Agronomy

Figuring out soil problems doesn’t mean you have to dig deep. Looking at the top soil is all the deeper you need to go. And solving those problems usually means a strategy to improve soil through adding amendments. What are soil amendments? Soil amendments are any materila that improves your soil’s nutrient balance and water holding ability. They improve the soils aeration and water infiltration capacity.

Basically there are two types of soil amendments. Something that was once alive like straw, compost, manure, biosolids, wood ash and peat is an organic amendment. Vermiculite, perlite and sand, among others, would be an inorganic amendment.

The rule of thumb when getting ready is to first test the soil to find the levels of organic matter and if less than 3% start by applying 3 cubic yards of your selected soil amendment per 1,000 square feet of soil. You’re may cause a salt buildup by applying in heavier amounts and remember to retest before adding any more to your soil.

The goal is to balance nutrients in the soil over time and make them available to the plants.