The most fertile lands. The most fertile soil How to determine the mechanical composition of the soil

- the surface layer of land, which has fertility. Exist different kinds soils, almost all of them are used in agriculture. Knowing the fundamentals about the characteristics of the soil, about which soil is the most fertile, and what to do to improve this unique quality, is extremely important for everyone involved in gardening and horticulture.

Works on the cultivation of vegetables and fruit crops on such grounds require a lot of effort, because:
despite the presence of a large number of compounds, they do not reach plants well, because the density

  • soil is elevated;
  • it is difficult to handle;
  • there is not enough oxygen in it and air circulation is difficult;
  • soil heating is slow;
  • water stagnation is often observed on the surface, since the soil has insufficient moisture permeability;
  • in hot weather, a hard crust forms on the surface of the soil.

It is easy to determine this type: if a lump of moistened soil rolls into a rounded sausage, the ends of which are connected by a ring without any problems, then this is clay soil.

Increasing the fertility of clay soil

Peat, sand, lime and ash - this is a list of those substances, the systematic introduction of which improves the structure of clay soil.

Peat acts as a loosening material, which increases the water-absorbing qualities. But it must be borne in mind that peat has an increased acidity, so lime must be added along with it, dolomite flour or ash for neutralization. Sand helps loosen the soil.

River sand is recommended for application, but construction (quarry) sand is ineffective, since it does not pass air and water well, it is practically not fertile, it contains clay. Ash is an excellent nutrient enrichment for the soil, and lime helps to reduce acidity and increases air permeability.

The cultivation of clay soil is helped by the introduction of organic matter (preferably horse manure), cultivation of green manure plants.

What to grow in clay soil

  • planting in high ridges and ridges;
  • small embedding of seeds;
  • planting seedlings at an angle;
  • frequent;
  • mandatory mulching.

The application of all these measures will help increase the fertility of clay soil and collect excellent yields.

sandy soil

Such soil is classified as a type of lung. Her outward signs is friability, flowability. A dense lump of such earth is practically not formed. Sandy soil has its pros and cons of quality. TO positive qualities relate:

  • fast heating;
  • easy moisture permeability;
  • good breathability.

At the same time, sandy soil is characterized by rapid drying, cooling, leaching nutrients into deep layers of soil.

Cultivation of sandy soil

The fertility of this type of soil is increased by the following activities:

  • the systematic introduction of additives such as peat, compost, humus, clay or drill flour.
  • sowing green manure plants;
  • quality .

If you systematically follow the above tips, then after 4-5 years the quality of sandy soil will improve.

To create fertile ridges on this type of soil, many gardeners use the following method:

  • The garden area is fenced off.
  • A layer of clay is laid at the bottom of the fenced area.
  • At least 30 cm of imported sandy or loamy soil is poured on top of the clay.

Such artificial beds will allow as soon as possible and get good harvests at the lowest cost.

What to grow in sandy soil

On sandy soil, you can get a good harvest of almost all horticultural crops subject to frequent, in small doses, fast-acting liquid top dressing.

sandy soil

If a clod of wet earth in your area rolls into a rounded sausage, but such a sausage does not hold its shape well, crumbles, then you have sandy loam soil in your hands. In its structure, it is light and resembles sandy soil, but with big amount clay inclusions. Therefore, it retains nutrients better, is able to retain heat and moisture for a long time.

On such soil, subject to the usual agricultural practices, all the main vegetables, as well as fruit crops, grow well.

loamy soil

A handful of loamy soil easily rolls into a sausage, holds its shape well, but does not curl into a ring. The positive qualities of loamy soil include:

  • ease of processing;
  • sufficient amount of nutrients;
  • good absorption and moisture retention;
  • enough oxygen;
  • fast heating and slow cooling.

The structure of the loamy soil does not require improvement, it is only necessary to replenish the supply nutrients, introducing organic matter during digging (half a bucket per sq. M), feeding plants with minerals, mulching plantings. On loam, almost all plants give a good harvest.

calcareous soil

The calcareous soil has a light brownish tint, which becomes off-white when moistened. In its structure, it is very similar to sandy, but it is distinguished by a high content of lime. It also quickly overheats and dries out.

