The soil is the place of establishment and source of water and food for plants. The oxygen needed for the plant reaches the plant through the pores of the soil.
Also, the excess carbon dioxide gas is removed from the soil through these cavities. In this article, we intend to examine the importance of soil in plant growth and development.
Define the Soil
From the beginning of agriculture, the soil has been known as a natural environment for the preservation and growth of plants.
With the creation of cities and civil development, from the perspective of soil engineering, it became known as the foundation of roads and buildings.
Soil is currently used for many engineering applications, including landfills and other wastes. The definition of soil road and construction engineering is different from the definition of agricultural experts.
From an agricultural point of view, the soil is an active set that is formed on the surface of the earth, from the joint effect of climate and living organisms (plants and animals), over time and after gradual evolution.
By this definition, agricultural soil is not a lifeless, fixed environment limited to a few centimeters, but a complex and mobile material that has been added or removed over time as a result of deformation.
Also to water, they need to be fed large amounts of three nutrients:
- Nitrogen (N), gives growth and green color to the leaves
- Phosphorus (P), helps develop a good root system and resistance to diseases and insect infestations
- Potassium (K) does what Phosphorus does
They also need trace elements but in small quantities.
The Fertile Soil
A soil is considered fertile, not only when it has the amounts of these ingredients, but also the ease of uptake by plants. This depends on the porosity of the soil, its moisture, its acidity, the presence of organic matter, etc.
Soil and Water Factors That Affect Plant Growth and Survival:
- Ph – Acidity control
The control of the acidity is done with special instruments, the Phmetra or with special paper tapes, which we wet with the soil that we control and its Ph is formed.
- Adjustment Ph – Acidity
The increase of acidity in the soil is done by the addition of calcium. The reduction is more difficult and is done by long-term fertilization with sulfur fertilizers or by adding acidic peat in large quantities.
- Soil Cultivation
Once a year, especially in autumn, the soil needs to be renewed. You need to add organic matter, basic fertilizer, sand (when needed), and remove the rhizomes of the weeds.
The Right Soil Mixture and Filler Mixture
This is the soil with which we fill the pots and the planting hole. The soil should have excellent characteristics in both cases, and should be:
- Rich in nutrients
- With the right Ph
- Disease free
- Clean from seeds and weed rhizomes
- Lightweight with good porosity that will hold water
- Well ventilated
A very key factor is to provide nutrients at regular intervals (as needed) and at the right time.
- Plants need Nitrogen every month from the beginning of the growing season until the end of summer. Do not use it in autumn and winter because the plants will grow and become sensitive to frost.
- Phosphorus and Potassium are cumbersome in the soil and should be used before planting. With these elements we fertilize at the beginning of autumn and many times at the end of winter.
- At least 2-3 times a year, when we fertilize with these basic ingredients, we choose a fertilizer that also contains trace elements.
- Acid-leaved plant species fertilization with organic iron and sulfate fertilizers that lower the soil pH.
Certainly, the amount and the right frequency of water are extremely important factors, but:
- Do not water with high temperatures and hot sun. The water will evaporate immediately and will not be stored in the soil, while the leaves will burn and the plants will wither.
- In winter, water shortly before noon, so that if frost falls at night, no water can be found on the leaves and the plants will freeze.
- We do not spray the leaves because they cause fungal diseases, insect infestations and burning of the leaves at high temperatures.
- Water with low pressure in the water and at a distance from the rhizome of the plants, so as not to damage the soil and uproot the plants.
- Water at sparse intervals with plenty of water and not regularly with a little. In this way, the plants acquire a deeper root system and make better use of water and soil.
Here Are Some Things to Keep In Mind When It Comes to Healthy Soil and Potting Soil:
Make sure your soil gets the air and water it needs
Plowing your soil is important to create a path for water, air, and plant roots, using a wide fork to plow has a huge impact on the organisms in the soil or its structure and is very important.
Avoid working with your soil more than it needs to
Every time you turn it upside down or turn it, it damages the structure of the soil and annoys the microorganisms inside it.
Do not pull out the plant at the end of the season
Instead, you need to pull them out of the ground and allow the roots to stay in the ground to decompose naturally, which nourishes and improves the soil.
Things to Do to Nourish and Strengthen Potting Soil and Garden
- Do not leave the soil empty
- Leaving the soil is like lying on the ground and letting the sunshine on you every day. Cover the soil with leaves, cardboard, an organic mulch of wood chips, or newspaper, or use a cover on garden plots to cover the soil.
- Nutrition of organic matter into the soil
- Your soil needs to be nourished with organic matter to keep it healthy and to support growing plants.
- There are several ways to do this, including adding organic matter by growing vegetation such as legumes that help repair nitrogen in the soil, meaning you do not have to fertilize.
- Add chemicals, plants can be dried in a compost pile or just in the wet.
Methods of Improving and Strengthening Potting Soil and Garden
Use Compost to Strengthen the Soil.
Compost will help provide a constant supply of nutrients to the soil. You can add a small amount during the year or a large amount each year.
Know What Your Soil Is.
The more you know about soil, the healthier your plants will be; You will know that it needs to be fed and you will protect your products from insects and diseases.
Test it professionally to determine what foods it contains and what may not be right. It can also help you decide which plants to grow – for example, if the nitrogen supply is ideal for tomatoes, but may not be enough to grow something like corn.
Once you have learned the truth about the health of your soil, it is time to think about what you need to feed it again.
As we said, to feed it, it is important to add organic matter to the soil, such as compost. , Chopped leaves, fertilizer, crop cover, straw, or grass, from a grass treated with chemicals.
How Does Soil Help Plants?
- Soil supports plant growth by providing: Anchor: The root system extends outward and/or downward through the soil, stabilizing the plant.
- The soil provides essential minerals and nutrients to the plants.
- Soil provides air for gaseous exchange between the roots and the atmosphere.
- Soil protects the plants from erosion and any other destructive physical, biological and chemical activity.
- It Helps to holds water (moisture) and maintains adequate aeration.
What Are The Reasons Why Soil Is Important?
- Root system support. The soil supports the root system.
- The soil provides the roots with nutrients and minerals.
- Exchange of oxygen and gasses.
- Protection from corrosion.
- Marine soil protects the shoreline.
- Soil filtration properties.
- Soil holds water.
- decomposition of organic matter.
How Does Soil Affect Plant Growth?
Soil composition affects the ability of roots to grow. It helps leaves to supply with water and nutrients. It also prompts them to send out hormonal signals that slow down shoot growth. Even though they are currently able to take in enough water and nutrients.
how does soil help a plant. (n.d.). Lisbdnet.Com. https://lisbdnet.com/how-does-soil-help-a-plant/
Cooperative Extension. (n.d.). Soil and Plant Nutrition: A Gardener’s Perspective – Cooperative Extension: Garden & Yard – University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Cooperative Extension: Garden & Yard. https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/manual/soils/soil-and-plant-nutrition/