how can soil be replenished
Answers
of the more common minerals missing in today’s depleted soils:
Nitrogen: One of the three plant macronutrients, nitrogen leeches easily from the soil and needs to be consistently replenished. It also must be in a certain form in order for plant roots to use it. Although commercially added to the soil with ever-increasing amounts of fertilizer, nitrogen can remain available throughout all growing seasons through crop rotation, using compost, and other soil management techniques.
Calcium: Calcium plays an important role in a plant’s structure and growth. Recent studies performed in the eastern U.S. have found that calcium levels are dropping rapidly. Usually, calcium is returned to the soil through weathered rocks and decaying matter, but modern agriculture, erosion, and acid rain has stripped this mineral away.
Manganese: Vital for photosynthesis and other processes, this micronutrient can become depleted or unavailable to plants when soils are too wet, too high in organic matter, or too high in other elements, such as iron. Alkaline soils, such as those found in much of the southwest US, also often lack this mineral.
Carbon: This element is critical for living microbes to survive. It is used and returned to the soil through organic matter.
As many of these minerals are lost, soils are likely to become more acidic. This in turn can exacerbate the problem, as many plants are unable to properly absorb vital nutrients in acidic soils. Checking the pH levels is an important starting point to understanding the soil’s composition.
Soil Management
Organic Material
Organic material is the vital binding agent that ensures that soil minerals are available for plants to absorb through their roots. Alive and rich in carbon and other vital nutrients, organic materials such as compost and other decaying matter adds structure to the soil, improves drainage, and helps plants fight off disease and pests.
Many amendments and techniques are available for gardeners to use to introduce healthy organic material back into depleted soil. Tilling or layering compost, and planting cover crops are all popular choices. Keep in mind, however, that rejuvenating the soil is a process that can take anywhere from weeks to years. Staying consistent and understanding the soil’s composition is important to ensuring success.
Compost
Nothing introduces living organic matter to the soil easier or more effectively than compost. In essence, compost is simply decomposed organic material. The decomposition process that creates compost is driven by a vast array of insects and microorganisms—creatures lacking in nutrient-poor soils. Compost is beneficial to soil and plants in several ways. It reintroduces living organisms ranging from centipedes to bacteria, improves soil structure, adds nutrients, and provides a healthy environment for plant roots. Households can vastly improve their soil by turning waste into black gold, virtually eliminating the need to depend on commercial fertilizers.
Many composting techniques are in use today, and many involve only a bucket and shovel. Compost can be tilled or layered on the soil, and can take anywhere from several days to several years to make, depending on the climate and technique used.