Question

if a farmer wants to improve water holding capacity of his Sandy soil field what would you suggest him?

Answer 1

to plant nitrogeneous plants like girlicida plants which gives the energy to hold water capacity

Answer 2

The water holding capacity for sand is low. Soil organic matter (SOM)is another factor that can help increase water holding capacity. Soil organic matter has a natural magnetism to water. If the farm increases the percentage of soil organic matter, the soil water holding capacity will increase.

Unfortunately changing the soil texture of the field is not a viable option. Soil texture can be changed naturally by erosion, but that usually changes soil texture in a negative way.

The best option for a farmer is to increase their soil organic matter. Here are some basic ways that a farm can increase their SOM:

• Use cover crops;

• Change to conservation-tillage practices, for example no-till or minimal tillage;

• Add manure;

• Add compost.