Plants in such soil suffer from a lack of iron and manganese, so their leaves turn yellow and poor growth is noted. According to the degree of acidity, calcareous soil is alkaline.

The introduction of a large amount of organic matter is the highest quality way to increase the fertility of calcareous soil. Organics are incorporated into the soil not only when autumn digging, but also mulching with plant humus.

Such soils are favorable for plants that prefer weak acidity. When growing crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, it is recommended to apply fertilizers that can acidify the soil (urea, ammonium sulfate).

Growing vegetables and horticultural crops on calcareous soils requires a large amount of watering, loosening, reasonable top dressing. This is a laborious process, but otherwise decent harvest from calcareous soil is not possible.

Peaty-marshy soil

Many consider peat-marshy soil fertile. But this is an erroneous opinion. It is loose, permeable, but contains an insufficient amount of elements such as phosphorus, potassium and magnesium, quickly dry out, warms up for a long time. The introduction of river sand improves the fertility of peat soils. In addition, the introduction of organic matter, microbiological additives, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, and clay is mandatory. Only then will the soil become suitable for growing garden and garden plants.

love peat soil and crops such as gooseberries, chokeberries grow well on it.

The most fertile and potentially promising for agriculture are chernozem soils, but, unfortunately, they are quite rare on household plots. The structure of the chernozem is granular-cloddy, it has excellent water-absorbing and water-retaining abilities, it contains a large amount of nutrients available to plants.

Therefore, the first 2-3 years of planting on chernozem practically do not require top dressing. Over time, chernozem, like other types of soil, will become poorer, therefore, the introduction of organic matter during digging, sowing green manure plants is necessary for it.

Chernozem soil is determined simply: a handful of earth strongly compressed in the hand leaves a greasy imprint on the palm.

While watching the video, you will learn about soil types.


I never understood people who can devote a whole day to garden work. Why can't you relax on the couch? But, life in a private house implies gardening and continuous work (clean up the yard, pull out weeds, take care of the lawn and flowers). Therefore, when the first opportunity arose, I immediately bought an apartment in the city. I forgot that in the spring you need to buy seedlings.

Now every summer I come to my grandfather and watch how he works non-stop so that his grandchildren and great-grandchildren eat the harvest from the garden. I can't stand aside I help my grandfather all the time. Today I dare to reveal the secrets of a successful harvest. Looking ahead, I will say that good soil is needed.

What soil is the most fertile: concepts

Rich soil - such a phrase is very often said by "inveterate" gardeners, not fully understanding the main concepts. It is better to use the term fertile soil, which contains potassium, copper, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, humus, nitrogen and phosphorus. If the soil does not contain the above elements, then it is not fertile and not suitable for growing crops.


Determine the exact composition of the soil on suburban area possible with the help of special analysis. The soil sample is given to agrochemical laboratory(a similar analysis is done when the site was taken for large-scale sowing of crops).

Chernozem is the most fertile soil

For good harvest buy black soil. It has a characteristic color and granular structure. It is called "black gold" » . The soil has a high level of fertility due to humus and calcium. Chernozem was recognized as the most the best soil and nourishment for garden plants, vegetable crops. If there is no black soil on the site, and you don’t want to spend additional funds to buy soil, what to do? Except " black gold" we have others fertile soils.


  • sandy soil;
  • loamy soil;
  • sandy soil;
  • swampy soil.

Important to know: swampy soil not used in pure form(because of hyperacidity). It is used as an additive.

A good harvest depends not only on the soil, but also by the hands of the owner. Learn it.

In the region where I live, there are several types of soils that are distinguished by their fertility. Among them there are also chernozems, which are the leader in terms of fertility. Now I will tell you what is so special about this soil.

Chernozem is the most fertile type of soil

Chernozem - black earth. Indeed, it is black. Therefore, many people who have lived all their lives in a region with such soils are very surprised when they come to another area and see the land of brown or yellow color. Basically, chernozems are concentrated in the steppe and forest-steppe zone.

