Soil mixing preparation involves combining sand, silt, clay, and organic matter in proper proportions to make soil suitable for plant growth. The ideal soil composition is 40% sand for aeration, 40% silt, and 20% clay for structure. Soil can be made more suitable by adding compost, manure, and sand. A loamy soil balances these components and is best for most plants.

2. Soil And Mixing Preparation

3. •The natural medium for the growth of plants on the surface of
earth, composed of organic and mineral materials.
•Depth of soil usually vary between 7.5 to 45 cm
Soil:

4. Soil Composition

5. Soil Mixing Preparation
 Generally four basic matters are involved in soil mixing preparation
•Sand
•Silt
•Clay
•Organic matter
 We mix these matter in a proportion to facilitate the crop/tree to grow
vigorously
 In other words we make soil friendly for plants

6. Goal Of Soil Mixing
 Make any type of soil friendly for plants.
 Characteristics of any type of soil align with Loamy soil.
May specify some characteristics for sensitive plants.

7. Types Of Soil
• Loam (Field Capacity: 0.74 in/ft)
• Clay (Field Capacity: 0.54 in/ft)
• Clay loam (Field Capacity: 4.20 in/ft)
• Silt clay (Field Capacity: 0.61 in/ft)
• Sandy Loam (Field Capacity: 0.45 in/ft)
• Loamy sand (Field Capacity: 0.35 in/ft)
• Sand (Field Capacity: 0.22 in/ft)

8. • The ideal soil is 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay
• Sand provides proper aeration
• Silt are dense and don’t let water to drain for long time
• Clay particles are much smaller and provide compactness
Loamy Soil

9. In nurseries soil is mixed in following way
Mixing
Nursery Soil Mixing
Clay Soil
3
Sand
1
OM
1

10.  It is very important to use a good soil in forest nurseries.
 Generally two methods are used
• First Method: ( Good Soil )
• up to 5 cm dig out
• Second Method: ( poor soil )
• Forest Soil ( 30 cm )
• Sand (river bank)
• Compost
Forest Nursery

11. Mixing
Forest Nursery
Soil
3
Compost
1
Sand
1

12. • Sandy soil feels gritty to touch.
• Silty soil feels slippery to the touch when wet.
• Clayey soil feels sticky to the touch when wet.
Handy description of soil

13.  Cow Dung :
Decompose cow dung in soil
 Process:
• Crush
• Moist
• Plastic bags / Store room
• Dark Brown
 About 5 to 10% Organic Matter.
 Or about 3 inches layer of organic matter.
Mixing OM In Any Soil

14. •Soil pH, by definition, is a measure of the activity of hydrogen ions in the soil
solution
•Neutral soils have a pH of 7.0 (6.5-7.5),acid soils have a pH < 6.5 and basic
soils have a soil pH > 7.5
•Pines grow best on acidic soils while hardwoods prefer slightly acidic to
neutral soils
Soil pH

15. • Increasing pH :
• The most common materials used to increase the pH of soil are compounds
made from powdered limestone
• Decreasing pH :
• Use organic materials.
• Consider applying sulfur.
• adding aluminum sulfate
Soil pH

16. • For Poor Soil ( where seeds have rare chance to germinate )
• In Gardens (Outdoor as well as Indoor)
• Hydroponics ( without use of true soil )
Pseudo-Soil Mixing For Gardens

17.  Also called potting mix.
 You need following components
1. Peat Moss (Limited Oxygen)
2. Compost (Presence of Oxygen)
3. Perlite / Vermiculite (Amorphous volcanic glass)
4. Manure or Worm Casting. (Earthworm product)
Pseudo-Soil Mixing For Gardens

18. 1. Peat Moss (50%)
2. Compost (20%)
3. Perlite / Vermiculite. (20%)
4. Manure or Worm Casting. (10%)
 Mix Well
Proportion Of Components