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Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

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Page 1: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners

•What you should know•What you can do

•What you should be able to teach

Page 2: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

Francis J. Reilly, Jr.

•http://advancedmastergardener.org/•[email protected]

Page 3: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 3

Shameless Commercial

Have you joined VMGA?

•The Voice of VA Master Gardeners

•Promote fellowship, training & communication

•State Coordinator’s Endowment.

Page 4: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 4

Outline

• Why Soils

• What are Soils

• Soil testing and fertility

• Practice

• Compost

Page 5: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 5

Why are Soils Important?

• ?

• ?

• ?

Page 6: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 6

Why are Soils Important?

• Support Plant growth

• Mediate Climate

• Store water

Page 7: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 7

Why do we need to know about soils?

• ?

• ?

• ?

Page 8: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 8

Why do we need to know about soils?

• Its what plants grow in• Troubleshoot plant problems by looking at

soil• Disease – Abiotic Factors• Will water be easily given up to the plant• Are there any Soil Organisms at Work• Does water soak in

• Run off?• Stand on the surface?

Page 9: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 9

What is Soil?

Ideally:

•25% Air

•25% Water

•45-48% Minerals

•2-5% Organic matter

•Soil organisms

Mineral & Organic Materials that contain living matter and can support vegetation

Page 10: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 10

Where Does Soil Come from?

• Parent Material• Climate• Time• Relief, Topography• Organisms

– Human Activity– Beavers– Grazers like cows and deer– Worms – Bacteria/fungi

Page 11: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 11

                                                                   

        Appalachian Plateaus         Valley and Ridge

        Blue Ridge         Piedmont Plateau

                Coastal Plain

Physiographic Regions

Page 12: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 12

Physiographic regions and soil types

• Physiographic Regions describe land surface features

• Closely related to geology

• Slope, and soils are related

Page 13: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 13

Soils Classified

• Soil Survey

• Printed version (1960)– Ask Debbie

where that copy is!

• On-line version

• New version soon (finished 2009) http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/

Metadata.aspx?Survey=VA107&UseState=VA

Page 14: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 14

What can the soil survey tell you?

Page 15: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 15

What can the soil survey tell you?

• Drainage

• Slope

• Topography

• Water features

• Wetlands

• Crop worthiness

• Buildability

Page 16: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 16

How Do You Use It?

• Use it to plan• Don’t use it to

DO!• Look up spot

on map• See what it

says• Read about

the soil type• SOIL TYPE?

Page 17: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 17

Soil Type

Soils Classified by:

•Depth of layer

•Color

•Texture

•Structure

Page 18: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 18

State Soil of Virginia!

Page 19: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 19

Soil Taxonomy

• Soil Orders

Page 20: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 20

Depth

Horizon Depth Information

O 0-2” Humus

A 1”-10” Minerals darkened by organics,

zone of max biology

E ? Empty – Paler depleted by water

leaching out of A into B

B 10”-30” Zone of accumulation

C 30”-48” Not really like soil

R Below Parent material

Page 21: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 21

Color

• Color of parent material

• Other Colors due to pedagenesis

Page 22: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 22

Soil Texture

Page 23: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 23

Soil Texture

•Sand are the largest particles and they feel "gritty."

•Silt are medium sized, and they feel soft, silky or "floury."

•Clay are the smallest sized particles, and they feel "sticky" and they are hard to squeeze.

Sand 2.00 - 0.05 mm Silt 0.05 - 0.002 mm Clay < 0.002 mm

Page 24: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 24

How to Texture

• 1st a pinch

• Then a ribbon

Page 25: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 25

Soil Structure

Granular Blocky

Prismatic Platy

Columnar Single Grained

Massive

Page 26: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 26

Soil Structure

Page 27: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 27

So what about structure?

• Drainage

• Plant penetration

• Oxygen penetration

Page 28: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 28

Pore Spaces

•The smaller the particles

•The smaller the pore spaces

•Water moves slowly

•Less air present

Page 29: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 29

How do we improve soils?

• ?

• ?

• ?

Page 30: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 30

How do we improve soils?

• Drainage

• Moisture

• Fertility

• Soil Health

• Problems

Page 31: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 31

Pore Spaces can decrease due to compaction

Page 32: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 32

Soil horizons and water infiltration

•Horizons have different properties

•Some may retard water flow

•Watch out for the “builder’s horizon”

Page 33: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 33

Check for Yourself

•Dig a hole 12 inches deep and fill it with water

•30 minutes, the soil has a drainage problem

•24 hours, waterlogged soils may impact plant growth

Page 34: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 34

Soils have moisture characteristics

• Important for runoff

• Important for plants

Page 35: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 35

Fertility

• Soil Tests

• Kits

• Cheap meters

• Agricultural testing

Page 36: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 36

How’d we do?

Page 37: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 37

How’s that stack up?

Page 38: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 38

Lets look at our soil tests!

Page 39: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 39

What’s wrong with “none?”

Page 40: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 40

P Results

Statewide1 in 7 existing lawn samples test low in phosphorus.

Page 41: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 41

Other stuff

Page 42: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 42

Lawn Notes

Page 43: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 43

So now what?

• Calculate the area

• Read the bag

• Do the math

Page 44: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 44

Calculate the area

• Remember to subtract– The driveway– The house– The sidewalk– The other gardens

• Remember to add– The devil strip

Page 45: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 45

Lets do another!

Page 46: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 46

Blue Berries Notes

Page 47: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 47

So now what?

