Crops sown in organic soil tend to be better because organic soil is rich in nutrients, beneficial microbes, and organic matter that support plant growth. The natural composition of organic soil provides a healthy environment for plants to thrive, leading to improved plant health, increased yield, and better resistance to pests and diseases compared to conventional soils that may lack essential nutrients and beneficial organisms.
The four regional categories of California's soils are coastal, foothill valley, desert, and mountain soils. Coastal soils are found near the ocean and are characterized by high organic content. Foothill valley soils are found in the inland valleys and support a variety of agricultural crops. Desert soils are found in the arid regions of the state and have low organic matter. Mountain soils are found in the higher elevations and are often rocky and less fertile.
Forest soils tend to be rich in organic matter, have higher acidity, and more microbial activity due to the decomposition of leaf litter and organic debris from trees. Prairie soils, on the other hand, are often characterized by a thicker topsoil layer, higher pH levels, and lower organic matter content, as grasses do not contribute as much organic material as trees.
The permeability of soil is influenced by factors such as soil texture, structure, compaction, and organic matter content. Soils with larger pore spaces, such as sandy soils, tend to be more permeable than soils with smaller pore spaces, like clay soils. Compacted soils have reduced permeability due to decreased pore spaces for water to flow through. Organic matter can improve soil structure and increase permeability by creating aggregates that allow for better water movement.
Unproductive soils refer to soils that have poor fertility, low organic matter content, and limited ability to support plant growth. These soils may lack essential nutrients, have a high acidity or alkalinity, or be compacted, restricting root growth and water infiltration. Improving soil health through proper management practices can help make unproductive soils more productive for agriculture or other uses.
Problem soils include saline soils, sodic soils, acidic soils, and compacted soils. Reclamation methods vary depending on the type of problem soil but can include adding soil amendments like gypsum for sodic soils, lime for acidic soils, and organic matter for compacted soils. Drainage improvement and crop rotation are other common strategies for reclaiming problem soils.
Loamy soils and soils with lots of organic matter are the type of soils that are primarily used by farmers who need to plant crops.
Clay and organic soils have higher surface area and negative charge, allowing them to attract and hold onto nutrients better than sandy soils. This is because the particles in clay and organic soils are smaller and have more spaces for nutrient molecules to bind to, whereas sandy soils have larger particles and less surface area for nutrient retention.
The four regional categories of California's soils are coastal, foothill valley, desert, and mountain soils. Coastal soils are found near the ocean and are characterized by high organic content. Foothill valley soils are found in the inland valleys and support a variety of agricultural crops. Desert soils are found in the arid regions of the state and have low organic matter. Mountain soils are found in the higher elevations and are often rocky and less fertile.
Forest soils tend to be rich in organic matter, have higher acidity, and more microbial activity due to the decomposition of leaf litter and organic debris from trees. Prairie soils, on the other hand, are often characterized by a thicker topsoil layer, higher pH levels, and lower organic matter content, as grasses do not contribute as much organic material as trees.
The permeability of soil is influenced by factors such as soil texture, structure, compaction, and organic matter content. Soils with larger pore spaces, such as sandy soils, tend to be more permeable than soils with smaller pore spaces, like clay soils. Compacted soils have reduced permeability due to decreased pore spaces for water to flow through. Organic matter can improve soil structure and increase permeability by creating aggregates that allow for better water movement.
Without enough nitrogen, and minerals such as phosphorus and potassium, plants cannot create the molecules they need to grow and function. Soils without these elements (and others) have to be fertilized to grow crops. Growing certain crops can also restore at least some of the nitrogen. Some plants have adapted to nutrient-poor soils, such as the Venus flytrap, which gets organic material from insects it traps.
Unproductive soils refer to soils that have poor fertility, low organic matter content, and limited ability to support plant growth. These soils may lack essential nutrients, have a high acidity or alkalinity, or be compacted, restricting root growth and water infiltration. Improving soil health through proper management practices can help make unproductive soils more productive for agriculture or other uses.
Mature soils are well-developed soils that have well-defined soil horizons and a balanced composition of organic matter and minerals. Immature soils, on the other hand, are soils that are still developing and lack well-defined horizons, often having a simpler composition and less organic matter. Mature soils generally support a wider range of plant life compared to immature soils.
Soils get their organic material from the plants that live, or have lived, in them. Deserts have few plants to provide this material.
Problem soils include saline soils, sodic soils, acidic soils, and compacted soils. Reclamation methods vary depending on the type of problem soil but can include adding soil amendments like gypsum for sodic soils, lime for acidic soils, and organic matter for compacted soils. Drainage improvement and crop rotation are other common strategies for reclaiming problem soils.
Oswald Schreiner has written: 'Studies in soil oxidation' -- subject(s): Soil oxidation 'The organic constituents of soils' -- subject(s): Soils 'Examination of soils for organic constituents' -- subject(s): Soils, Analysis 'The isolation of harmful organic substances from soils' -- subject(s): Soil chemistry, Soil fertility 'The sesquiterpenes' -- subject(s): Terpenes 'The chemistry of steam-heated soils' -- subject(s): Soils, Analysis
studies crops and soils and how they interact