How to know quality of soil
- Thread starter nar762003
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manojsinghchandel
Well-Known Member
Soil testing is divided into four sections - Soil Physics, Soil Chemistry and Fertility, Soil Biology and Environmental Soil Science.
1.Soil Physics tests the geometrical arrangement or pattern of soil components like soil particles, soil aggregates, water, gas and solute in the soil. Equipment such as pressure plate apparatus, sand box, neutron moisture meter, depth density gauge, K-permeameter, rainfall simulator and root scanner are used. Testers come up with recommendations to enhance soil quality like conservation tillage, crop diversification, rainwater harvesting and sequestration.
2.Soil Chemistry consists of testing the chemical characteristics for mineral composition, organic matter, PKN nutrients and Ph levels. Devices such as UV Visible Spectrophotometers, Deep Freezers, Sonicators, microwave digestion units and flame photometers are used. Such studies help in improving efficiency of nutrient cycling, minimizing nutrient losses from soils and improving soil quality for sustained high productivity.
3.Soil Biology - is the study of microbial activity and ecology in the soil of organisms such as earthworms, nematodes, protozoa, fungi and bacteria. Laboratory tools such as laminar flow, BOD incubator and a research microscope with camera and CCTV system are used to view inner layers of the soil. Knowledge of soil biology can help in choosing fertilizers, pesticides and composting systems.
4.Environmental Soil Science - deals with the extent of soil pollution due to city, industrial and agricultural wastes and indiscriminate use of fertilizers for crop production. It develops suitable prescriptions and technologies for safe recycling of these wastes into agriculturally productive soils
There is no best quality soil. For example, oranges prefer sandy loam soil, while apples are better off in a clay soil; Rice needs flooded, water holding soils, corn thrives better in well aerated soils; Most crops need nutrient rich soils, but some grow better in nutrient poor soils and so on
One of the simple method to check soil suitability for crop production is collect soil sample in hand from 15 cm depth of soil and make a ball of soil by hand, if it makes a ball than soil is suitable for cultivation.
All depends upon other factors like area where you would like to purchase land, crops you are interested in growing, soil testing etc.
Regds
Manoj Singh
1.Soil Physics tests the geometrical arrangement or pattern of soil components like soil particles, soil aggregates, water, gas and solute in the soil. Equipment such as pressure plate apparatus, sand box, neutron moisture meter, depth density gauge, K-permeameter, rainfall simulator and root scanner are used. Testers come up with recommendations to enhance soil quality like conservation tillage, crop diversification, rainwater harvesting and sequestration.
2.Soil Chemistry consists of testing the chemical characteristics for mineral composition, organic matter, PKN nutrients and Ph levels. Devices such as UV Visible Spectrophotometers, Deep Freezers, Sonicators, microwave digestion units and flame photometers are used. Such studies help in improving efficiency of nutrient cycling, minimizing nutrient losses from soils and improving soil quality for sustained high productivity.
3.Soil Biology - is the study of microbial activity and ecology in the soil of organisms such as earthworms, nematodes, protozoa, fungi and bacteria. Laboratory tools such as laminar flow, BOD incubator and a research microscope with camera and CCTV system are used to view inner layers of the soil. Knowledge of soil biology can help in choosing fertilizers, pesticides and composting systems.
4.Environmental Soil Science - deals with the extent of soil pollution due to city, industrial and agricultural wastes and indiscriminate use of fertilizers for crop production. It develops suitable prescriptions and technologies for safe recycling of these wastes into agriculturally productive soils
There is no best quality soil. For example, oranges prefer sandy loam soil, while apples are better off in a clay soil; Rice needs flooded, water holding soils, corn thrives better in well aerated soils; Most crops need nutrient rich soils, but some grow better in nutrient poor soils and so on
One of the simple method to check soil suitability for crop production is collect soil sample in hand from 15 cm depth of soil and make a ball of soil by hand, if it makes a ball than soil is suitable for cultivation.
