How to Increase Organic Matter in Soil

Composters are a good way to create compost.

Nearly all gardens can benefit from an effort to increase organic matter in the soil. Organic matter is very important, even in small amounts, as it affects both chemical and physical properties of the soil. University of Illinois Extension horticulture specialist Richard Hentschel calls organic matter "Mother Nature's slow release fertilizer." Increasing soil fertility by adding organic matter decreases the need for chemical fertilizers. Organically rich soil fosters the growth of beneficial microorganisms and inhibits the growth of nematodes. Adding organic matter is a simple way to insure healthier plants and crops.

Things You'll Need

• Compost
• Manure
• Kitchen scraps
• Leaves and yard waste
• Shredded paper (optional)
• Green cover crop seed (optional)

Instructions

1. Add compost and rotted manure to your soil. Compost and manure are both excellent sources of organic matter and contain vital nutritional elements to help plants grow.

2. Practice direct composting. Bury your kitchen scraps, grass clippings and leaves directly into the soil, where they will decompose and become food for plant roots.

3. Turn last year's mulch into the soil before replanting. Newspapers, leaves, and even bark mulches can be turned over or tilled into the soil to add organic matter before planting a new crop.

4. Bury shredded paper in your garden. Paper is made from wood, and decomposes nicely, adding organic matter to the garden soil. Newspapers and magazines use organic dyes and inks now, so there is little danger of soil toxicity from using shredded paper.

5. Grow winter cover crops; rye grass is ideal. Till or turn the cover crop into the soil in the spring to add green manure to the garden before planting.

References

• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Building Healthy Soil
• ACES: Organic Matter and Soil Fertility

Resources

• PlanTea: 163 Things You Can Compost