3. Good Organic Gardening - May-June 2016 AvxHome.in

Soil Health | THE UNDERGROUND
Compost bin
Words & photos Angie Thomas
Soil is the most important aspect of our
gardens and good-quality, organically
rich, healthy soil is the key to growing,
thriving plants. Our garden soils are a
mix of rock minerals, organic matter, moisture
and micro-organisms, and are usually
grouped into three broad types: clay soil,
sandy soil and loam.
Clay soils (sometimes called heavy soils)
are made up of very small particles. They
store water well, which may be beneficial
during dry conditions but can lead to
waterlogging and poor plant health when
conditions are wet. Clay soils also hold
nutrients effectively. They can, however, be
difficult to cultivate, being thick and sticky
when wet and often rock-hard when dry.
Sandy soils (sometimes called light soils)
are made up of large particles, with big
spaces (pores) in between the particles.
They drain well, are well aerated and are
easy to cultivate. However, sandy soils don’t
retain water and nutrients very well.
Soil in between clay and sandy types is
often referred to as loam and has a mix of
small and large particles, together
with organic matter, making it one of
the best soil types.
Quality soil contains lots of organic
matter, which is anything that used to be
living and includes remains of plants and
animals. Adding lots of organic matter is
a crucial step to creating the best possible
soil in your garden, no matter what type
of soil you started out with. Organic matter
improves soil structure by increasing
aeration and drainage in clay soils, which
will benefit root growth. In sandy soils,
organic matter will help with water and
nutrient retention.
Organic matter also provides a source of
food for worms and beneficial soil microorganisms.
Earthworms are magnificent
helpers in the garden and should be
encouraged at every opportunity. They
help convert organic matter and fertilisers
into nutrients that plants can use. Worm
excrement, often called “castings”, is a rich
source of organic nutrients. Earthworms
also help improve soil structure and aerate
the soil by creating tunnels, which makes
it easier for plant roots to grow and spread.
Beneficial soil micro-organisms also play
a significant role in soil health and plant
nutrition as they are part of the process
that helps turn organic matter and fertilisers
into plant-available nutrients. A healthy
population of beneficial soil micro-organisms
can also help reduce plant diseases, similar
to the way healthy gut bacteria in our bodies
can help boost our immune systems.
Both earthworms and beneficial soil
micro-organisms prefer mild temperatures
and moist soil with lots of organic matter
to feed on. So keeping the soil surface
protected with organic mulch, maintaining
good moisture levels and gently adding
organic matter into the soil will help
encourage lots of great soil micro-organisms
and earthworms.
The easiest ways to increase the amount
of organic matter in your soil include using
organic fertilisers and mulches, making
your own compost and growing green
manure crops. See Jennifer Stackhouse’s
comprehensive feature on mulching on
page 38.
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