SOIL PREPARATION An Earthkind Method Vincent J Mannino

SOIL PREPARATION An Earthkind Method Vincent J. Mannino, County Extension Director – Fort Bend

The Ideal Soil Contains: n n n 5% Organic Matter 1% Micro/Macro Organisms 45% Minerals 25% Air 25% Water

Organic Matter Compost - Everything that was once living. n n n Tree leaves Grass clipping Kitchen scraps Old plants - flowers, herbs, and vegetables And lots of other stuff. . .

Soil Micro/Macro-organisms All the critters that are still living include: n Micro-organisms: n n Bacteria, fungi, yeast, nematodes, algae, etc. Macro-organisms: n Earthworms, sow & pill bugs, snails and slugs, earwigs, millipedes & centipedes, fire ants, termites, springtails and snakes.

Air The soil’s most plentiful component! n Oxygen - about 45% n Carbon - about 44% n Hydrogen - about 6%

Ideal Mineral Amounts Too little causes deficiencies, Too much causes toxicities & ties up other minerals n Primary Nutrients n n Secondary Nutrients n n Calcium - 6. 5 %, 650 ppm Magnesium -0. 3% Sulfur - 0. 5% Micronutrients n n Nitrogen - 2 -4 % Phosphates - 0. 5% Potassium -11. 1% Iron - 50 -400 ppm Zinc - 15 -50 ppm Manganese - 20 -200 ppm Salts (sodium & chloride) - hopefully none

Total Salts What’s Good & What’s Not! n n Low Salinity Hazard = < 160 ppm Medium Salinity Hazard = 161 -480 ppm High Salinity Hazard = 481 -1440 ppm Very High Salinity Hazard = > 1440 ppm

LOCATING THE GARDEN The First Step: n Sunshine n n n Full sun (>6 hours per day for flowers & fruits) Partial sun (4 -6 hours per day) Shade (4 hours or less for leafy plants)

LOCATING THE GARDEN The Second Step: n Drainage n Do a “perk” test. Total drainage in 24 hours or less is good, greater than 24 is bad and a raised bed is a must.

LOCATING THE GARDEN The Third Step: n Competition n n Weeds - Avoid areas of the landscape that contain hard to manage, noxious weeds. Use: Solarization, heavy mulches, or cover crops. Tree and Shrub roots under the garden will grow upward in search of water and nutrients. Use: Weed barriers that are permeable to air and water.

n Solarization Process n n n n Till to break up clods Add organic matter Dampen for heat buildup and retention Spread a 4 -6 mil clear plastic sheet Bury sides Let stand for 6 -8 weeks. Heats to 140 degrees F. at the surface and up to 110 at 12 inch soil depth Kills soil micro and macro -organisms in the top 6 in. of soil

LOCATING THE GARDEN The Fourth Step: n Garden Size n n n 400 sq. ft. - the recommended size for a family of four Takes 1 hour of maintenance per day 7 days per week

PREPARING THE GARDEN The First Step: n Single till or double till the entire plot to 4 -8 inches.

PREPARING THE GARDEN The Second Step: n For raised beds add sandy loam soil to a depth of 4 -6 inches.

PREPARING THE GARDEN The Second Step: n Check the p. H n n Add lime to increase the p. H Add sulfur or peat to decrease the p. H My County

What is p. H? n n p. H is the potential of the hydrogen ion The logarithm of the reciprocal of the hydrogen-ion concentration in gram atoms per liter. The balance of hydrogen (H+) and hydroxyl (OH-) ions and is therefore p. H neutral (p. H 7) A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a scale of 0 -14 (where 7 is neutral)

What does all that mean? n You ain’t got no business messin with what you can’t understand. Soil Report

p. H Alteration Table - Lime Pounds of Lime Needed to Raise Soil p. H to 6. 5 (lbs. per 1, 000 square feet) Sand Soil Type Loam Clay 6. 0 20 lbs 35 lbs. 50 lbs. 5. 5 5. 0 4. 5 4. 0 45 lbs. 65 lbs. 80 lbs. 100 lbs. 75 lbs. 110 lbs. 150 lbs. 175 lbs. 100 lbs. 150 lbs. 200 lbs. 230 lbs. Soil p. H Note: For amounts greater than 50 lbs. , split into multiple treatments of 50 lbs. or less with a 2 -week interval between applications.

p. H Alteration Table - Sulfur Pounds of Sulfur Needed to Lower Soil p. H to 6. 5 (lbs. per 1, 000 square feet) Sand Soil Type Loam Clay 8. 5 45 lbs. 55 lbs. 65 lbs. 8. 0 25 lbs. 35 lbs. 45 lbs. 7. 5 10 lbs. 16 lbs. 25 lbs. Soil p. H Apply lime or sulfur with a drop-type spreader to avoid kicking up too much dust.

p. H Scale

Special Considerations When Changing p. H Consider: n Organic matter source and content n Acid rain n Soil temperature n Buffering capacity

PREPARING THE GARDEN The Third Step: n Amending the Soil n n Add well rotted compost - the more the better. Add aged manure – add 1 -2 inches per year.

