Compost Tea Recipe: What Is Compost Tea and How To Make It?

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Judul : Compost Tea Recipe: What Is Compost Tea and How To Make It?
link : Compost Tea Recipe: What Is Compost Tea and How To Make It?

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When we talk about Organic Gardening, one of the main topic we discuss is how to nourish the soil without adding any chemicals. It
is probably the most important factor of organic gardening. One of the options of doing this is to use Compost Tea. This article is all about making this. But before going into compost tea recipe we should first know, what is a compost tea?

What is compost tea?

Compost tea refers to the mixture of compost with water.

Compost tea types:

There are two types of compost tea.

1. Aerated Compost tea

2. Non-aerated Compost tea

 What to put inside a compost pile?

 

How To Make Compost Tea?

Non-Aerated type are the easiest to prepare. You simply need to put the compost in a perforated bag and then put the bag in a container and then fill the container with water. After some times, the water would become dark brown in color.

For aerated version most preferred way is to use Brewers.

Compost Tea Brewer:

It is basically a plastic bucket connected with some pipes to an air pump and a water source. Here, the compost is mixed with water and the mixture is aerated with the help of pump. The extract from this solution is used to fertilize the garden.

5 tips to decompose faster

The Brewer adds fresh oxygen into the water, which helps the bacteria to thrive.

Though people talk about Tea Brewer every time they discuss Compost Tea, it is not the only way to prepare the tea. There are other and more simper ways to this. Here is a video that describe the simplest method to prepare compost tea.

Check out this video and realize it is not compulsory to have a complex compost tea brewer.

Why compost tea?

The beneficial effects of compost tea is much more extended than tradition compost. Best part of using compost tea over traditional compost is that you can use it on both soil and leaves.

You can spray compost tea on the leaves; it will reduce the foliar diseases. As it is in the liquid form it will improve the soil quality by increasing the nutrients available to the plant.

A Compost Tea recipe is not that a complicated matter as it may sound. I hope after reading this article you have a much more clearer view about the subject. I will also encourage you to share with your friends so that they can also try this in their garden.

When we talk about Organic Gardening, one of the main topic we discuss is how to nourish the soil without adding any chemicals. It
is probably the most important factor of organic gardening. One of the options of doing this is to use Compost Tea. This article is all about making this. But before going into compost tea recipe we should first know, what is a compost tea?

What is compost tea?

Compost tea refers to the mixture of compost with water.

Compost tea types:

There are two types of compost tea.

1. Aerated Compost tea

2. Non-aerated Compost tea

 What to put inside a compost pile?

 

How To Make Compost Tea?

Non-Aerated type are the easiest to prepare. You simply need to put the compost in a perforated bag and then put the bag in a container and then fill the container with water. After some times, the water would become dark brown in color.

For aerated version most preferred way is to use Brewers.

Compost Tea Brewer:

It is basically a plastic bucket connected with some pipes to an air pump and a water source. Here, the compost is mixed with water and the mixture is aerated with the help of pump. The extract from this solution is used to fertilize the garden.

5 tips to decompose faster

The Brewer adds fresh oxygen into the water, which helps the bacteria to thrive.

Though people talk about Tea Brewer every time they discuss Compost Tea, it is not the only way to prepare the tea. There are other and more simper ways to this. Here is a video that describe the simplest method to prepare compost tea.

Check out this video and realize it is not compulsory to have a complex compost tea brewer.

Why compost tea?

The beneficial effects of compost tea is much more extended than tradition compost. Best part of using compost tea over traditional compost is that you can use it on both soil and leaves.

You can spray compost tea on the leaves; it will reduce the foliar diseases. As it is in the liquid form it will improve the soil quality by increasing the nutrients available to the plant.

A Compost Tea recipe is not that a complicated matter as it may sound. I hope after reading this article you have a much more clearer view about the subject. I will also encourage you to share with your friends so that they can also try this in their garden.

