soil high humidity considered acidic. Horsetail and sorrel grow well on it. It can be determined by the whitish layer, which is not very deep. Useful minerals in it are in the lower layers, there is almost no humus, and there are few elements for plant nutrition.
Salt licks contain sodium sulphate and sodium chloride (easily soluble salts) at shallow depths. At high humidity, salt licks become structureless and sticky, since the silty particles absorb little sodium. In spring, salt licks dry for a long time, and when completely dry, they become hard. Therefore, they are not easy to handle.
Types of fertility
Before you equip a garden on your site, you need to determine how fertile the soil on it is. If it turns out that it does not meet the requirements for growing crops on it, then the situation can be corrected by increasing its fertility. Read also the article: → "". But how does it happen?
Soil fertility is of several types:
- Natural. This fertility is characteristic of the agrolandscape in its natural state - this is determined by the efficiency of natural phytocenoses.
- Artificial. This fertility is achieved by changes in the structure of the soil, thanks to human activities.
- Potential. It is characterized by the ability of the soil to produce a crop. This possibility is not always realized, because much depends on the economic activity of people and climatic conditions. High potential fertility is fully characteristic of chernozem soil, low - podzolic. However, this indicator is relative: in arid zones, chernozems show a much lower yield than podzolic ones.
- Effective. This is potential fertility, which can be realized in certain conditions– agrotechnical and climatic. Effective fertility depends not only on the properties of the soil, the type of landscape, the economic activity of people, but also on the crops grown.
- Economic. It is measured by the value of the crop.
Basically, the level of soil fertility increases due to fertilizers and top dressings. What determines soil fertility?
To determine the composition of the soil, one should: take a handful of earth from arable land, add a little water, mix thoroughly, bringing it to a pasty state; roll the mixture into a tourniquet and give it the shape of a donut. Then parse the result:
- When bent, the “donut” does not crack, which means that the soil is clayey.
- When bent, the "donut" cracks - you are dealing with loam.
- It is possible to roll a tourniquet from the mixture, but not to make a “donut” out of it: the soil is sandy loam.
- The dough from the mixture is not kneaded at all, which means that the soil is sandy.
Sometimes the soil is suitable only for growing weeds. To determine this, you need to know the conditions of its fertility:
- With a fertile layer thickness of less than 10 centimeters, you won’t even be able to form a lawn on such land.
- If thickness fertile soil 15-17 centimeters, perennial grass crops can be sown on it.
- For planting trees, the thickness of the fertile layer should be 25-30 centimeters - it is at this depth that the root system is formed.
- For shrubs, the thickness of fertile soil is 15-20 centimeters. According to experts, the fertile soil layer should average 18-20 centimeters. Read also the article: → "".
How to fertilize different types of soil?
Having learned the properties of the soil on their site, gardeners understand that it needs to be improved. But a large amount of fertilizer will not be tolerated by poor land. Peat application is not the most effective way.
Clay soil: how to increase fertility
In order to restore the fertility of clay soil, you must adhere to the following instructions:
- IN autumn period start spreading: 3 kg/sq. m of fertilizer, 0.2-0.3 kg of ash, 0.35-0.6 kg of lime.
- Plow the soil to a depth of 25 centimeters. On clay soils, heat-loving vegetables are grown on beds and ridges.
- On heavy soil, seeds should be sown at a shallower depth, and seedlings should be planted at an angle so that its roots are in warmer layers.
- When planting potato tubers on flat surface, they should be at a depth of no more than 6-8 centimeters. When backfilling tubers, composted peat must be added to the soil.
Tip #1 Hilling plants should be done in two stages. After the second stage, the height of the crest should be 15-18 centimeters.
Clay soils are improved by adding sand How to improve sandy soil
To increase the yield of such soil, it is necessary to improve its structure and balance its moisture content.
- Fertilizers should be applied to the soil in stages and at different depths - in order to activate the reproduction of microorganisms useful for plants, which will increase the yield.
- Take the annual rate of fertilizer (0.4 kg of lime, 4 kg / sq. m of manure) and divide it in half.
- Apply one part in the fall to the soil to a depth of 25 centimeters, the other - in the spring to a depth of 15 centimeters.
- For best effect ash is placed in rows and holes.
- To improve the fertility of sandy soil, lupine should be planted in it.
- IN spring period mineral fertilizers are applied together with organic ones. A mixture of fertilizer with humus in a ratio of 1: 2 is more effective.
- After fertilization on sandy soil, early plants grow well. thermophilic plants, which must be grown on a flat surface.
- Seeds in the soil should be sown quite deep, and potato tubers - to a depth of at least 12 centimeters.
- There is no need to carry out hilling. (In rainy weather - 1 time).
