Soils
Introduction:
The soil in which a plant grows is a complex and fascinating ecosystem. Having a foundational knowledge of soil composition and function is vital for understanding how to get the most out of your garden. This module provides basic information about soils and the chemical and physical processes that affect plant growth. As you read through the material and watch the videos, think about how this knowledge fits into Integrated Pest Management (IPM). If you learn anything from this module it should be this: it is easier to adjust your plantings to fit the soil you have than to adjust your soil to fit your plants!
Objectives:
After completing the reading in the manual, online module, and class activities, you will:
- List and define the chemical and physical properties of a healthy soil;
- Interpret a soil test report for the following: pH, N, P, K, what nutrient additions need to be made;
- Explain why it is important to add organic matter to the soil;
- Define soil pH and explain the relationship between soil pH and nutrient availability;
- Match primary plant nutrients with the function they support in the plant;
- Calculate fertilizer application rates to achieve the desired amount of nutrients for a given area.
Read:
Watch:
- Presenter: Doug Soldat, Associate Professor, Department of Soil Science, UW- Madison, Division of Extension.
- FYI: These videos were created for Master Gardener Volunteer training and are used with permission for Foundations in Horticulture.
- There are five required videos for a total view time of 57 minutes.
Practice:
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