Vermicompost: A Basic Idea

soil - Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about soil, i was write this article for sharing Article compost, Article current trends in gardening, Article soil, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Vermicompost: A Basic Idea
link : Vermicompost: A Basic Idea

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When we talk about vermicompost we mean composting organic materials by using redworms and other such worms. The process is called vermicomposting. Worms create a blend of different composting ingredients. You can enrich the quality of a soil many a times any adding vermicompost with it. It is considered to be very high quality organic fertilizer.

Worms in general situation eat in plenty in a whole day and with that proportion they release the casting. Most interesting fact is that their casting contains 8 times more microorganism than their food. These organisms do wonders for the plants. Besides the cast is also pathogen free. This cast is full with nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K) than the normal soil. If you remember (in our earlier article we have discussed about this) these 3 minerals are essential for any plants growth. These casts are also rich in humic acid which is very much beneficial for any plant.

Several countries like USA, Canada Japan etc practice vermicompost in larger scales for agriculture. But use can practice it in your own house also. All you need is these basic materials:
1.    A container
2.    Bedding
3.    Water
4.    Worms
5.    Kitchen scraps

Fill the container with bedding and kitchen scraps. Mix some water to make it moist; after that, add the worms into the mix. They will eat the mixture and create casts for you to use.

A word of caution: do not use any material such as bottle caps, polythene bags, aluminum foils etc. Avoid any type of insecticides or chemical near the bin. These will kill the worm population.

Vermicomposting is a fantastic way to convert your kitchen scraps into fertile manure. You can use earthworms to convert your kitchen wastes into manure (worm cast and some decayed materials) which you can then add to your window boxes. This acts as a buffer to reduce excessive acid or alkaline present in your soil. It will also help storing nutrients and retaining moisture. General recommendation is to add vermicompost and normal soil in 1:10 ratio.


What is your experience? Share it with us:

When we talk about vermicompost we mean composting organic materials by using redworms and other such worms. The process is called vermicomposting. Worms create a blend of different composting ingredients. You can enrich the quality of a soil many a times any adding vermicompost with it. It is considered to be very high quality organic fertilizer.

Worms in general situation eat in plenty in a whole day and with that proportion they release the casting. Most interesting fact is that their casting contains 8 times more microorganism than their food. These organisms do wonders for the plants. Besides the cast is also pathogen free. This cast is full with nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K) than the normal soil. If you remember (in our earlier article we have discussed about this) these 3 minerals are essential for any plants growth. These casts are also rich in humic acid which is very much beneficial for any plant.

Several countries like USA, Canada Japan etc practice vermicompost in larger scales for agriculture. But use can practice it in your own house also. All you need is these basic materials:
1.    A container
2.    Bedding
3.    Water
4.    Worms
5.    Kitchen scraps

Fill the container with bedding and kitchen scraps. Mix some water to make it moist; after that, add the worms into the mix. They will eat the mixture and create casts for you to use.

A word of caution: do not use any material such as bottle caps, polythene bags, aluminum foils etc. Avoid any type of insecticides or chemical near the bin. These will kill the worm population.

Vermicomposting is a fantastic way to convert your kitchen scraps into fertile manure. You can use earthworms to convert your kitchen wastes into manure (worm cast and some decayed materials) which you can then add to your window boxes. This acts as a buffer to reduce excessive acid or alkaline present in your soil. It will also help storing nutrients and retaining moisture. General recommendation is to add vermicompost and normal soil in 1:10 ratio.


What is your experience? Share it with us:

Solarization: Know the Basics

soil - Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about soil, i was write this article for sharing Article basics, Article current trends in gardening, Article jargons, Article organic gardening, Article pests, Article soil, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Solarization: Know the Basics
link : Solarization: Know the Basics

soil

Today we will discuss a very interesting but simple way for controlling weed problems in your garden. It is called Solarization process. We have used the term in our earlier article Weed controlling in organic ways. Here we will give some details so that you can try out in your garden.

In a very simple terms, solarization means using the heat from the sun to kill the weed in your garden. In this method the gardening area is covered with clear polythene then it is exposed to the full hot sun so that the light and heat can reach to the ground and cook the weed seeds which remained hidden inside the soil.
 

