Soils Pres 09

0909

Urban Permaculture Urban Permaculture Design Certification CourseDesign Certification Course

Courtesy of Fred BoveCourtesy of Fred Bove

• Soil and Soil Structure• Drylands, Temperate, Tropics• Reading Weeds• Soil Remediation

Soil Types

Soil Transformation

• Indigenous material

• Climate

• Topography

• Biota

• Time

• Human activity

Soil Composition

• N – P – K

• Organic Material

• Trace elements

• pH

A Delicate Balance of Relationships

www.naturalsciences.be

Soil Remediation

Rhizobia

Rhizobial Relationships

The pea root sends a chemical message that attracts Rhizobia, then surrounds the bacteria, which set up housekeeping inside the root’s cells. © Bert Dodson

Biochar

Weeds?

Sonchus asper – Sow thistleHigh N – neutral pH

Medicago hispida – Burr cloverLow N – potentially fertile soil

Erodium cicutarium - StorksbillN ? Dry soil – saline conditions

Malva neglecta – mallow, cheeseweeddeep nitrogen – disturbed soil

Stellaria media – Chickweed Very high N – neutral pH, if stunted, low P

Cyperus esculentus – Nut sedgeWet soil/ poor drainage – acid pH

Ipomea purpurea – morning glorylow P – compacted soil

Brassica kaber – CharlockLow Ca or Low P – accumulates salt/P

Plantago lanceolata – PlantainK tester

Taraxacum officinale – DandelionN & P rich soil – attracts earthworms

food & medicine

Fred BovéPermaculture Consultant

415-864-4814

Fred@fredbove.com