All depends upon other factors like area where you would like to purchase land, crops you are interested in growing, soil testing etc.
Regds
Manoj Singh
manojsinghchandel
Well-Known Member
pH
Soil pH is a measure of the soil acidity or Soil alkalinity. An acid solution has a pH value less than 7. While a basic solution always has a pH larger than 7, an alkaline solution (i.e. a solution with positive acid neutralizing capacity) does not necessarily have a pH larger than 7.
Example of plant preferences:
Very Strongly Acid Soil 4.5-5.0 Some plants will not tolerate higher pH such as Orchid, Azalea, for blue Hydrangea (less acidic for pink) , Sweet Gum, Pin Oak.
Strongly Acid Soil. pH 5.0 - 5.5 Plants for acid soil in this range include Parsley, Potato, Tomato, Sweet Potato, Maize, Millet, Radish, Ferns, Iris, Orchids, Rhododendron, Camellia
Moderately Acid Soil. pH 5.5 - 6.0 Plants for a moderately acid soil include Bean, Brussels Sprouts, Carrot, Choko, Endive, Kohl Rabi, Peanuts, Rhubarb, Soyabean, Aster, Begonia, Canna, Daffodil, Jonquil, Larkspur, Petunia, Primrose, Violet and most bulbs.
Slightly Acid Soil. pH 6.0 - 6.5 Plants that prefer this soil include Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Egg Plant, Pea, Sweet Corn, Pumpkin, Squash, Turnip, Red Clover, Sweet Clover, White Clover, Candytuft, Gladiolus, Iceland Poppy, Pansy, Rose, Snapdragon, Viola, Wallflower, Zinnea and Strawberry.
Very Mildly Acid. Soil pH 6.5 - 7.0 Plants that favor very mildly acid soil are Asparagus, Beet, Celery, Lettuce, Melons, Onion, Parsnip, Spinach, Lucerne, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Stock, Sweet Pea and Tulip.
Regds
Manoj Singh
Soil pH is a measure of the soil acidity or Soil alkalinity. An acid solution has a pH value less than 7. While a basic solution always has a pH larger than 7, an alkaline solution (i.e. a solution with positive acid neutralizing capacity) does not necessarily have a pH larger than 7.
Example of plant preferences:
Very Strongly Acid Soil 4.5-5.0 Some plants will not tolerate higher pH such as Orchid, Azalea, for blue Hydrangea (less acidic for pink) , Sweet Gum, Pin Oak.
Strongly Acid Soil. pH 5.0 - 5.5 Plants for acid soil in this range include Parsley, Potato, Tomato, Sweet Potato, Maize, Millet, Radish, Ferns, Iris, Orchids, Rhododendron, Camellia
Moderately Acid Soil. pH 5.5 - 6.0 Plants for a moderately acid soil include Bean, Brussels Sprouts, Carrot, Choko, Endive, Kohl Rabi, Peanuts, Rhubarb, Soyabean, Aster, Begonia, Canna, Daffodil, Jonquil, Larkspur, Petunia, Primrose, Violet and most bulbs.
Slightly Acid Soil. pH 6.0 - 6.5 Plants that prefer this soil include Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Egg Plant, Pea, Sweet Corn, Pumpkin, Squash, Turnip, Red Clover, Sweet Clover, White Clover, Candytuft, Gladiolus, Iceland Poppy, Pansy, Rose, Snapdragon, Viola, Wallflower, Zinnea and Strawberry.
Very Mildly Acid. Soil pH 6.5 - 7.0 Plants that favor very mildly acid soil are Asparagus, Beet, Celery, Lettuce, Melons, Onion, Parsnip, Spinach, Lucerne, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Stock, Sweet Pea and Tulip.
Regds
Manoj Singh
bvtexportsimports
New Member
Thank you for the quality information. In latest scientific studies conducted by australian organic growers is that the chances for people to get diabates or blood pressure in a early stage is less when people eat organic food. So the best agriculture product is organic product
To test the healthiness of the people in the village can be done through the soil testing itself. IF the soil is of good quality then the people living there will be also healthy.(source Dr. Selvaraj Ooty horticulture)
The another problem is that all the chemical fertilizers used is not absorbed by the soil but roughly only about 2%(varies to soil) is absorbed. The rest gets mixed up in the underground water and we drink it. So that is one reason we should go for organics.