Why do I need soil Solarization?

Most people are unaware of this method and normally prefer other techniques in weed controlling. But there are some definite benefits which you get once you have decided to go for solarization.

There are so many weed seeds that are beneath the soil surface and are very hard to find. Though people put a thick layer of mulch to kill them, if the weed seeds are very vigorous, they can come on top of the mulch back to the light. Some time landscape fabrics are spread over the garden and then in some places holes are punched to plant new plants. This process in not full proof and can be infected by weeds. Though there is little bit hard work involved, it is by far the best way to kill the entire weeds in a given area. And once completed, your garden will be the best place for your new plants to live.

This method is entirely organic. There is no herbicide or other pesticides involved. You are using nature’s energy to a better use.

Although it is primarily meant to kill weeds, it will also reduce the nematodes, soil insects and many other soil borne diseases.

How to do Solarization:

The best time for practicing this is when the sun is at its full power i.e. in the summers. First choose the area which you want to solarize. Try to choose the area where there is very little shade available, the main purpose of the solarization will be hampered if the sun is blocked. Now once the area is fixed remove the existing weeds by tilling the land with a tiller. Till up to 6 inches depth. Please remove any sharp object which can poke holes in the polythene from this tilled area.

Next thing you need to do is to put some water in that area and make the soil moist. Don’t add too much water so that the soil becomes waterlogged. Water is a very important element in this process. It helps in heat conduction. Avoiding water in solarization, may not give you your desired result.

Cover the area with a clear polythene sheet. Don’t use any colored sheet as it will stop the sunlight to reach the soil. Stretch the polythene tightly and seal it completely. Sealing will help the heat to remain within the desired area and cook the weed seeds, insects, nematodes that can harm your plants. Keep the land in this way for at least 2 months.

After that, remove the polythene. Now the area has been solarized and the weeds, pests, nematodes all have been killed. This will remain weed free for 3 to 4 months. You can plant your desired plant now and enjoy it weed free. Don’t plant before removing the entire polythene because the heat can kill the plant.




If you like the article, share it with your friends:

Today we will discuss a very interesting but simple way for controlling weed problems in your garden. It is called Solarization process. We have used the term in our earlier article Weed controlling in organic ways. Here we will give some details so that you can try out in your garden.

In a very simple terms, solarization means using the heat from the sun to kill the weed in your garden. In this method the gardening area is covered with clear polythene then it is exposed to the full hot sun so that the light and heat can reach to the ground and cook the weed seeds which remained hidden inside the soil.
 

Why do I need soil Solarization?

Most people are unaware of this method and normally prefer other techniques in weed controlling. But there are some definite benefits which you get once you have decided to go for solarization.

There are so many weed seeds that are beneath the soil surface and are very hard to find. Though people put a thick layer of mulch to kill them, if the weed seeds are very vigorous, they can come on top of the mulch back to the light. Some time landscape fabrics are spread over the garden and then in some places holes are punched to plant new plants. This process in not full proof and can be infected by weeds. Though there is little bit hard work involved, it is by far the best way to kill the entire weeds in a given area. And once completed, your garden will be the best place for your new plants to live.

This method is entirely organic. There is no herbicide or other pesticides involved. You are using nature’s energy to a better use.

Although it is primarily meant to kill weeds, it will also reduce the nematodes, soil insects and many other soil borne diseases.

How to do Solarization:

The best time for practicing this is when the sun is at its full power i.e. in the summers. First choose the area which you want to solarize. Try to choose the area where there is very little shade available, the main purpose of the solarization will be hampered if the sun is blocked. Now once the area is fixed remove the existing weeds by tilling the land with a tiller. Till up to 6 inches depth. Please remove any sharp object which can poke holes in the polythene from this tilled area.

Next thing you need to do is to put some water in that area and make the soil moist. Don’t add too much water so that the soil becomes waterlogged. Water is a very important element in this process. It helps in heat conduction. Avoiding water in solarization, may not give you your desired result.

