Soil rehab

Heavily farmed soils, without man made fertilisers is almost basic parent material which is only one element of soil. The parent material is weathered rock, but healthy soils contain much more. They contain decomposing vegetable and animal matter and water. This additional content feeds a vast terrestrial population of microscopic and non microscopic life and is recycled into food for growing plants. But the health of the soil does not rely solely upon recycled pant and animal matter, plants also play an important role.

The first part of rehabilitating depleted soils is to add moisture and decomposing plant matter to create an environment in which the living organisms that recycle this matter can survive. Also, unlike the modern farming practice of monoculture, we should plant a carefully selected variety of crops and everything must have a purpose, a role within the new micro ecosystem. In addition, the soils should be mulched or covered from the direct sunlight using trailing plants such as pumpkins, so that evaporation is reduced and hence, moisture retention improved and all plant residues from the land should be used as mulch or turned to compost to enrich the soils once the compost is sufficiently decomposed. The advantage of controlled composing is that the decomposition process is accelerated and so the nutrients are ready for use by plants sooner.

So the key 'things to do' on an organic farm are; Do not waste any plant residues, make compost, mulch the soils and plan an 'integrated planting'.

Much, much more to come...........