Unit 3. Soil Maintenance in Ecological Vegetable Gardening

ECOGARD
IO2: Training course on ecological vegetable gardening (ECVET
based) for the students with learning/cognitive disabilities
Unit 3. Soil Maintenance in Ecological Vegetable
Gardening
Supporting access to training and qualification of
people with disabilities through development of VET course on
Ecological Vegetable Gardening based on ECVET learning outcomes
2017-1-BG01-KA202-036212

Summary:
This module will provide a general introduction to soil by
introducing the basic chemistry and structure of soil; and
also how the soil should be treated in ecological
vegetable cultivation.
Soil Maintenance in Ecological Vegetable Gardening

3.1. Soil structure
3.2. Soil properties and soil types
3.3. Soil requirements
3.4. Plant nutrients and fertilization
3.5. How to deal with soil deficiency problems in
ecological gardening

3.1. Soil structure
3.1.1. Primary soil particles
3.1.2. Secondary soil particles
3.2.1. Physical properties of soil
3.2.1.1. Texture
3.2.1.2. Structure
3.2.1.3. Soil weight
3.2.1.4. Color of soil
3.2.1.5. Soil temperature
3.2.1.6. Soil water
3.2.2. Chemical properties of soil
3.2.2.1. Plant nutrients
3.2.2.2. Colloidal fractions of soils
3.2.2.3. Cation exchange capacity
3.2.2.4. Anion exchange
3.2.2.5. pH
3.2.3. Soil types

3.3.1 Texture
3.3.2 Structure
3.3.3 Depth
3.3.4. Fertility
3.3.5. Salinity/sodicity
3.3.6. Infiltration rate
3.3.7. Available water capacity (AWC)
3.3.8. Constructional characteristics

3.4.1. Basic Principles of Plant Nutrition
3.4.1.1. Macro plant nutrients
3.4.1.2. Micro plant nutrients
3.4.2. Sources of Mineral Nutrients
3.4.3. Organic Fertilizers
3.4.3.1. Animal or Plant Wastes
3.4.3.2. Natural Mineral Fertilizers
3.4.3.3. Blended Organic Fertilizers
3.4.3.4. Solid Organic Fertilizers
3.4.4.5. Liquid Organic Fertilizers
3.4.4. Synthetic Fertilizers
3.5. How to deal with soil deficiency problems in ecological gardening

3.1. Soil structure;
Soil structure is usually
defined as the arrangement of
the soil particles.
Soil particles include silt, sand
and clay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUhOBxVFcFk
For more information:

3.1. Soil structure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkw07WdRXoc
Horizons
0 (Organic)
C (Substratum)
R (Bedrock)
A (Surface)
B (Subsoil)

3.1.1. Primary soil particles; sand, silt and clay- Such a
structure does not have a normal aggregation. Primary soil
particles such as sand, clay, silt are independently contained in
the soil without being connected to each other.
3.1.2. Secondary soil particles; - Aggregate (micro and
macro clusters) primary soil particles form micro and macro
aggregates by binding to various binding pairticles of sand, clay
and silt (physical, chemical) and the effects of humus, clay, water
cations. These aggregates are called secondary soil particles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgqea0E2eAY

3.2.1. Physical properties of soil
3.2.1.1. Texture
The relative proportions of sand, silt, and
clay particles in a mass of soil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko-GJDbnXE8

3.2.1.2. Structure
The structure of any soil means the structure of that soil. A soil
structure follows some successive processes of soil formation.
3.2.1.3. Soil weight
Soil weight is related to the amount of pores in the soil.

3.2.1.4. Color of soil
Color of soil; organic matter, lime and free iron oxide content,
mineralogical composition, presence of groundwater.
Source:https://www.flickr.com/photos/soilscience/sets/72157625089433731/

3.2.1.5. Soil temperature
 Soil temperature affects:
 Seed germination,
 Growth and development of plants,
 Protection of moisture content of soil,
 Structure formation,
 Biological activities,
 Decomposition of vegetative waste,
 Usage of nutrients,
 Disintegration of rocks and minerals.