Acidic soil: how to enrich the composition
To enrich the composition acidic soil, it must be included wood ash and lime, which contains calcium, which is often lacking. To get rid of acidity, 1 kg / sq. m limestone. Then the soil is fed with organic and mineral fertilizers.
Salt licks: how to improve the soil
To improve soil fertility with a predominance of solonetzes, the following should be done:
- Phosphogypsum should be added to a deeply plowed solonetz - 500 g / sq. m. on solonetzic soils - 200 g / sq.m.
- Fine gypsum can also be used to improve salt licks. It can be alternated with manure: first you need to make gypsum, and next year - manure. Read also the article: → "".
- On small areas solonetzic soils contribute a layer of fertile soil 20 centimeters thick.
- To increase the fertility of solonetzic soil, calcium sulfate is also added to it. It will absorb calcium and remove salt from the bottom layer. After that, the soil absorbs water well and becomes structural.
To improve fertility, the soil must be prepared for top dressing. Waterlogged soil: how to dry
- In this situation, the removal of ground and surface water is needed.
- Soil washout must be prevented certain areas. The beds are usually placed across.
- If the soil is located on a small slope and is well cultivated, it absorbs much more water.
Tip #2 Lands suffering from erosion are best planted perennials with a small root system.
Ways to increase soil fertility in the country
If the indicators of soil fertility decrease, then this is expressed not only in a decrease in yield. Plants become vulnerable to various diseases, damage by pests. What do we have to do?
- Organize correct crop rotation, which provides for the following: annual and biennial crops can be planted in their original place after about 5 years. Thus, it is desirable to change the seeding site of crops every year.
- Sow in the field healing herbs. In particular, garlic, marigolds, nettle, shepherd's purse, wormwood, etc., have a healing effect on the soil.
- Use California worms. The popularity of this method is just beginning to grow - the soil rich in worms is becoming much more fertile. A subspecies of ordinary worms - Californian help to restore the soil. Red Californian long-lived worms are especially effective. Their advantages: they are very prolific and perfectly digest various organic matter.
- Treat the soil thermally. This is a radical method. During heat treatment, pests and weeds are destroyed. Unfortunately, large areas cannot be treated in this way. This method is often used in greenhouses and greenhouses.
- Apply organic fertilizers - manure, ash, compost.
- Give rest to the soil, as it also gets tired. Do not sow anything on it for a year. In between, it is necessary to weed, mulch the soil, and fertilize it. In autumn, such a site must be dug up so that upper layer was at the bottom.
Soil mulching to increase yields Mixed planting as a way to improve soil quality
Do mixed landings crops, when a satellite plant is planted next to the main crops - one of the methods to increase soil fertility. At the same time, it improves general state plants, their incidence decreases, and the taste of fruits increases. This method helps prevent soil depletion. You can plant them between the beds, along garden paths. In addition, they attract bees, because of which the main plants are pollinated, which means that the yield increases.
Most often, medicinal and medicinal plants are used as companion plants. spicy plants, as well as plants with weakly branched and highly branched root systems. So, for example, crops that have a short growing season are placed next to those that have a longer period of development and growth.
Combinations of crops in mixed planting
The table below shows the most successful combinations of planting crops:
| Name of culture | Favorable combination |
| Basil | Tomatoes, goats, cucumbers, kohlrabi, onions |
| Marigold | Cabbage |
| Mustard | |
| Hyssop | All horticultural crops |
| white cabbage, cauliflower | Dill |
| Coriander | Beets, potatoes, strawberries |
| Watercress | and leaf salad, radish, radish |
| Corn | Pumpkin, beans, cucumbers, potatoes |
| Kupyr | Head and leaf lettuce, radish |
| Lavender | All perennial flower and all vegetable crops |
| Onion | Head and leaf lettuce, beans, cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumbers, onions, beets, asparagus, dill, tomatoes, savory |
| chives | Carrot cabbage |
| Marjoram | Carrot |
| Nasturtium | Tomatoes, potatoes, radishes, zucchini, radishes |
| borage | Cucumbers, strawberries, cabbage, zucchini |
| Parsley | Radish, cabbage, potatoes |
| Radish | Head and leaf lettuce, spinach, dill |
| Rosemary | Carrot |
| Thyme | All horticultural crops |
| Dill | Beets, carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, head and leaf lettuce |
The impact of green manure on soil fertility
Sowing green manure - plants that are characterized by a high content of starch, protein, nitrogen - is one of the ways to increase soil fertility. They are sown after the main harvest - in late August-September. They grow until the time of flowering. Then they should be mowed and left over the winter on the ground.
Another great way to improve soil fertility is to use green manure. Green manure properties:
- enrich the soil with phosphorus, potassium, calcium, nitrogen, which are formed after the decomposition of the root system;
- loosen, improve soil structure;
- favorably affect the water-holding capacity of the soil due to its enrichment with organic substances;
- stimulate the action of beneficial microorganisms;
- prevent the development of harmful microorganisms, being the protection of horticultural horticultural crops from diseases;
- suppresses the development of weeds;
- attracts insects that pollinate plants;
- protect the soil from overheating, weathering, erosion;
- reduces soil acidity.
