Friday, 6 February 2009

Adobe Soil

By James Roberts

Some chemical fertilizers harden the soil and reduce aeration. Nitrate of soda is a typical offender. In yearly applications of this fertilizer, plants use up much of the nitrate but little of the soda. This keeps piling up in the soil, and combines with carbon to form carbonate of soda (washing soda). Where large amounts of nitrate of soda are used, the soil can become so hard that it can be cultivated only after a rain.

Some chemical fertilizers harden the soil and reduce aeration. Nitrate of soda is a typical offender. In yearly applications of this fertilizer, plants use up much of the nitrate but little of the soda. This keeps piling up in the soil, and combines with carbon to form carbonate of soda (washing soda). Where large amounts of nitrate of soda are used, the soil can become so hard that it can be cultivated only after a rain.

Soil aeration is directly related to the porosity of the soil. Proper aeration of the soil is important to proper plant growth. Well- aerated soil consists of a large proportion of macro pores, allowing sufficient quantities of the right gases to be available to aerobic organisms to encourage best functioning and growth.

It will be alkaline, with a pH of at least 7.5 and probably higher. Because of this, some essential nutrients, phosphorus and iron among them, will be unavailable.

Role of Soil in Air is needed in the soil for the decomposition of organic matter, and is necessary for the proper functioning of soil microorganisms and oxidation of mineral matter. In poorly aerated soil, few minerals are available for plant sustenance. The presence of sufficient oxygen helps to balance the supply of carbon dioxide, and in the process of plant respiration, oxygen is absorbed by plant roots. Better soil aeration enables plants to develop a bigger root system and results in higher yields. In the process of plant growth. the leaves absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and give off oxygen. The reverse takes place in the roots, which take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide. In the decay of organic matter, carbon dioxide is given off.

The soil will become easier to till. Moisture will seep down and be held instead of running off. In this converted adobe, earthworms may be planted and will flourish. Since humus is a neutralizer, the alkalinity will be brought down to a point suitable for many garden plants.

Tilling is an excellent means of improving soil aeration and reducing the carbon dioxide content of the soil.

When one plows or tills corn and then cultivates three times while the crop grows, much air is mixed with the soil, weeds are killed and crop yields increase.

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