PREPARING THE GARDEN The Fourth Step: n Amending the Soil With Additional Nutrients n n Adding man-made nutrients Adding organic fertilizers

Adding Nutrients 21 -0 -0 33 -0 -0 46 -0 -0 21 -7 -14 16 -4 -8 15 -5 -10 0 -20 -0 0 -10 -0 10 -20 -10 12 -24 -12 5 -10 -5 13 -0 -37 0 -0 -60 0 -0 -44

Adding Fertilizer n n n Don’t guess – Soil Test! Use clean tools and a clean bucket Test the root zone Take 10 plugs and mix well for one composite Submit with $$ 4 weeks prior to planting

Ask Your County Agent n Tell him: n n n When was the soil test taken Soil type Moisture supply Crop (s) to be grown Previous fertilizer used and when ALVY MOORE as Hank Kimball in “Green Acres”

Plant Nutrients n Primary Nutrients: n n Secondary Nutrients: n n Calcium - 6. 5 %, 650 ppm, Magnesium -0. 3%, Sulfur - 0. 5%, Micronutrients: n n Nitrogen - 2 -4 % , Phosphates - 0. 5%, Potassium -11. 1%, Iron - 50 -400 ppm, Zinc - 15 -50 ppm Manganese - 20 -200 ppm Trace n n Molybdenum Salts (sodium & chloride) -hopefully none

FAQ’s Regarding Fertilizers Why should I fertilize my garden? What do I need know about my garden (soil type, plant type, exposure, water source) ? What do I need to know about fertilizers? How do I choose a fertilizer? How much fertilizer should be applied? When should I fertilize? How often should fertilizer be applied? What is this I hear about environmental issues and fertilizer application?

PREPARING THE GARDEN Amending with “man-made” Nutrients n Complete & balanced fertilizers n n Complete fertilizer & unbalanced fertilizer n n (1: 1: 1 ratio): 8 -8 -8, 10 -10 -10, 13 -13 -13, 20 -20 -20 (1: 2: 1 ratio): 12 -24 -12, 10 -20 -10, 10 -5 -10, 6 - 12 -6, (3: 1: 2 ratio) 15 -5 -10, 21 -7 -14, 18 -6 -12 (4: 1: 2 ratio) 16 -4 -8, 20 -5 -10 Incomplete fertilizers n 21 -0 -0, 33 -0 -0, 45 -0 -0, 0 -20 -0, 0 -0 -60,

What Do the Numbers Mean? n n n The numbers on the bag are important! These numbers are referred to as the “grade” or minimum guaranteed analysis The numbers in order represent the N: P: K ratio n n n Nitrogen % by weight Phosphate (P 2 O 5) % by weight Potash (K 2 O) % by weight

Q. How do I know what nitrogen products are in the bag? A. Look at the other information on the bag! It will tell you the sources of N in the container. If slow release N sources are in the bag they will be listed. Slow release sources will cost more than readily available N sources.

Difference Between a Slow-Release and a Fast-Release Fertilizer Lasts 6 weeks Fast-Release fertilizers are water soluble thus are dependent on rainfall. Lasts 10 weeks Slow-Release fertilizers are water insoluble. They are broken down and released by microbial activity.

What Do the Numbers Mean? n The fertilizer below contains some nitrogen that is listed as water insoluble or "WIN" (slow release N). The percentage is listed at 3. 6%. It is also stated on a weight basis. Therefore, 3. 6 divided by 12 is. 3 or 30%. The other 70% is considered readily available nitrogen. Readily available N Slowly available N

Comparing Nitrogen Sources in Lawn Fertilizer Nitrogen Source Category Characteristic Slowly Available Readily Available Response time slow quick Burn potential low high more seldom More frequent low high greater (varies) short high lower high reduced potential higher potential Application Water solubility Residual Cost Leaching potential Surface runoff Note: White lettering relates to water quality & environmental issues.

PREPARING THE GARDEN Adding organic fertilizers: n For Nitrogen n n n Alfalfa (3 -1 -2) Bat guano (10 -3 -1) Blood meal (12 -1 -1) Cottonseed meal (7 -2 -2) Poultry manure (5 - 3 -2) Sludge (5 -3 -0)

Primary Nutrient - Nitrogen (N) n Role in Plant n n n Cell growth and development keeps leaves green promotes rapid vegetative growth increases seed and tuber yield and crop quality. Deficiency Symptoms n n n appear in older parts of the plant will eventually yellow (chlorosis) slow-growing plants may show purpling Poor growth, plants spindly and prone to wilting roots are overly large all plants are susceptible.