Improving soil fertility without fertilizer in one year
Green manures are able to improve the composition of the soil, affecting its fertility:
| Family | The nature of the influence |
| Legumes | Saturate the soil with oxygen |
| Cruciferous, cereals | Retain nitrogen in the soil; protect against mineralization and washout |
| Hydrophilic, legumes, cruciferous, Asteraceae | Protect against weeds, prevent erosion |
| Cruciferous (colza, rapeseed) | Activate the formation of organic substances |
| Cruciferous (mustard), legumes | Favor the release of poorly soluble phosphate |
| Cruciferous (rapeseed, oilseed radish) | Prevent leaching of minerals |
| Cruciferous, legumes | Improve soil structure by loosening the roots of its upper horizons |
| Hydrophilic, legume, Compositae | Protect against nematodes |
| Compositae, hydrophilic, cruciferous (mustard), legumes (broad beans) | Attract honey insects |
Rubric "Question-Answer"
Green manures - green fertilizers Question. How can siderates be classified?
Siderates are conditionally divided into several groups:
- cruciferous: colza, white mustard, oilseed radish, rapeseed;
- buckwheat: buckwheat;
- Compositae: sunflower;
- hydrophilic: phacelia;
- cereals: rye, oats, barley, wheat;
- legumes: sweet clover, lentils, seradella, alfalfa, vetch, fodder beans, nomad, beans, lupins, peas, clover sainfoin.
Among all siderates, the most great importance have beans. They significantly enrich the soil with nitrogen, as they easily absorb it from the atmosphere. Indicators of nitrogen assimilation by cultivated plant species increase by 50%.
Can "rich" soil in the country give a low yield? Of course it can! Our summer residents do not always understand the meaning of the word "rich", thinking that this concept is equivalent to the term "fertile". In fact, rich soil is called, in which there are many useful components. But they may not be available to plants due to the poor structure of the soil layer. Roots just can't get them. And considered fertile is soil rich in substances with a good structure, thanks to which the maximum of substances and water will get to the roots.
Video about the causes of land depletion
And the task of the summer resident: not to "fill up" the land with an abundance of fertilizers, but to make them fertile by processing and adding certain components that will improve air circulation, moisture capacity, etc.
But for this you need to know what is the mechanical composition of the land in your country house: clay, loamy or sandy.
What soil is fertile?
How to determine the composition of the soil yourself
To determine the composition of the soil, take a lump of earth, wet it with water to make a mass that resembles a thick dough. Then roll an elongated cord out of the soil and try to twist the ends into a steering wheel. Look at the quality of the bend. If you managed to mold a bagel, and at the same time the soil did not crack, then it is clay. Small cracks in the fold will tell you that the soil is loamy. If the ground is sandy, then you won’t even be able to twist the tourniquet.
Now that the composition of the soil is clear, let's figure out what is useful and "unuseful" for each of these types of soil, and whether there is a chance to improve it.
Clay soil easily rolls into a tourniquet
How they "fight" with clay soil
This is just the case when the earth is rich, but not a single plant gets these riches. Such "greedy" land is considered infertile, because it:
- heavy;
- weakly warms up;
- with poor air circulation;
- there is a lot of moisture on the surface, but it weakly passes into the deeper layers;
- at hot temperatures, the surface becomes covered with a dense crust.
In order for the harvest to please, it is necessary to lighten the dense structure and make it looser. For this, sand is added (per m² - 30 kg), peat. To increase the number of active bacteria, add manure, compost. To avoid acidification - lime.
Plowing the site should raise layers of more than 25 cm to saturate the land with oxygen.
Planting crop seeds in clay soil is shallower so that it is easier for the roots to reach the water and get as much air as possible. So the potatoes need a depth of 6 cm.
Seedlings are laid at an angle so that the root system warms up to the maximum by the sun.
Loamy soil: lucky you
Loamy soil occupies the middle between sandy and clay, having a large supply useful substances. At the same time, the structure is much better than clay. All substances of the plant are easily extracted, therefore, special agricultural technology is not carried out on such land. Unless, as she is exhausted, she will have to be fed (as well as everyone else!).
Spread manure or compost effectively as mulch.
Poor soil is sandy
Sandy soil is distinguished by a flat yellow
If the site “pleased” with sand, then there are few nutrients in it. Of course, the soil structure is good: it quickly passes moisture, short term warm, lots of air. In spring, the sand is the first to be ready for planting. But the water instantly evaporates, which nullifies the other advantages. Therefore, you will have to establish constant watering in the summer.