Cover the area with a clear polythene sheet. Don’t use any colored sheet as it will stop the sunlight to reach the soil. Stretch the polythene tightly and seal it completely. Sealing will help the heat to remain within the desired area and cook the weed seeds, insects, nematodes that can harm your plants. Keep the land in this way for at least 2 months.

After that, remove the polythene. Now the area has been solarized and the weeds, pests, nematodes all have been killed. This will remain weed free for 3 to 4 months. You can plant your desired plant now and enjoy it weed free. Don’t plant before removing the entire polythene because the heat can kill the plant.




If you like the article, share it with your friends:

Weed Controlling In The Organic Way

soil - Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about soil, i was write this article for sharing Article organic gardening, Article soil, Article weeds, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Weed Controlling In The Organic Way
link : Weed Controlling In The Organic Way

soil

Before starting the weed control we need to know about weeds. There are basically two types of weeds:

Grassy weeds: The leaves of these types of weeds are blade like. These weeds are basically grass. Most of the lawns have these types of weeds.

Broad-leaf weeds: As the name suggests these weeds have broader leaves than the grassy weeds. All the weeds except grass can be classified in this category.

Most of the people thought that applying herbicides to the weed will solve their problem, but experts argue that in most of the cases the chemical can enter into the fruits or vegetables and can also pollute the ground water.

Though it is unfortunately true that weeds can grow in any type of soil, the first step you can take to control weeds is to make the soil as healthy as possible. Keep the soil aerated, and well drained. Keep your soil fertile by applying compost or organic fertilizers. It is true that weeds will also benefit by the application of fertilizers but at least it will give your desired plant enough nutrients to grow. After some time this desired plant will reduce your weed problem to a certain limit.

Tilling the garden to reduce the weeds is a very well known procedure. We have already discussed this process in Garden bed preparation.

Mulching is a very commonly used method for controlling weeds. Laying a thick layer of mulch over the weeds can kill them. It also helps in restoring the water content of the soil for longer period of time. You can add dry leaves, straw or hey. You can find the basic details about mulch and mulching here. While applying mulch the thickness is very important. Like for shredded leaves you need to put the layer at least 8 to 10 inches thick, whereas if you are applying saw dust, 2-3 inch of mulch will be enough. As for straw the thickness is 5 to 6 inches.

You can also apply a layer of black plastic sheet; it will prevent the light and water to reach to the weeds. This is the best way to kill the grassy weeds. If you are a hardcore organic gardener you might want to skip plastic as it is not a valid organic material.

Pulling out weeds by hand is probably the best option in case the weed has grown pretty large in size. Try to remove the weeds before they produce seeds. Sometimes burning the weeds can provide you an instant solution. You can use flamer for this purpose.

Some people also recommend using biological control such as using geese for weed control. Geese are naturally attracted to grass and weeds but this need proper control. You can try using this but this process is a long-term process.

You can also use common household vinegar in spraying bottle and apply this to weeds. While applying this technique, make sure the vinegar doesn’t reach your main plant.  

For preventing weeds we need to be proactive in our approach. We hope after reading this article you will be better position to control weeds in your garden.

Did you like this article? Share it with your friends

Before starting the weed control we need to know about weeds. There are basically two types of weeds:

Grassy weeds: The leaves of these types of weeds are blade like. These weeds are basically grass. Most of the lawns have these types of weeds.

Broad-leaf weeds: As the name suggests these weeds have broader leaves than the grassy weeds. All the weeds except grass can be classified in this category.

Most of the people thought that applying herbicides to the weed will solve their problem, but experts argue that in most of the cases the chemical can enter into the fruits or vegetables and can also pollute the ground water.

Though it is unfortunately true that weeds can grow in any type of soil, the first step you can take to control weeds is to make the soil as healthy as possible. Keep the soil aerated, and well drained. Keep your soil fertile by applying compost or organic fertilizers. It is true that weeds will also benefit by the application of fertilizers but at least it will give your desired plant enough nutrients to grow. After some time this desired plant will reduce your weed problem to a certain limit.

