Lab 1 Soils & Soil-less Media

1. Lab 1 Soils & Soil-less Media TODAY: • Background Information • Soil Survey (handout; 10 points)

2. What Is Soil?How Is Soil Formed? • Definition • A natural, 3-dimensional body at the earth’s surface. It is capable of supporting plants and has properties resulting from the integrated effect of climate and living matter acting on earthy__________________________, as conditioned by _______________________over periods of time. • 5 soil forming factors (Hans Jenny, 1941) - Climate - Time - Parent Material - Organisms - Topography/Relief (lay of the land)

3. What’s So Important About Soil? • Medium for growth - anchorage for roots • Supplies conditions required for growth • ______________________ • Stored in pore spaces • Nutrients/minerals • Bound to soil particles, from decomposition of soil minerals • _____________________ for respiration • Stored in pore spaces • Soil Ecosystem

4. “Too many people have lost sight of the fact that productive soil is essential to the production of food.” “Take care of the land and the land will take care of you.…” – Hugh Hammond Bennett Hugh Hammond Bennett, the father of soil conservation He was the head of the Soil Erosion Service when it was formed in 1933 in response to the Dust Bowl. Bennett was one of the first people to identify poor farming practices as the cause of the dust storms, and to formulate a plan for soil conservation.

5. Dust buried farms and equipment, killed livestock, and caused human death and misery during the height of the Dust Bowl years. In: "Monthly Weather Review," June 1936, p.196. (NOAA Photo Library)

6. "Manhandled Land - fertile soil goes off by carload lots." A common site during the Dust Bowl. The erosion in this picture was more an effect of poor farming practice than drought, though. In: "To Hold This Soil", Russell Lord, 1938. Miscellaneous Publication No. 321, U.S. Department of Agriculture. (NOAA Photo Library)

7. What Makes An Ideal Garden Soil? It should be… • ____________________- root growth and nutrient extraction • ____________________ - a perfect balance of texture (often a loam) • Friable = Easy to work, crumbly • High in organic matter - 3-5% OM • Well drained/aerated - balance of soil solution and oxygen • Fertile - optimum ________________ and pH levels (6.2-6.8)

8. What is Soil Texture?

9. Determines soil pore space Determines aeration Soil Texture Affects soil workability Determines soil drainage Influences nutrient holding capacity (CEC) Why Does Soil Texture Matter? HOW?

10. How to Determine Soil Texture • Field Tests • _________________ tests - various methods by which general soil texture classes can be gauged • _________________ separates - determine proportion of sand, silt, and clay by allowing size separates to settle differentially in a water solution • Soil References • Soil textural triangle • Soil surveys

11. Soil Textural Triangle

12. Soil Surveys • Federal, Regional, State, Local Partnership • Investigate, inventory, document, classify, interpret soils • Disseminate, publish, promote the use of information about soils in the US • Information for farmers, homeowners, etc. • Soil properties (for building homes & structures, growing trees, farming), classification, glossary & reference information,

13. Using a Soil Survey: General Soil Map Use it for getting a broad idea of soil conditions in the county

14. Using a Soil Survey: Index to Map Sheets • Find the box on the index sheet that has the location you’re interested in • Use that number to locate the folded map sheet in the back of the survey

15. Changing Gears:Soil-less Media • Definition: • Medium used for growing plants in containers and that does not contain ____________ Characteristics • Uniform size • Pest-free • Well drained/good aeration • Retains moisture • Low soluble salts

16. Soil-less Media… • Major Components • Peat Moss • Perlite • Vermiculite • Other Components • Sand • Bark • Lime • Wetting agents - hydrophilic polymer • Fertilizer

17. Soil-less Media Characteristics Peat Moss Perlite Vermiculite How Is It Made? - Partially decomposted remains of plants/animals (mostly sphagnum moss) that accumulated in oxygen-poor freshwater - Environmental concerns about habitat destruction - Volcanic material expanded to 13x its original volume when heated to 1700F (think popcorn) - Clay mineral exposed to intense heat, causing the clay layers to expand into accordion-shaped granules - Hydrated Al-Fe-Mg silicates; very similar to mica What does it do? - Provides organic matter for retention of nutrients and water - Large surface area -Improves aeration & drainage - Forms macropores - Acts as soil insulator - Particles provide space for water, air, and nutrients - Improves aeration & drainage Water retention? ______________its weight _____________ its weight _________________ From Where ? Canada, Northern Europe (Scotland!) Open pit mining in many countries Mined in many countries Sterile? ___________ yes yes pH? Very acidic 6.5 – 7.5 6.5 – 7.2

18. Digging Peat in Scotland

19. Perlite Mine in New Mexico Perlite

20. Vermiculite Mining Vermiculite in South Africa

21. Soil-less Media: Typical Commercial Mix Typical Commercial Mix • 1/3 coarse peat moss • 1/3 perlite • 1/3 vermiculite • 3 lbs complete fertilizer (5-10-5) • 7 lbs dolomitic limestone • Wetting agent

22. Soil-less Media:An Organic Alternative An Organic Alternative • 1/3 Peat Moss • 1/3 Perlite • 1/3 Vermiculite • 5 lbs composted manure • 1 lb bone meal • 1 lb green sand • 7 lbs dolomitic limestone

23. Soil-less Media:Mix Without Peat Moss • Replace peat moss 1:1, but reduce limestone • Coir or coconut husks in potting mixes • Composted, fine grade wood shavings • Or Try 1 part composted green waste: 1 part coir