The first thing that improves sandy soil is every year, in several steps, components are added to retain moisture: compost, manure, peat. The largest amount of additives is applied for autumn digging (4 kg of manure or 5 kg of compost + peat are scattered per m² of area).
Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers should be carried out often, but in a small amount, so that the plants have time to absorb until it is washed out by rains.
To increase fertility, it is good to sow sandy lands with green manure plants. They will compact the structure of the soil layer, linking the particles together. By the way, these plants are also effective as baking powder on clay soils.
Seeds are sown deep in such lands (about 12 cm) so that they receive at least part of the moisture before it has time to evaporate. Hilling is not recommended, contributing to even greater drying of the soil. One is enough, shallow, which is carried out after rain.
The second indicator on which soil fertility depends is acidity. If the land is acidified, then even the introduction of additional fertilizers will not improve the yield. More detailed instructions how to find out the level of soil acidity in the country and how to change it, you can read on our website in the article “Useful tips for summer residents: is liming the soil necessary and does it make sense to fight moles?” .
Ways to improve soil fertility
Even the most fertile land over the years, it will cease to please you if you only take from it without giving in return, that is, without taking any action to preserve or improve the soil. What does soil fertility depend on? Here are some ways to help the earth stay "healthy":
Send the ground on vacation
After a year of work, every person has the right to leave. The land in your dacha deserves the same right. Let not in a year, but in 5, but it is necessary to give her the opportunity to “breathe freely”. For this, the lands are not sown at all and are not planted with any crops, but spring and autumn digging, organics, ash and, if necessary, lime are introduced.
"Feed" the soil with green manure
These are annual plants that are planted to improve the microflora of the earth, to enrich it with organic matter. This group includes mostly cereals and legumes. Cereals structure soils, and legumes saturate with nitrogen. You can buy mixtures or plant monocultures.
What each of the legumes is good for, in addition to increasing the amount of nitrogen:
- beans lower the level of acidity;
- peas and alfalfa are saturated with phosphorus;
- the bird-foot increases the percentage of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium in the soil;
- lupine - the most optimal green manure before planting strawberries;
- vetch-oat mixture - an excellent baking powder, reduces the number of weeds, increases the level of phosphorus;
- mustard suppresses weeds and destroys the wireworm;
- rapeseed loosens heavy soils, destroys bacteria, saturates with sulfur and phosphorus.
How to apply green manure correctly
It is often written that the most effective way is to plow before planting the main crop. But in this case, the root system with nodules, in which there is a lot of nitrogen, turns upside down and collapses, becoming useless. The abundance of green mass during plowing can give an excess of nitrogen, from which the planted crop will “burn out”.
The best way- scatter the seeds after harvesting vegetable crops and close up with a rake. As soon as the green mass becomes high enough, but does not enter the flowering phase, green manure is mowed (with a mower or mower), leaving the entire mowing on the soil surface. It is not necessary to dig up until spring. During the winter, the root system will decompose itself, having managed to give everything useful to the soil.
If you miss the time and let the siderates seed, then you will join the ranks of the weeds, because in the spring a “heap team” will rise, which you will already have to fight.
In this phase of growth (when flowering has not yet come), green manure is mowed and left to decompose until spring
"Pamper" the earth with manure
Manure additives are only effective when the composition is overripe, because weed seeds and harmful bacteria have already been killed in it. Fresh manure can easily "burn" the roots. Dose - 10 kg per hectare.
If possible, consider the mechanical composition of the soil. For clay lands, it is better to purchase a sheep or horse "product", because it has a decomposition process going faster. Sandy lands respond well to pig manure or major cattle.
The best option- let the manure rot in the compost.
Prepare your compost
The old "grandfather" method was used to make compost from almost everything that can be called household waste. For this they dug compost pit and threw it in:
- tree pruning waste;
- flying leaves;
- cut grass;
- waste paper;
- uprooted weeds (that haven't started blooming!);
- food waste;
- manure, bird droppings, etc.
What not to compost:
- strawberry rhizomes;
- cabbage "rods" with a root;
- nightshade tops (tomatoes, potatoes, etc.);
- weeds that have begun to bloom, or with seeds.
The pit is periodically watered and turned over to accelerate decay. As a rule, such compost is “prepared” for about 4 years. A faster method is to add to the pile of accelerators that are on sale today and California worms.
If the compost pit is fenced in this way, then more layers can be applied. In this case, the entire compost will be well ventilated.
"Heal" the earth
There are plants that kill disease-causing microbes, thereby improving the quality of the soil. These include garlic, marigolds, wormwood. They can be planted between rows of other crops or along the perimeter of the beds. And the marigolds in the fall should be cut, finely chopped and the whole mass smelled.
Marigolds are an excellent healer for the soil
If you try at least a few ways to improve fertility in your dacha, the beds will thank you with an excellent harvest!