Dr Selvaraj has also introduced a nature manure using the pyramid theory. If you want further details I can write more.
Regards
Padmanabhan
To test the healthiness of the people in the village can be done through the soil testing itself. IF the soil is of good quality then the people living there will be also healthy.(source Dr. Selvaraj Ooty horticulture)
The another problem is that all the chemical fertilizers used is not absorbed by the soil but roughly only about 2%(varies to soil) is absorbed. The rest gets mixed up in the underground water and we drink it. So that is one reason we should go for organics.
Dr Selvaraj has also introduced a nature manure using the pyramid theory. If you want further details I can write more.
Regards
Padmanabhan
manojsinghchandel
Well-Known Member
Practical way to know soil type
PRACTICAL WAY TO KNOW SOIL TYPE
Step 1Fill the jar with half litre of tap water.
Step 2Add 1 tsp. of water softening powder. Put the lid on the jar and shake it well until the powder is completely dissolved.
Step 3Add enough soil so that the water reaches the top of the jar. Add the lid once more and shake the jar until the soil breaks down into small particles in the jar.
Step 4Set the jar on a flat, level surface. The soil will settle at the bottom of the jar according to what is in the soil. Sand is the heaviest part of soil and it will fall to the bottom first, followed by silt particles and then clay particles will settle lastly on top.
Step 5View the layers in your soil once all the particles have settled leaving the water on top of the soil relatively clear.
Step 6Check to see if the soil layers are equal in size. If so, your soil is considered to be loamy, which is a great type of soil perfect for plant growth.
Step 7Check to see if either the clay layer or the sandy layer is thicker than the other layers. If the clay layer is thicker, your soil is considered to be heavy or clay-like, if the sandy layer is thicker, your soil is considered light or sandy. Irrigation could be a problem with heavy and light soils and will need treatment for optimal plant growth.
Regds
Manoj Singh
PRACTICAL WAY TO KNOW SOIL TYPE
Step 1Fill the jar with half litre of tap water.
Step 2Add 1 tsp. of water softening powder. Put the lid on the jar and shake it well until the powder is completely dissolved.
Step 3Add enough soil so that the water reaches the top of the jar. Add the lid once more and shake the jar until the soil breaks down into small particles in the jar.
Step 4Set the jar on a flat, level surface. The soil will settle at the bottom of the jar according to what is in the soil. Sand is the heaviest part of soil and it will fall to the bottom first, followed by silt particles and then clay particles will settle lastly on top.
Step 5View the layers in your soil once all the particles have settled leaving the water on top of the soil relatively clear.
Step 6Check to see if the soil layers are equal in size. If so, your soil is considered to be loamy, which is a great type of soil perfect for plant growth.
Step 7Check to see if either the clay layer or the sandy layer is thicker than the other layers. If the clay layer is thicker, your soil is considered to be heavy or clay-like, if the sandy layer is thicker, your soil is considered light or sandy. Irrigation could be a problem with heavy and light soils and will need treatment for optimal plant growth.
Regds
Manoj Singh
Dear Sir
Organic manures are natural products used to provide plant nutrients.
There are a number of organic manures like farmyard manure, green manures, compost prepared from crop residues and other farm wastes, vermicompost, oil cakes, and biological wastes, animal bones, etc.
Organic manures are natural products used to provide plant nutrients.
There are a number of organic manures like farmyard manure, green manures, compost prepared from crop residues and other farm wastes, vermicompost, oil cakes, and biological wastes, animal bones, etc.
antony_pratap
Senior Member
This is so much of information, thank you everyone from the person who asked for it and all the senior who patiently replied to it.
Thanks once again.
Antony
Thanks once again.
Antony