High level The fertility of these soils is ensured by the following characteristics:

  • a large amount of humus in the composition (5–15%);
  • the presence of a variety of microorganisms;
  • grain.

Even in the distant past, chernozems were the key to a good harvest. Soil properties such as theirs cannot be created artificially. No special fertilizers and minerals will make other soil as fertile. This is because the formation of black soil takes thousands of years. They are formed under the influence of many natural factors, including climate conditions and biological features. A large number of microorganisms, as well as worms, live in such a land, which contributes to the formation of a favorable environment for the growth of any plants.

Chernozems in the world

For Russia, chernozems are a real asset. Our country occupies a leading position in the world in terms of the number of such fertile lands. All together the territories with chernozems in Russia make up 52% ​​of the world's areas. Chernozems are also found in the following countries:

  • Hungary;
  • Bulgaria;
  • Ukraine;
  • Canada.

But Russian chernozems have the best composition. They contain more humus than the soils of other countries, which is a key factor in fertility. Chernozem is transported to other regions, for which a certain layer of soil is cut off. Many people think that in this way it is possible to ensure fertility on long years, but it's not. The soil is gradually depleted, and after a few years it loses its fertility.

More than a hundred years ago, V.V. Dokuchaev established the geographic zonality along which the main types of soils on Earth are located. It shows where fertile gray soils are located. On the territory of Russia, zonality is more pronounced than in other countries. This is due to the large extent of the country from south to north and the predominance of flat terrain.

Soil types

In the territory Russian Federation zonal change of soils is clearly seen. There are tundra lands, gley, sod-podzolic, podzolic, brown and gray, fertile soils (chernozems), semi-deserts, chestnut, gray, gray-brown. In the subtropics, red and yellow soils are common. In the mountains, a feature of soil change is altitudinal zonality. All types are divided by composition, structure. Soil fertility also influences the classification.

Description of types

The northern part of the country is represented by tundra-gley soils. They are thin, contain a small amount of oxygen. In the forest zone, the most common different types lands. Podzolic lands are formed in the taiga under coniferous forests. Due to the decomposition of coniferous litter, acids are formed that increase mineralization and organic decay. Humus is washed out of the upper layers of water and transferred to the lower layers. As a result of this, the upper layers become whitish, which is why they got their name - podzol. If upper layer enriched with humus, then such a land is called sod-podzolic.

The most fertile soils - chernozems - are formed in the forest-steppe zone. They are characterized by the absence of a washing regime, and due to steppe plants the soil is enriched organic matter. Because of this, a large layer of humus is formed. In arid lands, a chestnut layer is formed. They differ low content humus. Such soils are found to the south, where the climate is dry and warm, and vegetation is sparse. With a close occurrence of groundwater, solonchaks are formed.

Chernozems

Chernozem is considered the most fertile soil. It is characterized by black color, grain-lumpy structure. This type land is formed under grassy vegetation in the steppe and forest-steppe zone.

Chernozem is characterized by the following:

  1. Lots of humus. Chernozem contains up to fifteen percent of humus. Because of this, these lands are highly fertile.
  2. Lots of microorganisms. In each type of soil there are microorganisms, but it is in the chernozem that they are the most.
  3. The fertile soils of Russia have a granular-lumpy structure.

harvest land

Chernozem soils have the highest yield. In zones with such land, warm temperatures, stimulating the intensity of metabolism in plants.

play an important role in soil formation. natural conditions, which form favorable treatment for the accumulation of nutrients and their conservation. In the black soil layer there are many worms and bacteria. They create favorable conditions for growing any kind of plants.

Where is chernozem found

In addition to the territory of the Russian Federation, chernozem soils are found in America, Canada, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. The Chernozem region in Russia accounts for about half of all fertile lands on the planet. Also, the chernozem on our territory has a rich composition, while in other countries these lands are poorer.

Types of chernozem

And what fertile soils of all types of black soil are the best? The characteristics of the black earth determine the type. So, according to this criterion, podzolized, typical, leached, southern land is distinguished. In the central part of Russia, chernozem has about eight percent humus. The layers themselves lie at a depth of no more than seventy centimeters.