Tilling the garden to reduce the weeds is a very well known procedure. We have already discussed this process in Garden bed preparation.

Mulching is a very commonly used method for controlling weeds. Laying a thick layer of mulch over the weeds can kill them. It also helps in restoring the water content of the soil for longer period of time. You can add dry leaves, straw or hey. You can find the basic details about mulch and mulching here. While applying mulch the thickness is very important. Like for shredded leaves you need to put the layer at least 8 to 10 inches thick, whereas if you are applying saw dust, 2-3 inch of mulch will be enough. As for straw the thickness is 5 to 6 inches.

You can also apply a layer of black plastic sheet; it will prevent the light and water to reach to the weeds. This is the best way to kill the grassy weeds. If you are a hardcore organic gardener you might want to skip plastic as it is not a valid organic material.

Pulling out weeds by hand is probably the best option in case the weed has grown pretty large in size. Try to remove the weeds before they produce seeds. Sometimes burning the weeds can provide you an instant solution. You can use flamer for this purpose.

Some people also recommend using biological control such as using geese for weed control. Geese are naturally attracted to grass and weeds but this need proper control. You can try using this but this process is a long-term process.

You can also use common household vinegar in spraying bottle and apply this to weeds. While applying this technique, make sure the vinegar doesn’t reach your main plant.  

For preventing weeds we need to be proactive in our approach. We hope after reading this article you will be better position to control weeds in your garden.

Did you like this article? Share it with your friends

Raised Garden Beds: How To Build A Bed in 4 Simple Steps

soil - Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about soil, i was write this article for sharing Article beginner's guide, Article garden beds, Article soil, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Raised Garden Beds: How To Build A Bed in 4 Simple Steps
link : Raised Garden Beds: How To Build A Bed in 4 Simple Steps

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Raised garden beds are always a good option for Gardening. Though it might sound pretty troublesome to prepare garden bed it is not that tough. This article will put some light on Garden bed preparation.

The first thing you need to do to make a raised garden bed is to kill the weeds in the area you have planned your bed. The best way to do this is to first till the area with a tiller or plough it (in case the area is larger).

Next add a thick layer of compost and till again. You can also add layers of newspaper or cardboard to cover the area before tilling the soil.

It will kill most of the weeds in the first place. Weeds which have deep roots or runners can be killed easily by this process.

After covering the area with compost add some water to the soil and till it a bit. This will make the weed seed (which are present in the soil) to germinate. Once they germinate, till it once more.

This total process of watering and tilling you need to follow quite a few times. After making sure that there are no more weed seeds present in the soil, you can use your vegetable or other plants. Try not to use seeds at first and go for transplanting in the first year. After that you can use seeds as per your likings.

Another way to get instant garden bed is to cover the whole area with the topsoil bags which are readily available in any garden store. Try not to use cheap quality product but go for the company which is known for their product quality.

Cut one or two areas of each bag and plant your seedling or seeds there. After covering the whole area with topsoil bags, cover the exposed plastic area of the

bag with thick layer of Mulch. Now you have it, your own garden bed.

This type of permanent raised bed gardening is always helpful and it also makes the surrounding soil much more fertile and healthier. Raised beds warm up faster than normal soil. The best part about garden beds is you can make it any size you want. Keep enough space for walking, beside the garden beds and never walk on the beds.

Keep adding composts at regular intervals. It will keep the beds fertile. First year it is recommended to add 4 to 6 inches of compost. In the subsequent years ½ inch of compost will be enough to provide the required nutrition to the plants.


Have you prepared you garden beds yet? Share your experiences with us.

Raised garden beds are always a good option for Gardening. Though it might sound pretty troublesome to prepare garden bed it is not that tough. This article will put some light on Garden bed preparation.

The first thing you need to do to make a raised garden bed is to kill the weeds in the area you have planned your bed. The best way to do this is to first till the area with a tiller or plough it (in case the area is larger).

