Soils

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Acid, Alkaline, or Neutral Soil Reaction

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Indicated by means of a pH scale. Massachusetts’ soil pH is generally between 5.8 and 7.2. To estimate pH, soil testing kits are available in many seed catalogs, nurseries, and garden centers.

Agricultural lime is useful for correcting very acidic soil conditions. A soil test is needed to determine the appropriate amount of lime to apply because basic soil pH tests only measure active acidity and not the total acidity stored in the soil.

Alkaline soils are reduced by application of iron sulfate, aluminum sulfate, ammonium fertilizers, or large amounts of peat moss. For accurate pH management (and liming information), have soil tested through the UMass Soil Testing Lab.

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Biodegradable

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Any material that can readily be decomposed in the soil by the action of such micro-organisms as bacteria and fungi.

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Compost

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A decomposing mixture of vegetable matter— leaves, grass clippings— which can be used to amend the soil.

Gardeners usually build a compost pile this way: first a six-to-12inch layer of vegetable matter, then an inch or so of soil.

It is important to avoid composting plant material that is diseased.

Decomposition is speeded up if a commercial fertilizer and lime are used. A practical way to build up a six-inch layer of material, then cover with an inch of soil mixed with fertilizer and lime.

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Drainage (Water)

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A term used to describe how water passes through root areas of plants. This passage is essential to the proper growth of almost all plants.

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Drainage (Air)

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A term used to describe the circulation of air (oxygen) into the soil and the flow of respiration product (mostly carbon dioxide) out of the soil.

Compacted soil around roots resist air flow, making it difficult for many plants to thrive.

Also refers to movement of air from adjacent areas to effect temperature changes for sensitive growing crops like citrus.

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Heavy Soil

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A soil usually difficult to work. Clay soils are considered to be heavy soils.

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Humus

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Well-decomposed organic matter producing dark-colored material that coats soil mineral surfaces.

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Leaching

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Process that removes soluble materials from soil by the downward movement of excess water (with excess soluble salts leaching, this is a good thing; but with soluble plant nutrients, this leaching creates a loss of fertility).

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Light Soil

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A soil that is easy to work. Also a coarse-textured soil as sand.

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Loam Soil

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A soil made up of roughly equal parts of sand and silt, with about half as much clay-sized particles. This composition provides a good soil texture suitable for plant growth.

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Macro

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Prefix meaning large

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Mulch

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Any material applied to the soil surface to conserve soil moisture, maintain a more even soil temperature, aid in weed control, and/or improve the appearance of a garden.

The mulch may be a variety of materials such as buckwheat hulls, shredded bark, cocoa shell mulch, or crushed rock.

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Organic Matter

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A term applied to a substance containing carbon compounds and usually obtained from decomposed plants. Needed to maintain a healthy soil structure and bacterial life.

Good sources are peat moss and compost.

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Peat

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Partially decayed organic plant matter from ancient swamps used for mulching and soil improvement.

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pH

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The chemistry symbol used in expressing how acidic or basic (alkaline) a material is.

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Silt

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A relatively fine-grained type of soil sediment (smaller than sand, larger than clay) often resulting from deposits in streams. Feels smooth, like talcum powder when dry. When properly mixed with organic matter it makes an excellent garden soil.

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Soil

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The upper layer of the earth’s surface, made up of organic material, mineral particles, and living organisms; it is the living media in which plants grow.

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Soil Aeration

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The process of loosening or puncturing the soil by mechanical means, or by incorporating humus in order to increase water and air permeability.

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Soil Amendment

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Used for such soil improvement as better drainage or moisture retention or aeration, by use of chemical, mineral, or organic matter added to the soil.

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Soil Crusting

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The formation of a hard layer of soil on the soil surface. This most commonly occurs in heavy clay soil.

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Soil Improvement

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Making soils more productive by such practices as adding organic matter, fertilizers, and lime.

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Soil Testing

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A scientific analysis of a soil sample’s acidity, nutrient content, and/or texture in order to gauge the sustainability of the soil for certain uses or to determine the modifications necessary to adapt it to a desired use.

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Subsoil

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The layers of soil lying beneath the six to eight inches of topsoil; often more compacted, less fertile, and containing less organic matter.

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Naturally occurring layers in the soil are referred to as what?

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Horizons

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O-Horizon

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Soil surface-Organic debris, rotting leaves, undisturbed, forested setting

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A-Horizon

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Topsoil layer- in managed landscapes and nurseries it is considered the soil surface; in undisturbed natural settings it occurs beneath the O-horizon.

Consists of accumulations of organic matter mixed with mineral matter, forming a dark layer; nutrient-rich.

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B-Horizon

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Subsoil- underneath A-horizon; processes of wetting/drying, clay and iron accumulation, mineral weathering, and leaching occur; typically light to medium brown in color; occupies 8-20 inches of soil depth; root aeration and soil drainage

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E-Horizon

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Not a common soil layer, occurs between A-horizon and B-horizon; when present, this layer will be pale gray or beige due to the natural (uncoated) color of the soil mineral sand grains; common in areas dominated by evergreen vegetation and sandy soils

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C-Horizon

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Soil parent material- rotten bedrock, glacially deposited material (New England), densely packed glacial till, glacial outwash (deposited by quickly moving streams pouring off the melting glacial ice mass, fairly course material that drains well but infertile); root penetration and drainage restricted (glacial till-30inches);

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What soil characteristics should be analyzed before developing a landscape?

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Soil texture- sand, loam, clay

Soil structure- evidence of compaction (surface and sub-surface); presence of restrictive layers (root growth and drainage implications)

Soil fertility- test for pH and nutrient content; measure soil reaction, organic matter content, and available plant nutrients before applying fertilizers or other amendments

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What are some available reference materials for soil surveys (organizations)?

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USDA NRCS (United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service)- Soil Survey Maps

Assess potential site limitations such as soil drainage and shallow water table conditions

http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/

[phone]

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What are some available reference materials for soil surveys (organization)?

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USDA NRCS (United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service)- Soil Survey Maps

Assess potential site limitations such as soil drainage and shallow water table conditions

http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/

[phone]

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Soil texture

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- Sandy, loamy, or clayey in surface and subsurface layers

-Fineness or coarseness

-Sandy/gritty= prone to drought and infertility

-Stiff/sticky= drain poorly and inhibit growth

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Mineral soil particles (Soil Separates)

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-Very course sand (2.00-1.00mm) grains easily seen, very gritty

-Coarse sand (1.00-0.50mm) coarse gritty, grains visible

-Medium sand (0.50-0.25mm) gritty, grains visible

-Fine sand (0.25-0.10mm) fine gritty, each grain visible

-Very fine sand (0.10-0.05mm) barely gritty, grains barely visible

-Silt (0.05-0.002mm) smooth, talcum-powder feel

-Clay (less than 0.002mm) sticky when wet, hard when dry