Surely you know the concept of "fertile soil." This one, on which cultural and ornamental plants grow well, flowers bloom, fruit trees give a good harvest. Loamy and loamy soils are considered fertile land. It is they who can fully provide plants with moisture and useful trace elements.
Composition
Loamy soil is considered to be high-quality soil, as it has an optimal ratio of sand and clay in its composition. Such soil is 70 percent clay and 30 percent sand. Soil that contains large and small sand particles is considered capable of producing a good crop.
Loam perfectly absorbs moisture, "knows how" to keep it in the required quantities needed for proper plant life. The loamy soil is rich in minerals and trace elements, perfectly passes air. Such land is considered ideal for a homestead and garden.
Many gardeners seek to at least bring the land on their site to loamy soil. More sand is brought to the gardens if the soil is clayey, or, conversely, chernozem is added to the muddy soil. And those gardeners who are lucky to grow plants on loamy soil just enjoy a good quality crop.
The main advantages of loamy soil
- This type of soil is ideal for growing almost the entire huge list of plants: vegetables, fruit trees, berry bushes, flowers.
- Loamy soil is characterized by increased moisture resistance, is able to retain moisture for a long time.
- Soil, consisting of 70 percent sand and 30 percent clay, has good subsurface irrigation ability.
- High rates of aeration, that is, this type of soil is well ventilated, it passes air well.
- It assimilates fertilizers and manure well, improving crop performance with each year of operation.
Loamy soil deficiencies
- Such soil certainly requires careful and frequent loosening. This will ensure proper ventilation of the ground and allow it to warm up quickly in the spring.
- If timely and in sufficient quantities to introduce manure into the soil (experts recommend cow or horse) and lime fertilizers, then such land simply will not have drawbacks and minuses.
Ways to correct loamy soil deficiencies
Clayy, loamy soil is a heavy species. It requires care and fertilizer. If the gardener decides to improve the yield and fix the insignificant shortcomings of such land, then there are some tips. First, you should use the mulching method. This process is a coating of a plot of land with planted plants covering material. Mulching will be an ideal way to maintain and maintain plant health. In addition, this method will save and facilitate your labor spent on watering and loosening the soil.
If we talk about fertilizers recommended for loamy and clay soils, then experts advise to opt for lime fertilizers (it is better to take hydrated lime).
How to identify loamy soil
Even an unprofessional agronomist will be able to determine in his own personal plot which type of soil prevails in the garden. To do this, there is a simple way - "rolling sausages." It is necessary to take a certain amount of earth, moisten it well and make a small ball out of a piece. Next, a “sausage” should be formed from the ball and try to wrap it in a ring.
If you can do it easily, then you have clay soil in your country house. If the earthen “sausage” curls easily, but when folding it begins to crack a little, then in front of you is loamy soil. From light sandy soil you won’t be able to blind anything at all, even if moisture is sufficient and movements are neat.
Severe types of soil can be determined by eye. Loam or clay is not as fast as sand will dry out after rain. At elevated air temperatures, it will crack faster, in spring meltwater leaves the garden more slowly.
Tips for Improving Heavy Soils
So, we can safely answer the question: loamy soil - what is it? This is the most fertile and rich in nutrients species. But experts recommend improving such an almost perfect soil. Here are some helpful tips:
- If you decide to improve loamy or clay soil, then try to do it in the autumn. In autumn, soil will be best suited to fertilizing and digging.
- Since this type of soil does not warm up so quickly in the spring, try not to rush with planting. Doing this is not recommended on rainy and cold days.
- In order for the plant roots to adapt faster and easier in the soil during planting to a permanent place, it is recommended to make a hole twice as much as their root system.
- For planting capricious plants, choose high places. The raised bed will provide quick adaptation, since there the earth warms up faster.
- If the land on your site is prone to rapid drying, then you should properly prepare it for the garden season. In autumn and spring, plowing and application of baking powder is recommended. Horse, sheep or cow dung, husk from seeds, mowed grass, straw can act as a baking powder.
- If groundwater accumulates in the spring, a small drainage system can be made. Drainage pits, the depth of which is from a meter to two meters, will save the situation. Meltwater will leave faster, the earth will dry out sooner.