The soil is the foundation of your crop. So, you need to know everything about the soil on your personal plot and about what determines the fertility of the soil, as well as to do everything to improve these indicators. Indeed, the growth and development of plants growing on it and the adaptation of transplanted garden crops depend on the quality of the soil. The condition for a healthy and strong garden crop to grow is the saturation of the soil with nutrients.
What is the soil
Quite often, amateur gardeners say that a lot of work was invested, but little was received, and the reason for this is poor soil. From this it follows that it is necessary to know all the properties of the soil. The soil is considered fertile provided that the plant can take enough moisture and trace elements from it. If the soil is poor, then there are few substances useful for plants, and their availability to them is rather weak due to the structure of the earth.
The composition of the soil is: sandy, clay, sandy and loamy.
- Clay soil is infertile because of its poor structure, in which there is little air and which warms up for a long time. Poor penetration of water into the depth contributes to the swimming of clay soil and, when dried, the formation of a crust on its surface. The exception is clayey chernozems.
- Loamy soils are a cross between sandy and clay soils. The soil (except for strongly podzolic) has an excellent structure, a considerable supply of necessary elements, increased fertility and is considered quite suitable for growing garden crops and fruit and berry bushes.
- Sandy and sandy soils are considered the poorest. They have a high content of sand and a small amount of dust and silt. Such land perfectly passes water, but in the lower part all useful microelements are washed out with water. The soil warms up quickly enough, but there is no particular benefit from this, since there is a lack of moisture.
- As a rule, podzolic lands of high humidity are acidic. A lot of sorrel and horsetail usually grow on such soil. Acidic soil is determined by a whitish layer that resembles ash and is not too deep. In this soil useful minerals are located in the lower layers, there is almost no humus and there are few nutrients for growing crops.
- Salt licks at a shallow depth contain easily soluble salt (sodium chloride and sulfate), which is the root cause of soil salinity. Silty particles absorb a small amount of sodium, because of this, salt licks become sticky and structureless at high humidity, and also dry for a long time in the spring. When completely dry, they become hard, and therefore it becomes very difficult to process them.
Determination of soil fertility
If you decide to build a garden on your site, then you need to make sure that your soil meets these goals. If she does not suit you, then this can be corrected by increasing her fertility. First you need to consider what fertility is.
There are several types of soil fertility:
- natural fertility. This indicator characterizes the properties of the soil, or rather the landscape, in its natural state, which is determined by the productivity of natural phytocenoses.
- artificial fertility. The agrolandscape, that is, the soil that has been changed as a result of human economic activity, has this fertility. In its pure form, this applies to reclaimed and greenhouse soils.
- potential fertility. The ability of soils to produce a particular crop. However, these opportunities are not always realized, since everything depends on human activities and weather conditions. High potential fertility is inherent in chernozem soils, low - in podzolic soil. But everything is relative: in arid conditions, the yield of chernozems is much lower than that of podzolic soils.
- Efficient fertility. This is potential fertility, which is realized under certain conditions - climatic and agrotechnological. Effective fertility depends not only on the type of landscape, soil properties, economic activity, but also on the crops grown.
- economic fertility. IN this case effective fertility is measured in economic indicators, that is, the cost of the crop is taken into account.
To determine the composition of the soil, it is recommended to do the following: take a handful of earth from arable land and add a small amount of water, then mix thoroughly, bringing it to a doughy state. Roll the resulting mixture into a tourniquet and give it the shape of a donut. And we analyze the result:
- If the “donut” does not crack during bending, then such soil is clayey.
- If, nevertheless, cracking occurs during bending, then you have loam in front of you.
- With sandy soil, the tourniquet still rolls, but a “donut” will not work out of it.
- But you can’t even knead the “dough” from sandy soil.
Now it’s worth knowing the conditions of soil fertility by measuring the depth of the fertile layer of the earth, because often the soil is suitable exclusively for growing weeds:
- If the thickness of the fertile layer is less than 10 cm, then it will not even be possible to form a lawn. For a lawn of fertile soil should be more than 10 cm.
- To sow perennial grass crops, the thickness of the fertile soil should be in the range of 15-17 cm.
- If you are going to plant trees, the thickness of the soil should be 25-30 cm due to the fact that the root system is formed at this depth.
- for shrubs fertile soil should be 15-20 cm thick.
- According to experts, on average, the fertile layer should reach 18-20 cm.
Methods for fertilizing the soil on the site
So, you figured out the properties of the soil and decided on the type of soil on your suburban area. Almost all owners are beginning to comprehend the need to improve the land. But still, how can this be done without harm? After all, every professional gardener knows that any poor soil will not tolerate a large amount of fertilizer, everything is good in moderation. And also remember that the introduction of peat is not the most effective way for soil optimization.
clay soil
If your site has clay soil, then the restoration of soil fertility is carried out in accordance with the following instructions:
- To increase the fertility of clay soil, it is necessary to start fertilizing in the autumn - 3 kg per 1 m2, add ash - 0.2-0.3 kg and add lime - 0.35-0.6 kg.