Next add a thick layer of compost and till again. You can also add layers of newspaper or cardboard to cover the area before tilling the soil.

It will kill most of the weeds in the first place. Weeds which have deep roots or runners can be killed easily by this process.

After covering the area with compost add some water to the soil and till it a bit. This will make the weed seed (which are present in the soil) to germinate. Once they germinate, till it once more.

This total process of watering and tilling you need to follow quite a few times. After making sure that there are no more weed seeds present in the soil, you can use your vegetable or other plants. Try not to use seeds at first and go for transplanting in the first year. After that you can use seeds as per your likings.

Another way to get instant garden bed is to cover the whole area with the topsoil bags which are readily available in any garden store. Try not to use cheap quality product but go for the company which is known for their product quality.

Cut one or two areas of each bag and plant your seedling or seeds there. After covering the whole area with topsoil bags, cover the exposed plastic area of the

bag with thick layer of Mulch. Now you have it, your own garden bed.

This type of permanent raised bed gardening is always helpful and it also makes the surrounding soil much more fertile and healthier. Raised beds warm up faster than normal soil. The best part about garden beds is you can make it any size you want. Keep enough space for walking, beside the garden beds and never walk on the beds.

Keep adding composts at regular intervals. It will keep the beds fertile. First year it is recommended to add 4 to 6 inches of compost. In the subsequent years ½ inch of compost will be enough to provide the required nutrition to the plants.


Have you prepared you garden beds yet? Share your experiences with us.

Different Soil Type: A Classification of The Garden Soil

soil - Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about soil, i was write this article for sharing Article factors for gardening, Article soil, Article soil types, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Different Soil Type: A Classification of The Garden Soil
link : Different Soil Type: A Classification of The Garden Soil

soil

Today I will discuss about the soil and its types. To be more specific, by soil I particularly mean topsoil. Soil is the main food source for plants in the garden. So it is better for a gardener to know more about this important factor of gardening. Many of the plants die in the garden due to the lack of proper soil. Every plant have their own preference for Garden soil. By knowing the types and their properties we can definitely increase the chance of plant survival.

Classification of The Garden Soil:

Depending on the presence of 3 different particles (sand, silt and clay), the garden soil are classified into 4 basic types. They are sandy, silty, clay, Loamy.

Sandy soil:

To start with, sandy soil  has mostly the largest sized particles in them. The particle size is over 1/20 mm in diameter. Upon touching you will feel it as much more dry and gritty with compared to other soil. This type of soil is very light in weight and can warm up very quickly in the spring. Due to its large particle size they do not pack as closely like other type of soil and thus has a very good aeration and good drainage capacity.

The downside of the story is it drains very quickly, the plants get very less time to absorb the nutrients with generally drains off with the water. You can improve the water retention capacity of the sandy soil by adding organic compost , peat moss etc, these will help to retain the nutrient as well as moisture.

Silty soil:

Silty soil has much smaller particles compared to sandy soil. If you touch the soil with your finger it will give you much smoother feeling compared to the sandy soil. It is a intermediate between sandy and clay type of soil. It retains water longer than sandy type. The drainage and aeration is far less than the sandy type. Due to its water retention, this type of soil doesn’t warms up so easily.

Clay soil:

It contains mostly the particle which is sized less than 1/200 mm in diameter. If you touch clay type soil in wet condition you will feel the stickiness in the soil. Here the particles are packed very closely leaving very little space for aeration and drainage. It can hold more water than any other type of soil. As it has a tighter grip on the drainage it can hold on to the nutrients. It is very rich in plant food for growth.

This type of soil warms up very slowly in the springs. It can become very hard once it gets dry. So it can be a problem working with this type of soil specially in the time of summers. If properly managed this soil type can be the best for plant growth.

Loamy Soil:

It is a mixture of sandy, silty and clay type of soil. Generally most of the gardening is done in this type of soil. If put mixed with proper organic matter this type of soil is easy to maintain and required very little add-on.

