Soil Basics
The definition of soil changes primarily based on the occupation using the soil at any one time, but generally it’s understood to be the upper layer of earth on which plants grow. It is, however, much more than that and the better you understand the soil you’re working with the better environment you will be able to create for your plants to grow on.
The soil’s ability to supply and sustain nutrients for healthy plant growth is the soil’s fertility. Soil is different from region to region and even within particular fields and it’s ability to feed plants properly differs accordingly. Fertile soil will contain soil nutrients from organic and mineral reserves. The soil’s physical structure is important to allow for water penetration and aeration. A plants ability to take up nutrients and water better in soils with good physical makeup.
To maximize your crop yield a balance of nutrients must be maintained in the soil. Natural soil fertility is enhanced, and lost nutrients replaced from harvesting, by the application of fertilizers.
Some soils are better than others for maximizing crop production. Four main classifications of soil texture are sand, clay, silt and loam. Sizes of individual soil bits make up texture and that’s dependent upon the amounts of sand, clay, silt and loam in the soil.
While sand is easy to work it has very poor moisture and nutrient holding abilities. It drains well but loses water and nutrients too easily.
At the other end of the spectrum clay is high in its ability to maintain moisture and nutrients but it drains poorly and compacts leaving the plants starved for oxygen.
Silt falls in between clay and sand.
Loamy soil contains combinations of clay, silt and sand. It drains well and therefore provides oxygen for plants and it holds moisture and nutrients well. Loamy soil is considered the best type of soil for growing plants because of its ability to drain well and hold nutrients and moisture.
Analyzing soil is of prime importance in maximizing crop yields. You have to know what base nutrients are available in order to know what fertilizers to add. Knowing the soils composition, whether it’s sand, clay or loamy, will help you to understand what crops will grow best in it.
There are test kits available at stores but they are not as reliable and accurate as lab tests carried out by your local county extension office or university that supports an agronomy or agricultural school.
