Soil composition and its management
Soil its the basic factor of all farming operations.Soil is the surface material of land in which plants grow.
All plants,on which men and animals rely for food,grow in the soil,which,in turn,relies on animals and plants for its food,that is manures and plant residues.
Soil is composed of fragments of the parent mineral material,organic matter in various stages of breakdown,soil water containing mineral and organic substances,soil gases and living organisms(micro-organisms,mites,insects,worms,nematodes and bigger animals)These components make up what we call the soil’s biological activity,the product of which will give food to plants.The other non-living part of the organic matter is humus,a dark substance which is the result of the action of bacteria on animal and plant residues(proteins,organic acids,carbohydrates,gums,fats,etc;) it is both the food for the soil life and the product of its decomposition.Humus improves the soil’s fertility,as it helps soil particles to bind together,so water can drain,and air can enter.The result is a well dained,well aerated,well fed environment,perfect for plant growth.It also creates a spongelike effect so that only the surplus water drains away.
The basis of organic agriculture is soil which is active and alive.Billions of organisms must be present in each handful of soil for it to succeed in all the tasks it must fulfil.
It must,among other things,maintain a stable crumb structure,store moisture and air;filter water;pass on nutritious particles to plants and regulate damaging elements.
Only when the symbiosis in the ecological system can rely on optimal conditions it is possible for the soil to produce healthy harvests under a system of organic agriculture.Soil management in organic agriculture has not only the task of unwanted plant growth,it also has to create optimum living conditions for every living thing in that soil.
Seen in this way,the main task of soil management is to loosen,the constantly recurring soil compression and create space for air,water and,most importantly,for the roots of the plants.
The plant roots are primarily responsible for the maintenance of life within the soil before they go on to extract the elements they need from that soil.The roots supply the subterranean life with ‘’food’’,energy-rich elements made up of organic matter,by providing continuons secretions of minute particles coming from the root system.
The main aim of soil management is ecological cultivation must,therefore be to constantly re-create the conditions for intensive rooting into the soil and for loosening up compression.
Rotation of crops according to ecological principles,is therefore varied,the idea being to constantly introduce different kinds of roots into the soil.This offers many possibilities for an intensive loosening up the soil by intercropping sowing plants for green fallow,or feed mixture crops.
This combination of soil loosening and plant cultivation is need in order to build up a friable,living soil from which the more demanding main crops may draw their yield.
Answer the following questions.
1.How would you define the soil?
2.What relationship is there between the soil and plants?
3.What is soil composed of?
4.What us the function of microrganisms in the soil?
5.Why is humus important?
6.What tasks must a soil fulfil?
7.What are the aims of soil management in organic agriculture?
8.Are roots responsible for the life within the soil?Why?
9.What is the aim of rotations?
10.What possibilities do they offer?
