How to Build Soils
Soil has various compositions and comes in a variety of forms. Natural soils consist of minerals, organic matter and living organisms that are in balance with surrounding geological features and climate. Soils change with depth. To grow healthy plants and grasses, rich black topsoil with good drainage is best. The pH and salinity of the soil also have to be considered. Analyze your soil and determine what has to be added to make it healthier. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Add Organics
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1
Analyze your soil. Some soils have too high or low a pH -- this can be fixed by adding chemical buffers. But they can lead to a high salt content, which deters plant growth. Check the salinity and improve drainage if this is the case. "Sodic soils" are high in sodium. This can be remedied by treating it with gypsum.
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2
Spread organic material over your soil. Use aged manure, compost, lawn clippings or leaf litter. Put down a layer of up to about four inches, depending on how deeply you plan to turn it in.
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3
Turn the organic material into the soil as deeply as possible. Use a mechanical tiller if you can. A layer of manure or compost about four inches thick can be turned in 18 inches or more. Organic material improves drainage and increases the fertility of the soil. Make sure it is wet enough for microorganisms to break down the organic material into nutrients for plant growth.
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4
Add sand to soil with poor drainage. Clay soils have a high organic content but poor drainage. Adding sand alone will not help them -- they will cement the sand particles. But adding sand with organic fertilizer can improve the drainage and fertility of clay soils.
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5
Plant a cover crop. This is known as "green manure." Use a crop that is adapted to the type of soil you are trying to improve. After the crop has matured but not gone to seed, turn it into the soil with a tiller. This can be repeated several times in a single season with some crops. This adds organic material to the soil and improves drainage. Choose the crop according to your soil type and what time of year you want to plant. Some crops, such as winter wheat, can grow at the end of your vegetable season and be turned in before you plant in the spring.
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Tips & Warnings
A study on some of the richest topsoil in the world, found in the Amazon rainforest, shows that it was produced by repeatedly charring vegetation -- not completely burning it -- then turning it into the soil. This particularly rich soil, known as "terra preta," was produced by the indigenous people of that area thousands of years ago