- Such soil is plowed to a depth of at least 25 cm. On such soils, heat-loving crops and vegetables are grown on ridges, as well as ridges.
- When working on heavy soil, it must be remembered that the seeds are sown at a shallower depth, and the seedlings are planted at an angle so that its roots are in warmer layers.
- Potato tubers, planting on a flat surface, should be at a depth of no more than 6-8 cm. When filling the tubers, special composted peat should be added to the ground.
- Hilling plants is carried out in two stages. The height of the ridge after the second stage should be 15-18 cm.
sandy soil
To increase the fertility of sandy soil, you need to improve the structure, as well as optimize its moisture content:
- Fertilizer is applied to the soil in several stages and at different depths for better breeding micro-organisms useful for plants, which make it possible to increase the yield.
- We take the annual rate of fertilizers (lime - 0.4 kg, manure 4 kg per 1 m2) and divide into two equal parts.
- One part is introduced into the soil in autumn to a depth of 25 cm, and the other - in spring to a depth of 15 cm.
- Ash for the best effect should be placed in rows and holes.
- One option to improve the fertility of sandy soil is to plant lupine.
- Mineral fertilizers must be applied to the soil along with organic fertilizers in the spring. More effective is a mixture of fertilizer with humus in a ratio of one to two.
- After fertilizing sandy soil, early heat-loving plants grow well. It is necessary to grow crops on a flat surface.
- Seeds are sown much deeper into the soil, and potato tubers are planted at a depth of at least 12 cm.
- There is no need to carry out hilling. And when it rains, you only need one treatment.
acid earth
To enrich the composition of acidic soil, wood ash, lime, which contains calcium, is usually added, which is often not found in acidic soil. A kilogram of limestone is added to a sufficiently acidic earth per square meter to get rid of acidity. After this procedure, you will need different kind fertilizers - mineral and organic.
Salt licks
If salt licks predominate in the country, then follow the tips below to increase soil fertility:
- A deeply plowed solonetz will not give a good result without adding special additives such as phosphogypsum.
- This additive is applied on salt licks per 1 sq.m in the amount of 500 grams. On solonetzic soils, the dosage will be less and is up to 200 grams per 1 sq.m.
- Finely ground gypsum can also be used to improve solonetzes. It is very good when it is combined with manure, that is, gypsum is first applied, and manure the next year.
- On not very large areas of solonetzic soils, fertile soil is introduced, the thickness of which is 20 cm.
- Even to improve saline soil, it is necessary to add calcium sulfate. Its function is the absorption of calcium, as well as the removal of salt from the lower layer. After this procedure, the soil becomes structural and absorbs water well.
waterlogged horizons
There are situations that the soil on the site is too moist, in this case, do this:
- With high soil moisture, it is necessary to remove surface, as well as ground water.
- By using various ways soil erosion can be prevented in certain areas. Usually the beds are placed across.
- Well-cultivated soil absorbs water much more if it is located on a slight slope.
- Lands suffering from erosion are planted with perennial plants that have a small root system.
- It is good to practice terracing on the steepest slopes. The upper fertile layers are removed, they are sent to a new place. After that, the slopes of the terraces are laid out with the help of sod.
Ways to improve soil fertility
If there is a decrease in soil fertility, then this is manifested not only in a decrease in yield. Also, plants become more susceptible to various diseases, pests. And they may even die. Therefore, we will find out what measures need to be taken.
- Organization of crop rotation. One of the main roles in improving soil fertility is played by a properly performed crop rotation. Its task is that annual and biennial crops must be planted in the same place in about 5 years. It follows from this that it is recommended to change the place of sowing crops every year.
- Sowing medicinal plants. There is such a way - soil treatment by sowing special plants. Such healing effects possess following plants: nettle, marigold, garlic, wormwood, shepherd's purse, etc.
- Using California worms. This is not a very common method, but it is becoming popular every year, because the soil rich in worms gives a good harvest. California worms (a subspecies of common worms) will help restore the soil, performing their useful functions. This is especially true for long-lived red Californian worms. Their advantages are high fecundity and increased digestibility of various organic matter.
- Thermal processing of the soil. A radical way to improve soil fertility is heat treatment. In the process, weeds and all kinds of pests are destroyed. The main disadvantage of heat treatment is the impossibility of such treatment on large areas. Usually the method is used in greenhouses, as well as in greenhouses.
- Application organic fertilizers. There is no need to write off the method of our grandparents - organic fertilizers, in particular, the introduction of manure, compost and ash into the soil.
