To begin with, let’s imagine the simplest way to determine the type of soil: just dig a site with a shovel, take out a lump of soil, moisten it a little and try to roll some kind of rope, cord. If the lump rolls very easily and keeps its shape perfectly, you have clay soil, which is very poorly permeable to moisture and is considered heavy. If you didn’t manage to roll the cord out of the soil at all, you have a sandy soil, light and loose, quickly allowing moisture to pass through. If the tourniquet as a whole turned out, but cracked and began to disintegrate when twisting, you are lucky, you have loam, the optimal type of soil for a productive garden.
Checking soil fertility is also very simple. This indicator can be judged by the number of underground workers – earthworms. Wait until the soil warms up to about + 15 ° C in spring, dries up and dig a hole in the garden to a depth of about 30 cm, the sides should also be the same size. As a result, you get a cube of earth with equal sides. Transfer the excavated soil to any bedding stand, loosen it and count how much earthworms you have in that amount. If ten or more earthworms are good, the soil is fertile and healthy. The fewer worms you find, the worse things are with the fertility of your site..
To check the acidity of the soil, we admit, is a little more difficult. According to this indicator, the soil is divided into:
- acidic (pH 3.8–5);
- slightly acidic (pH 5.1–5.5);
- neutral (pH 5.6-7).
Acidic soil leads to problems with growing plants, other species do not. To check the acidity of the soil, ordinary table vinegar will help. Pour vinegar onto a piece of earth and monitor the reaction. Neutral and slightly acidic soil will begin to “boil”, that is, air bubbles will appear on it. In the case of acidic soil, this reaction will not occur..
Helps to conduct a similar test and grape juice, the most common, preferably freshly squeezed. A lump of earth falls into a glass of juice. If bubbles have gone and they remain on the surface for a long time, and the juice itself has changed color, it means that the soil is neutral, everything is in order.
More accurate results are obtained from the test with currant leaves. They should be brewed in a glass of boiling water, after which a lump of earth is dropped into the resulting solution. Acidic soil will cause the broth to turn red, and the richer the color, the more acidic the soil is. If the soil is neutral, the decoction of currant leaves will turn blue, slightly acidic – pinkish, close to neutral – green.
You can, of course, buy a special device that measures acidity..
Another simple test can be done on soil drainage. To do this, a hole is dug up to a depth of 30 centimeters, water is poured into it to the top. Wait until it is completely absorbed into the ground and refill. Time yourself. If the water drains off slowly the second time, it took more than four hours – your drainage is poor.
Could you provide any guidance on how to effectively determine the characteristics of the soil on a specific site?
What are some reliable methods or tests that can be used to accurately determine the characteristics of the soil on a particular site? Is there a specific procedure or set of steps that should be followed to ensure an accurate assessment?
There are several reliable methods and tests to accurately determine soil characteristics on a particular site. The first step is to conduct a visual examination, observing its color, texture, and structure. Soil sampling is then essential, involving collecting representative samples at various depths. Laboratory analysis can include tests like pH level determination, particle size distribution, organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, and nutrient analysis. Other techniques such as soil moisture content, compaction tests, and infiltration measurements can provide additional information. To ensure an accurate assessment, it is important to follow a systematic procedure, which includes proper sampling techniques, using appropriate testing methods, and ensuring the samples are collected from various locations across the site. Consulting with soil experts or geotechnical engineers can further enhance the accuracy of the assessment.