Fixing Dusty Topsoil

Plant fields with cover crops, like winter wheat, to prevent erosion.

Topsoil is the living part of soil, filled with bacteria, earthworms and fungi. Below it are layers of substrate and hardpan. Dusty topsoil is probably not topsoil at all, but a substrate. Developers often remove the topsoil when building new homes, leaving homeowners with a dusty, sterile soil lacking the fertility needed to grow plants. Modern farm methods also strip topsoil of its fertility. Fixing the problem takes a few years, but isn't difficult.

Things You'll Need

• Compost
• Peat moss
• Rototiller
• Shovel
• Cover crops like vetch, clover or ryegrass
• Groundcover

Instructions

1. Spread a two- to three-inch layer of compost and peat moss over your soil. Rototill the amendments into your soil. For smaller areas, turn the soil over by digging into it with your shovel, mixing the amendments into your soil as you go. Add organic material, like compost and peat moss, at least annually.

2. Plant cover crops like clover, vetch or rye grass in unused fields to prevent erosion. These crops provide nitrogen to the soil and can be rototilled under the soil where they'll decompose, adding organic material to the soil.

3. Plant ground cover or grass in yards to prevent further erosion. Don't leave large areas of exposed soil unplanted. You'll experience further soil depletion, and weeds will invade the soil.

Tips & Warnings

• Regularly water your soil to keep it evenly moist. This will help cut down on dust as you improve the soil.

• Plant grass or a cover crop as soon as possible to minimize dust and cut down on further erosion.

• Aerate sparingly. Till your vegetable garden once a year at the most, as frequent aeration causes erosion. Consider raised beds to minimize foot traffic and compaction, and the need for tilling.

• Rotate your crops. Heavy feeding crops like corn deplete the soil of nutrients. Rotating crops minimizes soil fertility loss.

• Homeowners should specify in their building contract that contractors will place top soil in a pile, separate from substrates obtained when digging out the foundation and basement of the house.

References

• Teachers Domain: Organic Farming Conserving Top Soil
• Mississippi State Extension Office: Cover Crops
• Organic Gardening: Carbon Nation

Resources

• Organic Gardening: Improving Clay Soil