- Mixed planting crops. It is recommended to plant a satellite plant next to the main plants. With such a neighborhood, the general condition of plants becomes much better, and there is also a decrease in the incidence of crops and an increase in the taste of fruits. This method makes it possible to avoid soil depletion. For these purposes, apply various plants such as rosemary, basil, chamomile, marigold. They are planted between beds, rows, along garden paths and borders. Among other things, they are attractive to bees. This contributes to the pollination of the main plants, so the yield increases.
- Rest for the soil. To preserve the fertility of the soil, take a break for the soil, because it also "gets tired". This can be achieved by not planting crops for one year. In this period of time, weed, mulch and fertilize. In the autumn, dig such a site so that the top layer is at the bottom of the soil.
- Sowing green manure. An excellent way to increase soil fertility is to sow green manure (plants in which an increased content of protein, nitrogen, starch is recorded). Siderates are oats, rye, sunflower, and mustard. Sowing is carried out at the end of August or in September, after the main harvest. Siderants are grown before flowering and then mowed, while leaving for the winter on the soil itself.
Thus, you have a very serious job ahead of you. After all, without improving the fertility of the soil - do not reap a good harvest!
The issue of improving soil fertility worries many gardeners. Rich, fertile land is the key to the future good harvest. How to preserve and increase soil fertility in a summer cottage? I bring to your attention the advice of an experienced agronomist.
Soil fertility is determined by the percentage of humus content in it, which contains almost the entire soil supply of nitrogen, more than 60% phosphorus, about 80% sulfur, and almost all trace elements.
On most summer cottages the soil is squeezed out and contains only 2-2.5% humus, while to obtain a satisfactory harvest there must be at least 4% humus, and for a good harvest a humus content of more than 6% is needed.
Organic fertilizers restore humus. To increase the humus content from three to six percent, it is necessary to apply 30-40 kg of rotted manure per square meter for several years. area meter. You will say that this is unthinkable. Is it conceivable only to take without giving anything in return? These figures are impressive, but still you can not bring the garden to the state of waste land.
The use of fertilizers is a complex system the relationship of many factors, other unacceptable as a lack or excess of them in the garden.
Let's start with the accumulation of humus in the soil. The manure required for this purpose is now very expensive and large quantities inaccessible to many. And yet, to maintain the fertility of the site, it is necessary to apply annually at least 4-5 kg of manure per square meter. area meter. Fresh manure is not suitable for application to the soil - it must rot in a tightly packed pile for five to six months. 
-- Well restore humus, without losing the accumulated nitrogen, the so-called green manure plants - green fertilizers, which are planted for the purpose of subsequent plowing into the soil. With a yield of 2-2.5 kg of green mass with square meter, they replace 4-5 kg of manure. Green manures also contribute to the control of weeds, pests and diseases. Most often, sweet clover, mustard, trigonella, buckwheat, cereals, lupine, and peas are used as green manure.
Part of the site is allocated for sowing green manure or they are sown after harvesting early crops.
It is better to smell the plants when they are lignified or beaten by frost. Before embedding in the soil, they are crushed. With surface incorporation, the yield increases, but the humus content increases slightly, with deep incorporation, on the contrary, there is less effect on the yield, but the main task is fulfilled - the accumulation of humus in the soil. If the soil is dry after incorporation, watering is necessary. Like manure, green manure is valid for 3-4 years.
Another good fertilizer is chopped rotten straw. You can also use fresh, but then in the first year it is necessary to add nitrogen to the soil. By its effect, a ton of straw is equivalent to 4-5 tons of manure.
--Organic fertilizers with a high content of humus - biohumus, pix super-compost, universal fertilizer, etc., restore soil fertility rather quickly. These fertilizers are biologically pure, do not contain weeds and microorganisms. The dose of their application is several times lower than that of manure.
The soil is a biological ecosystem on which any living organisms, their growth and vital activity depend. The future harvest is determined by its composition and characteristics.
Fertility is the ability to grow healthy plants providing them with the necessary nutrition, oxygen and water. On good lands quality fruits ripen in significant quantities. What does it depend on
Factors affecting the yield
- Natural due to the specifics of the climatic zone.
- The presence of groundwater and the depth of their occurrence.
- The level of soil pollution.
Is not complete list on which soil fertility depends. There are also artificial factors. Rational farming, agrotechnical processing, fertilization - this is all that determines the fertility of the soil for growing agricultural products.
How to improve fertility
by the most good soil considered black. Its formation takes several hundred years, while destruction is possible in 3-5 years. Over time, humus is washed out, the soil structure is clogged, most of the microorganisms die, and the flow of oxygen and water to the plants deteriorates. How can soil fertility be improved?
The recovery process depends on the structure of the soil. Before you improve soil fertility, you need to find out what it consists of. For example, peat, lime, ash, sawdust are added to it. They will make the soil more loose and permeable, suitable for farming.
