Soil

Topic in Gardening courses

Chunks of information

A healthy soil is full with micro-organisms that give natural protection to plants. They don't get ill and pesticides are not necessary. It is similar to people eating quality food. Their immune systems are strengthened and weird off most diseases. The Israeli scientists (as mentioned in the article of the link) are focusing on special brands of bacteria that can be injected into a soil. I am familiar with other of such experiments, of mixes of micro-organisms that can be sprayed over a soil and improve the health of the soil. But in general, i prefer to only provide good compost and mulch and other natural materials such as lava flour to a soil. These micro-organisms naturally multiply then without the need to artificially add any substances. More agriculture news and information in my blog http://jeresearchtopics.blogspot.com/2011/03/agriculture.html A good soil is a living community of organisms, not a dead substrate like it is seen by many farmers today. The secret is to make these organisms thrive. Each plant, each tree, has its own mix of companions of micro-organisms around its roots. The plants and trees on the one side and the micro-organisms on the other side live in a symbiotic relationship, mutually benefiting each other. These processes occur entirely naturally. Micro-organisms of many kinds are present in each good soil and multiply very fast when the right conditions are there. The secret is to give them good conditions, give them a good soil. Nature teaches us how to do this. A layer of a humus-rich topsoil is what does the trick. These micro-organisms and other living organisms in the soil such as rain worms give a lot of fertilizers too. Feed the soil organisms instead of fertilizing the plants.... then the soil will feed the plants.
Few things are as important as nurturing a good top soil. Long ago the surface of the earth was mostly barren rock. Through weathering and erosion and the influence of micro-organisms, plants and animals a fertile top soil has formed. This is the black layer of humus that forms the basis for the health of plants, animals and humans. Nature took billions of years to give us this treasure. But most of today's farming methods quickly destroy what is needed for a good future of our children and grandchildren. Farmers need to learn to nurture their soils. You don't need to fertilize the plants, you only need to take care of the soil. Did you know that in a healthy soil fungi grow that provide plants with natural penicillium? There exist over 300 species of penicillium.

Soil classification

External links

Classification of common rocks and soils and more Seafriends
Soil classification Wikipedia

Soil geology

External links

Soil geology Seafriends website by Dr. J. Floor Anthoni.
USDA soil taxonomy Wikipedia

Gallery

A represents soil; B represents laterite, a regolith; C represents saprolite, a less-weathered regolith; the bottommost layer represents bedrock
Profile of the upper layers of the soil of grass land next to my garden.