Having said all that these soil types are not permanent in nature and you can definitely alter the nature of the soil. So don’t be disheartened if your near by soil is not suitable for the type of crop you are thinking about growing. Here is a list of materials which you can add to your soil and change its aeration or water retention capacity.

That’s all for today. Will come with some other interesting topic in the next article. If you are a first time visitor to the site you can check our archive section for more gardening related articles.

Today I will discuss about the soil and its types. To be more specific, by soil I particularly mean topsoil. Soil is the main food source for plants in the garden. So it is better for a gardener to know more about this important factor of gardening. Many of the plants die in the garden due to the lack of proper soil. Every plant have their own preference for Garden soil. By knowing the types and their properties we can definitely increase the chance of plant survival.

Classification of The Garden Soil:

Depending on the presence of 3 different particles (sand, silt and clay), the garden soil are classified into 4 basic types. They are sandy, silty, clay, Loamy.

Sandy soil:

To start with, sandy soil  has mostly the largest sized particles in them. The particle size is over 1/20 mm in diameter. Upon touching you will feel it as much more dry and gritty with compared to other soil. This type of soil is very light in weight and can warm up very quickly in the spring. Due to its large particle size they do not pack as closely like other type of soil and thus has a very good aeration and good drainage capacity.

The downside of the story is it drains very quickly, the plants get very less time to absorb the nutrients with generally drains off with the water. You can improve the water retention capacity of the sandy soil by adding organic compost , peat moss etc, these will help to retain the nutrient as well as moisture.

Silty soil:

Silty soil has much smaller particles compared to sandy soil. If you touch the soil with your finger it will give you much smoother feeling compared to the sandy soil. It is a intermediate between sandy and clay type of soil. It retains water longer than sandy type. The drainage and aeration is far less than the sandy type. Due to its water retention, this type of soil doesn’t warms up so easily.

Clay soil:

It contains mostly the particle which is sized less than 1/200 mm in diameter. If you touch clay type soil in wet condition you will feel the stickiness in the soil. Here the particles are packed very closely leaving very little space for aeration and drainage. It can hold more water than any other type of soil. As it has a tighter grip on the drainage it can hold on to the nutrients. It is very rich in plant food for growth.

This type of soil warms up very slowly in the springs. It can become very hard once it gets dry. So it can be a problem working with this type of soil specially in the time of summers. If properly managed this soil type can be the best for plant growth.

Loamy Soil:

It is a mixture of sandy, silty and clay type of soil. Generally most of the gardening is done in this type of soil. If put mixed with proper organic matter this type of soil is easy to maintain and required very little add-on.

Having said all that these soil types are not permanent in nature and you can definitely alter the nature of the soil. So don’t be disheartened if your near by soil is not suitable for the type of crop you are thinking about growing. Here is a list of materials which you can add to your soil and change its aeration or water retention capacity.

That’s all for today. Will come with some other interesting topic in the next article. If you are a first time visitor to the site you can check our archive section for more gardening related articles.

Soil pH: A basic Idea

soil - Looking for Aquaponics And Hydroponics Systems Today i will give you some info about soil, i was write this article for sharing Article factors of gardening, Article jargons, Article pH, Article soil, I hope this article very helpfull for you

Judul : Soil pH: A basic Idea
link : Soil pH: A basic Idea

soil

In some of my earlier articles I have mentioned about pH and the ideal pH for a particular plant. But many starters are not aware of this technicality. So I decided to demystify the jargon in this article.

Soil pH is the measure of how acidic or how alkaline your soil is. It is actually to measure the concentration Hydrogen ions in the solution. It is measured in a scale of 0 to 14. Where 0 being the most acidic and 14 is the most alkaline and 7 stands for neutral. To give you an example lemon juice can be of the range of 2 to 3 signifies very acidic where as baking soda can be of a pH of 8 to 9 which means it is very alkaline. The fresh clean drinking water is of pH 7.