Steppe chernozem belongs to a typical species. It contains about ten percent of humus. In the layers of North America, the humus content is not more than three centimeters. And this despite the fact that the land with its content of less than two percent is considered to be dead. Of all the black soils of Russia, Voronezh is considered the standard of fertility. It is even exhibited in the museum of France as a symbol of fertility.

Chernozem formation

The formation of chernozem is a long and complex process. It is influenced not only by flora and fauna, but also by the location of the land, the climate of the region. In the process of farming, if the land is not replenished with fertilizers, the quality of the black soil is lost. The cut fertile layer loses its properties after a few years. An example of this is the transportation of chernozem layers to Germany in post-war period. Over the years, they have lost their properties.

Sale of black soil

IN last years Soil sales are growing rapidly. This leads to the destruction of the black earth, the creation of which takes decades. The fertility of the land is influenced by many factors, among which the main one is the type of plants growing on the ground. If the plant has a powerful root system, then the fertility of the chernozem will be better. This is due to the fact that large roots loosen the soil when deepened, allowing oxygen to penetrate deep into the formation. The most fertile soils are those on which trees and shrubs grow.

Chernozem use

Chernozem is delivered to various parts of the world. It is used in landscaping major cities where the land is depleted. In central Russia, chernozem soils are used to create the necessary fertile layer. With its help, water permeability, granulometric composition, and density are optimized. After the introduction of soil on sandy lands, there is an improvement, an improvement in fertility.

The territory of Russia is vast, but there are few lands favorable for agriculture. More than ten percent of the land area is occupied by tundra, about thirteen percent is wetlands, the same amount of land is used in agriculture. The most valuable lands make up about seven percent of the entire country. Half of them are in the Chernozem region: about eighty percent of the country's total production is produced here. Podzolic and chestnut lands are allocated for pastures and hayfields.

None of those involved agriculture people will not agree with the famous line "Nature has no bad weather." Climatic conditions can be very unfavorable for agriculture. The same applies to soils. Have black soil http://keramzit-pesok.ru/chernozem.html, good timely rains and sunny summer any gardener would be happy middle lane Russia. But if with moisture and heat the situation is different years changes, then with the land you have to be content with what you have or buy what you want in the appropriate firms.

What soils are the most fertile?

Russian gardeners are lucky in this regard. True, not for everyone, but only for those living in certain regions of the country. Chernozems are the most fertile soils in the world. They form on loess-like loams. By their own unique properties literally comparable to minerals: they are not found everywhere and are of great value. Their humus layer can be more than a meter thick, and in ravine forests up to four, which is a record that is absolutely unattainable for other types of soils.

Where are black soils located?

More than 50% of all their world reserves are concentrated in Russia. Mainly in the strip from the middle and lower reaches of the Don and further east to Western Siberia. Voronezh black soil was even kept in Paris as a standard of fertility. In addition to Russian, Ukrainian ones are very rich. They occupy almost half the area of ​​this country and make up about one-twelfth of all existing in the world. There are black soils not only in Eurasia, but also in the western United States, southern Canada, Argentina and Chile.

 
Articles By topic:
Pasta with tuna in creamy sauce Pasta with fresh tuna in creamy sauce
Pasta with tuna in a creamy sauce is a dish from which anyone will swallow their tongue, of course, not just for fun, but because it is insanely delicious. Tuna and pasta are in perfect harmony with each other. Of course, perhaps someone will not like this dish.
Spring rolls with vegetables Vegetable rolls at home
Thus, if you are struggling with the question “what is the difference between sushi and rolls?”, We answer - nothing. A few words about what rolls are. Rolls are not necessarily Japanese cuisine. The recipe for rolls in one form or another is present in many Asian cuisines.
Protection of flora and fauna in international treaties AND human health
The solution of environmental problems, and, consequently, the prospects for the sustainable development of civilization are largely associated with the competent use of renewable resources and various functions of ecosystems, and their management. This direction is the most important way to get
Minimum wage (minimum wage)
The minimum wage is the minimum wage (SMIC), which is approved by the Government of the Russian Federation annually on the basis of the Federal Law "On the Minimum Wage". The minimum wage is calculated for the fully completed monthly work rate.