3.2.1.6. Soil water
In order to ensure good germination of seeds from agricultural crops, it is
necessary to have a certain level of soil water during the development period
so that the plant can develop well after germination, starting from the
necessity of having sufficient moisture in the soil.
Source: http://passel.unl.edu/pages/informationmodule.php?idinformationmodule=1130447140&topicorder=1

3.2.2. Chemical properties of soil
3.2.2.1. Plant nutrients
Supply and absorption of chemical compounds and/or elements (ions)
needed for plant growth and metabolism
Nutrition → metabolism ( = biochemical reactions i. the cell (plant) During
life processes (vegetation period) → Biomass production
3.2.2.2. Colloidal fractions of soils
Soil colloids; Organic Colloids and Mineral Colloids
3.2.2.3. Cation exchange capacity
The chemical elements dissolved in the soil solution are bound to organic
matter in the form of ions or trapped by soil particles. The cation exchange
capacity (CEC) is the change of ions on the surface of clay and organic
matter.

3.2.2.4. Anion exchange
The anion exchange capacity is inversely related to the pH (acidity) of the soil,
So it is high in alkaline soil, low in acidic soil.
3.2.2.5. pH
Soil pH (a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil)
Soil pH is one of the most important soil properties that affects the availability
of nutrients.
• Macronutrients tend to be less available in soils with low pH.
• Micronutrients tend to be less available in soils with high pH.

Source: http://www.ccmaknowledgebase.vic.gov.au/brown_book/20_pH.htm
Soil pH

3.2.3. Soil types
Sandy soil – light, warm, dry and tend to be acidic and low
in nutrients. Sandy soils are often known as light soils due to
their high proportion of sand and little clay (clay weighs
more than sand). These soils have quick water drainage and
are easy to work with. They are quicker to warm up in
spring than clay soils but tend to dry out in summer and
suffer from low nutrients that are washed away by rain. The
addition of organic matter can help give plants an additional
boost of nutrients by improving the nutrient and water
holding capacity of the soil.
..

Clay soil – heavy soils that benefit from high nutrients. Clay
soils remain wet and cold in winter and dry out in summer.
These soils are made of over 25 percent clay, and because of
the spaces found between clay particles, clay soils hold a high
amount of water. Because these soils drain slowly and take
longer to warm up in summer, combined with drying out and
cracking in summer, they can often test gardeners.
Silt soil – light and moisture retentive soils with a high
fertility rating. As silt soils compromise of medium sized
particles they are well drained and hold moisture well. As the
particles are fine, they can be easily compacted and are
prone to washing away with rain. By adding organic matter,
the silt particles can be bound into more stable clumps.

Peat soil – high in organic matter and retain a large amount of
moisture. This type of soil is very rarely found in a garden and
often imported into a garden to provide an optimum soil base
for planting.
..
Chalk soil – can be either light or heavy but always highly
alkaline due to the calcium carbonate or lime within its
structure. As these soils are alkaline they will not support the
growth of ericaceous plants that require acidic soils to grow. If
a chalky soil shows signs of visible white lumps then they can’t
be acidified and gardeners should be resigned to only choose
plants that prefer an alkaline soil.
..

Loam soil – a mixture of sand, silt and clay that are
combined to avoid the negative effects of each type. These
soils are fertile, easy to work with and provide good
drainage. Depending on their predominant composition
they can be either sandy or clay loam. As the soils are a
perfect balance of soil particles, they are considered to be
a gardeners best friend, but still benefit from topping up
with additional organic matter.

50%
pore
space
50%
solid
material
25% air
25% water
45 to 48%
mineral
matter
2 to 5% organic matter
Volume composition of a desirable surface soil
Source:Mid-Atlantic Nutrient Management Handbook, Chapter 3, Concepts of Basic Soil Science.W.Danieland K.C.Haering - Virginia Tech.

Soil particles
Sand:
Prange in size from very
fine (0.05 mm) to very coarse
(2.0 mm) in average diameter.
Most particles can be seen
without a magnifying glass.
Feel coarse and gritty when
rubbed between the thumb
and fingers, except for mica
flakes.

Soil particles
Silt:
Particles range in size from
0.05 mm to 0.002 mm.
Cannot usually be seen by
the unaided eye
When moistened, silt feels
smooth but is not slick or
sticky. When dry, it is smooth
and floury

Soil particles
Clay:
Particles are finer than 0.002
mm.
Can be seen only with the aid
of an electron microscope.
Feels extremely smooth or
powdery when dry, and
becomes plastic and sticky
when wet.

Some soil requirements for vegetable plants are the same, while others
differ depending on the type of vegetable.
In general, vegetable garden soil should be well draining and loose. It
should not be too heavy (i.e. clay soil) or too sandy.
Soil in the vegetable garden should be loose and include organic matter.
Organic matter improves soil by releasing nitrogen, minerals, and other
nutrients needed for healthy plant growth.