This pH is calculated on the logarithm scale so a difference between one point is equal to 10 times acidity. i.e, the pH of 6 is 10 times more acidic than pH 7 and 10 times less acidic than pH 5.

Now you must be wandering about why pH is so important to your plant? Lets see why. The pH of the soil has a very big role in plant growth and its survival. Though it is not a nutrient, it controls the availability of the nutrients to the plant. So it does not matter how much nutrient you put into the soil, if it can not get absorbed by the plant it is of no use. For example a soil pH of 6 or more can inhibit the absorption of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium etc. where as a soil pH of 7.5 or more can reduce the amount of Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese. A soil pH of less than 4 can be full of toxic amount of Aluminum or Manganese.

Now the good news. The soil pH is not fixed. You can change it to your plant’s liking. The soil pH is dependent on your local climate. You can get the idea by looking at the plants in your locality. Generally it is found that in high rainfall areas the soil pH is acidic. Plant like blueberries flourish in these areas. Where as typically low rain fall areas in the world is generally contains alkaline soil. Plants like olive or pomegranate do well in those areas.

It is best to test your soil pH before you start planting. You can get the required instruments in your local garden shops. You can also contact any professional to do it for you.

If your soil is too acidic and you want to reduce the acidity and increase the pH, agricultural lime or dolomite can be a good option to be added with the soil. Generally agricultural lime is cheaper than dolomite. In case your soil is deprived of magnesium then add dolomite otherwise lime would be fine.

In case your soil is far more alkaline and you want to decrease the pH, add peat moss or compost. Adding these organic material can definitely beneficial than adding ammonium sulfate or other inorganic sulfates.

I hope this clears the doubts surrounding the pH and its effect. Do post your comments.

In some of my earlier articles I have mentioned about pH and the ideal pH for a particular plant. But many starters are not aware of this technicality. So I decided to demystify the jargon in this article.

Soil pH is the measure of how acidic or how alkaline your soil is. It is actually to measure the concentration Hydrogen ions in the solution. It is measured in a scale of 0 to 14. Where 0 being the most acidic and 14 is the most alkaline and 7 stands for neutral. To give you an example lemon juice can be of the range of 2 to 3 signifies very acidic where as baking soda can be of a pH of 8 to 9 which means it is very alkaline. The fresh clean drinking water is of pH 7.

This pH is calculated on the logarithm scale so a difference between one point is equal to 10 times acidity. i.e, the pH of 6 is 10 times more acidic than pH 7 and 10 times less acidic than pH 5.

Now you must be wandering about why pH is so important to your plant? Lets see why. The pH of the soil has a very big role in plant growth and its survival. Though it is not a nutrient, it controls the availability of the nutrients to the plant. So it does not matter how much nutrient you put into the soil, if it can not get absorbed by the plant it is of no use. For example a soil pH of 6 or more can inhibit the absorption of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium etc. where as a soil pH of 7.5 or more can reduce the amount of Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese. A soil pH of less than 4 can be full of toxic amount of Aluminum or Manganese.

Now the good news. The soil pH is not fixed. You can change it to your plant’s liking. The soil pH is dependent on your local climate. You can get the idea by looking at the plants in your locality. Generally it is found that in high rainfall areas the soil pH is acidic. Plant like blueberries flourish in these areas. Where as typically low rain fall areas in the world is generally contains alkaline soil. Plants like olive or pomegranate do well in those areas.

It is best to test your soil pH before you start planting. You can get the required instruments in your local garden shops. You can also contact any professional to do it for you.

If your soil is too acidic and you want to reduce the acidity and increase the pH, agricultural lime or dolomite can be a good option to be added with the soil. Generally agricultural lime is cheaper than dolomite. In case your soil is deprived of magnesium then add dolomite otherwise lime would be fine.

In case your soil is far more alkaline and you want to decrease the pH, add peat moss or compost. Adding these organic material can definitely beneficial than adding ammonium sulfate or other inorganic sulfates.

I hope this clears the doubts surrounding the pH and its effect. Do post your comments.