Things to Know Aeration The presence of oxygen

Things to Know • Aeration: The presence of oxygen. • Pore Spaces: Air holes between soil particles. • Inorganic: Non living substances. • Organic: Anything that is or once was living.

Things to know • Soil Amendment: Items added to the soil to increase plant growth. • Pasteurization: Process of heating soil to 180 degrees F to kill harmful diseases, weed seeds, and insects. • Macronutrients: Elements needed by the plant in large amounts.

Things to know • Fertilizer: Any material provided to plants to supply the nutrients needed for plant growth. • Fertilizer Analysis: Statement on a fertilizer bag indicating the amount of primary elements in a fertilizer.

Types of Media • Soilless medium: Contains no topsoil. • Hydroponics: Growing plants in water solutions.

Things media should provide: • Media should hold nutrients. • Adequate drainage- plants can die from lack of oxygen. • Some consistency.

Air Mineral Matter Water Organic Matter

Explain the nature and composition of Soil; • Soil is the outer layer of the earth • Dirt is displaced Soil Air Water Organic Matter Mineral Matter • Composition of average Soil a. 25% Air b. 25% Water c. 5% Organic Matter d. 45% Mineral Matter • Pore Space: Spaces between solid matter, air and water will fill pore spaces

Components of Soil • Sand: The largest soil particle • Silt: Is smaller than sand but larger than clay. • Clay: The smallest soil particle.

List and define mineral components of soil; • Mineral Matter: inorganic material, non - living – Particles are labeled as Sand, Silt and Clay

• Sand: largest particle – – Large pore space, good aeration Well drained Not fertile, unable to hold nutrients Feels gritty • Silt: mid sized particle – Good water holding capacity – Retains nutrients – Feels like flour dry, velvet wet

• Clay: Smallest particle – Ability to hold water and nutrients – Small pores, poor aeration and drainage – Hard clumps when dry, feels sticky when wet

Discuss soil texture and the textural triangle; • Soil Texture: determined by proportions of the three types of mineral particles – Each Soil type has a name – Example: 40% sand, 20% clay, 40% silt, loam soil • Common Soil types – Sandy Soil: Looseness, well aerated, good for root crops – Silty loam Soil: Very fertile, good to grow in. – Clay Soil: Heavy, dries very hard.

Textural Triangle: uses percentages of particles to determine soil types. Soil Textural Triangle Example: 40% Sand 20% Clay 40% Silt

E. Define Organic Matter and common soil amendments: • Organic Matter: the accumulation of decayed or partially decayed plants and animals. • Common additions of Organic matter to soil: – Manure, animal waste – Green “Manure”, or cover crop that is plowed into the ground. – Peat Moss or Compost, common for gardeners

F. Describe water relationships in the soil; • Three main types of ground water. – Gravitational Water: Free flowing water pulled down by gravity. • Flows quickly through sand, slowly through clay • Leaching: as water moves through soil it carries with it nutrients, salts and chemicals. – Capillary Water: held between particles, moves up and sideways through soil. • As soil dries out, it pulls water up though the pore space • Plant available

Hygroscopic Water: water held in a thin film around the individual soil particles • Not plant available

Soil p. H • Soil p. H can range from 1 -14 • p. H’s of 1 -6 are acidic. • p. H’s of 7 are neutral. • p. H’s of 8 -14 are alkaline.

Soil p. H • Most plants prefer a p. H of 5. 6 – 7 • To raise the p. H add limestone. • To lower the p. H add sulfur.

G. Describe the role of air in the soil; • Air should make up 25% of the soil sample • Air is in the pore space, fills with water after rain • Must have a balance between air and water to maintain most plant life. – Too much water (lack of air), fermentation – Not enough water (too much air), wilted plants

H. Explain soil structure; • Aggregates: large clusters of soil particles • Soil Structure: the way which aggregates are arranged (8 types of structures) – – – – Granular: most desirable Crumb: also desirable Platy Prismatic Massive Columnar Blocky Single grain

8 Types of Structure

I. Illustrate and label soil profiles; • Soil is arranged in layers called: – Horizon: layers of soil in the profile • Five major horizons, all horizons have names • Depth and thickness of horizon vary depending on location • Main Horizons O horizon- Litter Layer, Organic material – A horizon- Top Soil, most fertile, up to 10 inches deep – C horizon- Sub soil, some nutrients leached from above – R horizon- Bedrock, or solid rock, parent material –

• Damage: Humans can destroy soil structure – Driving heavy equipment on when wet – Working Soil when excessively wet • Clay particles clog pore spaces, soil compaction. • Poor drainage, plants cannot grow

J. Discuss the process of soil erosion, its importance, and prevention. • Erosion: the removal of soil by wind or water – Loosing valuable soil that then can pollute water and air – Soil Conservation • Agricultural practices: Strip cropping, terraces, no till • Wild land home owners: plant roots can anchor soil in place