3.3.1. Texture
The proportions of the grains forming the soil in terms of size and their
distribution are called soil textures.
3.3.2. Structure
The order in which soil pieces come together and their standing form is
called soil structure.
3.3.3. Depth
In vegetable growing, effective root depth of 30-60 cm is sufficient.
3.3.4. Fertility
Soil fertility is the ability of soil to provide essential plant nutrients in
sufficient quantity and proportion to sustain plant development.

3.3.6. Infiltration rate
Infiltration rate in soil science is a measure of the rate at which soil is able to
absorb rainfall or irrigation. It is most often measured in millimetres per hour
or inches per hour.
3.3.7. Available water capacity (AWC)
Available water capacity is the amount of water that a soil can store that is
available for use by plants.
3.3.5. Salinity/sodicity
There is an abundance of literature on many aspects of soil salinity and
sodicity, and the impact of increased salt and sodium on properties, behaviour,
management and productivity of soils.

3.4.1. Basic Principles of Plant Nutrition
3.4.1.1. Macro plant nutrients
Macronutrients are required by the plant in large quantities for basic plant
growth and development. The macronutrients include: nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium. Secondary nutrients are required in moderate amounts and are
less likely to limit crop growth. These nutrients include: calcium, magnesium
and sulphur.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXSKDTu7fd0

3.4.1.2. Micro plant nutrients
Micronutrients, as the name suggests, are required in very
small quantities and expressed as parts per million (ppm) in
plant tissue. They include;
boron (B) chlorine (Cl) copper (Cu)
iron (Fe) manganese (Mn) molybdenum (Mo)
nickel (Ni) zinc (Zn) cobalt (Co)
silicon (Si) sodium (Na) vanadium (V)
Although needed in very small amounts, micronutrients have
an important role in plant growth and development.

3.4.2. Sources of Mineral Nutrients
In ecological vegetable gardening, plant may acquire
nutrients from several different sources, including the
growing medium, irrigation water, beneficial
microorganisms, and fertilizers.

3.4.3. Organic Fertilizers
3.4.3.1.Animal or Plant Wastes
These materials are what most people consider to be
organic fertilizers and can be applied to crops directly or
developed into a wide variety of other processed
fertilizers. One of the attractions of these types of
organic fertilizers is that they are renewable and widely
available.

3.4.3.2. Natural Mineral Fertilizers
This category of organic fertilizer includes minerals and other
materials that come directly from the earth. Minerals like
sodium nitrate are commonly used in many blended organic
fertilizers because they are soluble and have a high nutrient
content. Like all types of mining, however, obtaining natural
minerals is an extractive process and nonrenewable in the long
term.

3.4.3.3. Blended Organic Fertilizers
This category of organic fertilizers includes a wide variety of
products containing a mixture of processed organic plant or
animal wastes supplemented with natural minerals. It is easy to
identify blended organic fertilizers by checking the ingredients
on their labels.

3.4.3.4. Solid Organic Fertilizers
Powdered or granular fertilizers can be derived from
unprocessed organics, processed organics, natural
minerals, or blended organics.

3.4.4.5. Liquid Organic Fertilizers
This category of organic fertilizers can be derived from
processed organics, natural minerals, or blended organics
Ingredients might include fertilizers such as fish waste,
soybean meal, kelp, recycled foodstuffs, bat guano, sulfate
of potash, feather meal, blood meal, steamed bone meal, or
any number of ingredients. Many products are targeted to
specific crops but others are for more general use.

Organic Fertilisers
Animal or Plant Wastes
(Renewable)
Natural Minerals
(Non-Renewable)
Unprocessed
Organics
Processed Organics
Blended
Organics
Solid Fertilisers Liquid Fertilisers

When fertilizing; We must use masks, overalls and gloves.

3.4.4. Synthetic Fertilizers
REMEMBER:
In organic vegetable growing, it is illegal to use synthetic
fertilizers. Organic product certificates of producers using
synthetic fertilizers are cancelled.

3.5. How to deal with soil deficiency problems in ecological gardening
1. Test your soil every three to five years.
2. Select plants suitable for your soil.
3. Be sure the soil is well drained.
4. Apply lime and fertilizer as indicated by soil testing.
5. Control weed growth.
6. Use adequate organic matter to improve soil quality.
7. Avoid overcrowding plants in vegetable gardens.
Source: https://extension.psu.edu/soil-management-in-home-gardens-and-landscape

Unit 3. Soil Maintenance in Ecological Vegetable Gardening

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Unit 3. Soil Maintenance in Ecological Vegetable Gardening