PREPARING THE GARDEN Adding organic fertilizers: n For Phosphorus n n n Bone Meal (0 -12 -1) Colloidal phosphate (0 -18 -0) Fish meal (7 - 13 -3)

Primary Nutrient - Phosphorus (P) n Role in Plant n n n photosynthesis, respiration storing carbohydrates (energy) early plant establishment formation and quality of flowers, fruits and seeds. Deficiency Symptoms n n n tends to show in older tissue (reddish purple) foliage becomes dull blue-green growth is slow

PREPARING THE GARDEN Adding organic fertilizers : n For Potassium n n Greensand (0 -2 -5) Molasses (1 -0 -5) Sheep manure (5 -3 -2) Blends Bioform (4 -2 -4) n Fertilaid (4 -2 -0) n Ringer (9 -4 -4) n Maestro-Gro (6 -2 -4) n Green. Sense (3 -1 -2) Tomas (8 -2 - 8) Sustane (5 - 2 -4)

Primary Nutrient - Potassium (K) n Role in Plant n n n regulates water in cells, transpiration Cell strengthening, photosynthesis carbohydrate (energy) formation & storage fruit quality increases resistance to stress Deficiency Symptoms n n appears in older tissues Poor growth leaf burn/spotting/mottling on the lower leaves younger leaves may show red pigmentation

Secondary Nutrient – Calcium (Ca) n Role in Plant n n n Plant strength, ie. constituent of cell walls important in fruit set water uptake also involved in root and leaf development. Deficiency Symptoms n n n growing tip burns/dies wilting due to cell breakdown water soaked areas in fruit Blossom-end rot in tomatoes and peppers older leaves appear torn/distorted and small decreased soil p. H

Secondary Nutrient – Magnesium (Mg) n Role in Plant n n n essential in chlorophyll formation color activates enzymes involved in food transport and, sugar, fat and oil manufacture important in cell multiplication and seed production. Deficiency Symptoms n n mottling and yellowing of older leaves Leaf veins often remain green Similar to iron, zinc, manganese and calcium def. decreased soil p. H

Secondary Nutrient – Sulfur (S) n Role in Plant n n n important part of plant proteins connected to chlorophyll production responsible for the odor of flavors of some plants promotes growth and seed production and, frost hardiness. Deficiency Symptoms n n Similar to nitrogen w/ veinal chlorosis increased soil p. H

Micronutrient – Iron (Fe) n Role in Plant n n n connected to chlorophyll production required for energy transfer/plant enzyme functions and, photosynthesis. Deficiency Symptoms n n iron is generally not lacking in the soil, but can be locked in unavailable forms when p. H is high interveinal chlorosis occurs in young foliage total bleaching (yellowing to whitening) of the foliage in severe cases Similar symptoms to manganese deficiency.

Micronutrient – Zinc (Zn) n Role in Plant n n n Essential for growth regulation regulating sugar consumption improves the efficiency of chlorophyll function important in water absorption and usage. Deficiency Symptoms n n need to be corrected early! bright interveinal chlorosis premature leaf fall Dieback/resetting of leaves

Micronutrient – Manganese (Mn) n Role in Plant n n important in photosynthesis important in chloroplast formation Important the synthesis of some enzymes. Deficiency Symptoms n n n Leaves yellow in interveinal chlorosis some marginal leaf chlorosis manganese is less mobile, symptoms appear first on young leaves.

Micronutrient – Copper (Cu) n Role in Plant n n n intensifies color and flavor essential in formation of new tissues connected with respiration/photosynthesis promotes long storage of sugars. Deficiency Symptoms n n Stunting of plants wilting of young tips, buds and shoots > death older leaves develop chlorosis Affects fertilization and fruit set

Micronutrient – Boron (B) n Role in Plant n n n Important in tissue respiration and cell division pollination, seed production carbohydrate synthesis and transport regulates water uptake. Deficiency Symptoms n n n slows and stunts growth fruit and storage organ development is impaired stems crack or are hollow death occurs on growing tips and root tips Leaf distortion

Micronutrient – Molybdenum (Mo) n Role in Plant n n n important in leaf development Important in nitrogen fixation Deficiency Symptoms n n n pale leaves as in nitrogen deficiency some marginal leaf chlorosis new leaves may twist and cup

Trace Element – Sodium (Na) n Role in Plant n n n Sodium may promote healthy growth Can temporarily or partially replace potassium may possibly enable some plants to withstand drought conditions.

PREPARING THE GARDEN The Fifth Step: n n n Final tilling to a depth of 6 -8 inches Bed the rows READY TO PLANT!