![]() ![]() If you notice white salt crusts forming on your soil, excess soluble salts could be to blame. 5: Soil has excess salinity (salt content) or sodicity (sodium content).Ĭommon to: arid and semi-arid climates, low-lying areas near salt waterĪmendments to add: gypsum (calcium sulfate), elemental sulfur In low-pH areas, you can still grow many acidic-soil-loving crops, including radishes, sweet potatoes, potatoes, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and apples. Amounts less than 25 pounds can be applied in a single application. Wood ash should be applied at a rate of no more than 2 pounds per 100 square feet, according to the University of Minnesota, as excess wood ash will raise the potassium level in the soil, preventing plants from absorbing other nutrients. If using more than 25 pounds lime per 1,000 square feet, the University of Florida suggests allowing three to four weeks between applications to minimize negative impacts on plants, such as reduced availability of nutrients in the soil due to over application. The application rate for lime varies based on your soil’s pH and type, so follow your soil-testing agency’s recommendations. Lime is best incorporated into the soil, but if you’re applying it to an already-established area, it can be watered in by rainfall or irrigation. For perpetually alkaline soils, grow crops that tolerate high pH, including asparagus, beets, cabbage, lettuce, parsley and spinach.Ĭommon to: areas of high rainfall, poor drainage, heavy nitrogen-fertilizer use and high evergreen-tree populationĪmendments to add: dolomitic lime, wood ashįor soils with low pH, lime is many farmers’ go-to amendment. It is safe to apply iron sulfate to plants.Īlkaline soils require continual buffering, so monitor your soil pH every one to two years and amend as needed. Amounts less than 7 pounds can be applied in a single application. The University of Minnesota recommends that additional iron sulfate applications of more than 7 pounds per 100 square foot be spaced one to two months apart. Elemental sulfur reacts slowly with the soil, so apply it the year before planting. Apply elemental sulfur and iron sulfate at rates dependent on your soil type-your soil-testing agency should provide recommendations. ![]() When soil test results show high soil pH levels, your crops will benefit from some balance. Do not work soil, particularly dense clay soil, when it’s wet, as this will only add to your soil-compaction problems.Ĭommon to: clay soils, arid and semi-arid climatesĪmendments to add: elemental sulfur, iron sulfate Plant crops in areas away from natural water pathways. In addition to using amendments, build raised beds to encourage crop areas to drain faster. The amendment rate for non-clay soils will vary depending on soil type and the amendment you choose to use. According to the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, clay soils should generally be amended with 1 cubic yard of amendment (such as gravel or compost) per 100 square feet. Avoid adding sand to clay soils, as the mixture can set up like concrete. The addition of these amendments will also require you to add organic materials to boost nutrients. An effective way to combat this is to incorporate gravel or sand into the soil-not simply adding it as a drainage layer below the topsoil. Soggy, compacted ground needs an amendment to add space between soil particles and allow better drainage. In addition to incorporating compost into the soil, mulch crop areas to reduce water evaporation from the soil, then turn the mulch into the soil at the end of the growing season.Ĭommon to: clay soils, low-lying areas, areas with a high water tableĪmendments to add: compost, sand, 78M pea gravel Be sure to use mature compost, as compost that hasn’t fully decomposed can actually deprive your growing plants of nutrients as it continues to break down. The North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension recommends incorporating a 3- to 6-inch layer of decomposed organic material on the ground that needs amended. ![]() If your crop beds drain and dry out too quickly, they can benefit from the addition of compost, which will add both nutrients and water-retention capacity. Every farm has different soil requirements, so get to know your soil and experiment to discover the best plan of action for your situation. The amendment details below are simply guidelines. Below are six common soil issues and amendments that can help solve them, as well as additional steps you can take to boost the amendments’ effectiveness. ![]() Even the poorest soils can be improved to yield a productive crop by adding beneficial amendments, which will help improve plant growth and health. The key to good soil is good soil management. You can determine your soil’s weaknesses and amendment needs by performing regular soil tests. ![]()
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