USDA's Web Soil Survey
brandon7 TN_zone7
10 years ago
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wisconsitom
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoarktrees
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (2)Thank you Fruitgirl! Soils were one of my first professional interests. I'm always on the lookout for a fresh pit or road cut. I'll check out the website. The Fruitnut...See MoreSoil-research project's Web addy?
Comments (17)In researching soil I have stepped into the past. The early appreciation of soil predates the written word; look at China and India with productive soils for thousands of years. The obvious importance of natural cycles centers on humus. Without the cycling of organic matter there is not an efficient soil organism population to cycle the nutrients. The evidence is observable in clearcuts cropped without return of organic matter. The humus reserve are depleted and crops decrease in quality and quantity; starved, impacted by diseases and pests. "An Agricultural Testiment" by Sir Albert Howard was written based on observation spanning years. It is a good read. Another observational and scientific effort was that of Lady Eve Balfour called "Towards a Sustainable Agriculture -- The Living Soil." Locate the report on the 'Haughley Experiment' for results of one the best, and earliest localized comparrative studys of organic versus chemical (conventional). Appreciate that there was clear understanding in simple terms amongst the earliest of farmers. It was only when Nature was ignored that soils and systems failed. The Balfour experiment analyzed soil throughout the growing season to show that nutrients actually peaked when most needed by crops. The plants actually exuded materials from the roots to support specific biological activity to obtain desired nutrients. Think of it as the kid asking for more potatoes... or another piece of pie. "Farmers of Forty Centuries; Or, Permanent Agriculture in China, Korea, and Japan" is another excellent read. Google the titles and find the full texts available for online reading or download. These early reading may not have the exact particulars but you can understand that ways and means (technology) has improved. Too much of our modern scientific research is tainted by the sponsors and lobbiests. The Soil Foodweb is real. The network does require the humus (organic matter in all stages of decomposition) and the organisms (large to small) for life to continue. Chenicals and synthetics cannot replace Nature's recipe of ingredients....See MoreUSDA Web Soil Survey
Comments (4)Bear in mind that while soil structures may have been altered, soil textures, unless those soils have been transported, will remain roughly the same. In agronomist's terms, soil texture refers to the mix of the components sand, silt and clay comprising that soil and the soil survey reveals the parent material from which those soils developed....See Moretoo much amendments?
Comments (13)"Take several samples of your soil and have them tested. Then if it needs amending, do it. Otherwise you are probably over loving your garden to death." This reminds me of one of my favorite gardening sayings "More plants have been loved to death than ever died of neglect." Over-watering, over-fertilizing, over-[fill in the blank] are some of the most common reasons you will see for plant failures on this forum. Yes, please get the soil test, bets nailed it right on the head. Go to your local extension office and get a real soil test kit, don't do the "do-it-yourself" tests as they are woefully unreliable. I don't even know if I would, trust the garden center soil test, to be honest. County extension is the best route, in my opinion. Sadly, it's a very common misconception that native soils are deficient and need constant amending. Clay soils, for example, are usually in a good Ph range (somewhere around neutral) and have calcium, phosphorous and potassium in more than sufficient levels. So all the calcium, P, and K amendments do nothing at best and can actually hurt at worst. When I got my soil test, it was very similar to the example I listed above. The PH, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous and Potassium all were listed in the "Optimal" to "Exceeds Crop Needs" range (Penn State soil test), per their recommendation the only thing that should ever be added is nitrogen in sufficient amounts throughout the season... And this was without so much as adding one bag of amendments. If you do have a reliable soil test and need help reading it (from people who are not trying to sell you things) then please post information here; I'm sure many are willing to help....See Morearktrees
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10 years agolast modified: 9 years agobrandon7 TN_zone7
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8 years agoedlincoln
8 years ago
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