For peat and chernozem soils, regular application of organic fertilizers (manure, compost, bird droppings) will be sufficient. In addition to nitrogen, they contain beneficial microorganisms that can increase fertility several times in a short time.
How can soil fertility be improved? First of all, you need to check its acid-base reaction. Taking into account the results of the analyzes, take further actions. For acidic clay soils, it would be advisable to add dolomite flour in the fall for digging. Alkaline lands, on the contrary, are acidified with gypsum.
If the arable layer is depleted as a result long service life then you need to give him a break.
Holidays for the soil
The most fertile land needs periodic rest. You can not grow one crop in one place for several years. This leads to soil depletion.
Preservation of fertility
Natural processes are not immutable. And the natural fertility of the soil as a result of the use of agriculture changes dynamically, up and down. The latter indicator is extremely undesirable, as it characterizes one of the main reasons for the decrease in the efficiency of growing products. How can soil fertility be improved?
Natural fertility is inherent in any soil, since it is part of a particular ecosystem under specific conditions. But it is not enough for growing agricultural products. In addition, as a result of misuse, its structure is often violated. Restoration of soil fertility is a necessary agrotechnical technique in agriculture.
Consistent artificial improvement of arable land will make it possible to recoup the costs and receive annual income from the sale of the crop. The task of the farmer is not only to maintain, but also to preserve the fertility of the soil.
Gray podzolic soils
On these lands, a wide variety of agricultural crops grown in the forest-steppe are cultivated: corn, winter and spring wheat, potatoes, flax, sugar beets, etc.
Dark gray forest soils are closest to chernozems and have a higher degree of fertility than light gray ones. They are agronomically similar to gray soils and require a special approach and fertilizer. The creation of a powerful cultivated layer and the introduction of calcium to neutralize acidity is a common technique for all forest soils.
In light gray and gray lands, the humus layer is small and amounts to 15-25 cm. An illuvial brown horizon lies under it. It is saturated with aluminum and iron, which is toxic to plants. Therefore, plowing should be shallow, and loosening of the illuvial horizon should be done without a moldboard. In this case, the lower soils will not be brought to the surface, and fertility will not suffer. To deepen the arable layer, you can gradually (2 cm per year) plow the illuvial horizon with the simultaneous introduction of organic matter, mineral fertilizers and calcium compounds (lime, chalk, dolomite flour). Good results can be obtained by planting grass.
In dark gray forest soils, the upper fertile layer reaches 40 cm. And the upper part of the illuvial layer is saturated with humus. Therefore, deep plowing with the introduction of manure, mineral fertilizers and calcium in the form of gypsum and lime in a ratio of 1: 1 will be expedient here.
eroded soils
Slightly, medium and strongly eroded soils require special attention farmers. Their illuvial horizon is already involved in the topsoil. For such lands, it is rational to use nonmoldboard deep loosening, liming, the introduction of increased doses of mineral and organic fertilizers, and grass sowing.
In areas with eroded soils, measures are needed to prevent further soil washout. These include: plowed terracing, processing across the slope, etc.
Chernozems of the forest-steppe
When growing crops on these lands, the main thing is to maintain soil fertility conditions. It is necessary to use their potential in an ecologically correct and competent way. Processing should be carried out in the period of ripeness, with an annual alternation of deep plowing and shallow subsurface loosening for various crops. This should be done to preserve the earthy-cloddy structure of chernozems and to exclude (reduce) humus losses from mineralization. For example, with non-moldboard flat-cut tillage for winter wheat, even without sufficient rainfall, it will take root well and give decent shoots. But for a high yield, deep moldboard plowing and the simultaneous application of manure are required.
Preservation of the fertility of chernozems
The use of biohumus has a high effect on crop yields on gray forest soils and chernozems. Much attention should be paid to the use of chernozems and measures to accumulate and preserve soil moisture.
meadow lands
They are highly fertile, rich in humus and nutrients. Farm land use can be carried out on meadow-chernozem, meadow and meadow-marsh soils. Demanding agricultural crops are successfully grown on them.
The main disadvantage of such lands is the proximity of groundwater, which often contains salts (mineralized). Therefore, the most important factor in increasing plant productivity is the regulation of the water regime.
Methods for regulating soil fertility
Depending on the biological characteristics of plants and the nature of land use, there are techniques that allow you to obtain high yields and at the same time do not deplete the soil.
- Regulation of the nutritional regime - the introduction of mineral fertilizers.
- Comprehensive improvement of agrochemical, agrophysical, microbiological qualities - the use of organic fertilizers and the cultivation of herbs.
- Regulation of water-air balance - machining.
- Tracking agrophysical and chemical properties- the use of compounds containing calcium for liming or gypsum lands.
The use of any soil should ensure the reproduction of the fertility necessary for the planned amount of environmentally friendly, economically profitable products per unit area.