• Calculate the area

• Read the bag

• Do the math

Page 48: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 48

Calculate the area

• Remember to subtract– The driveway– The house– The sidewalk– The other gardens

• Remember to add– The devil strip

Page 49: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 49

Read the bag

• NPK

– Turf type

– Complete

– Calculate the percentages

– WIN

• Organics

– Cottonseed meal, Blood Meal

– Sludge

– Farm applications of sludge or poultry

litter

Page 50: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 50

Specialty Fertilizers

Page 51: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 51

Do the math

• Area

• Total pounds N P K needed

• Pounds of fertilizer to use

Page 52: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 52

Lets do our own!

• Help your neighbor

• Check your math

Page 53: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 53

Apply the fertilizer

• Methods– Broadcast– Banding– Side-Dressing– Foliar Feeding– Spreader – Calibrate it!!

Page 54: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 54

pH – Lime

• Lime– Calcitic– dolomitic

• Sulfur

• Wood ash

• Pay attention to what’s growing there!

Page 55: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 55

pH Results

Statewide 1 in 3 are over limed

Page 56: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 56

Micronutrients

• Unusual deficiency

• Blossom end rot

• Green sand

• Other snake oils

• Use compost

Page 57: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 57

Composting = Recycling

Page 58: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 58

Recycle Yard Waste

• Microorganisms• Moisture• Particle size• Temperature• Oxygen• Carbon / Nitrogen Ratio

Composting Considerations

Page 59: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 59

Microorganisms

Bacteria

Fungi

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 60: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 60

Moisture

50% is ideal

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 61: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 61

Particle SizeRecycle Yard Waste

Page 62: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 62

Particle Size

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 63: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 63

Temperature Profile

Cool

Hot

WarmCold Cold

900 to 1400 F

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 64: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 64

Compost Pile Dimensions

How Small?

Minimum Size3 X 3 X 3

How Big?

Maximum Size5 X 5 X 5

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 65: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 65

Oxygen

To speed process, turn more frequently

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 66: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 66

Carbon : Nitrogen Ratio

30:1 is ideal ratio

“Browns” vs. “Greens”

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 67: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 67

High Carbon Sources•Leaves

•Paper

•Straw

•Sawdust

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 68: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 68

Materials With High Carbon Value

Fruit Wastes 35:1Leaves 40-80:1Corn Stalks 60:1Straw 80:1Bark 100-130:1Paper 170:1Sawdust 500:1Wood 700:1

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 69: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 70

High Nitrogen Sources

•Grass Clippings

•Kitchen Scraps

•Manures

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 70: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 71

Materials With High Nitrogen Value

Food Wastes 15:1Grass Clippings 20:1Cow Manure 20:1Horse Manure 25:1

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 71: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 72

C:N Ratio – How to Measure?

Start with equal parts by volume

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 72: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 73

Do Not Compost • Diseased Plants• Plants with Seeds• Meat• Invasive Weeds• Oily Food Scraps• Dog/ Cat Manure

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 73: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 74

Constructing A Compost Pile

1) Place coarse materials in bottom of pile

2) Add 4” to 6” layer of leaves

3) Add high nitrogen source ( grass clippings or manure)

4) Water the pile after each layer

5) Continue steps 2, 3 & 4 until bin is full

Page 74: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 75

A new compost pile will be built in the center unit of a three-

pallet bin system.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 75: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 76

The first step is to add a bed of twigs and small branches to

promote air circulation.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 76: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 77

A layer of “browns” is added. Watering between layers ensures that

moisture is evenly distributed.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 77: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 78

Next, a layer of fresh “greens” is added.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 78: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 79

Add and water another layer of browns.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 79: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 80

Fresh greens come from flower pruning.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 80: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 81

The browns spent the fall and winter in the adjacent bin.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 81: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 82

The next layer of greens is also from prunings.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 82: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 83

A fourth layer of browns is added. The layering process will resume when

more greens are available.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 83: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 84

Finished compost can be improved by sifting through a screen to

remove oversized pieces.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 84: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 85

An inclined screen uses gravity for some of the sifting effort.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 85: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 86

The screen is loaded with compost.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 86: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 87

Use a square shovel to scrape the compost against screen.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 87: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 88

The screen is removed to reveal the sifted compost. The rejects will be

added to a fresh pile.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 88: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 89

Choice in Composting Bins

• Home made– Snow Fencing, Pallets,Wire, Wood

Slats, Concrete Blocks, Etc.• Store Bought

– Metal and Plastic Bins and Drums

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 89: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 90

Wire Bin

Eleven-foot length of 2” x 4” x 36” welded, medium-gauge fence wire.

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 90: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 91

Wooden Pallet Bin

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 91: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 92

Wooden Pallet Three BinRecycle Yard Waste

Page 92: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 93

Fasten Pallets With Old Coat Hangers

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 93: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 94

Wooden Pallets & Snow Fencing Recycle Yard Waste

Page 94: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 95

Purchased Bins

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 95: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 96

Compost Trouble Shooting

Symptom Problem Solution

Compost has a bad odor

Too much nitrogen or not enough air

Add high carbon material and turn pile

Center of pile is dry Not enough water Moisten and turn pile

Pile is damp and warm only in middle

Pile is too small Collect more material and mix into a new pile

Pile is damp but will still not heat up

Lack of nitrogen Mix in nitrogen source like grass clippings

Page 96: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 97

Uses of Compost

• Soil Amendment• Potting Mix• Lawn Establishment/renovation• Mulch

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 97: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

P A G E 98

Benefits of Using Compost • Improves water-holding capacity of soil

• Improves soil structure

• Prevents soil crusting aiding seedling emergence

• Provides a food source for soil organisms

• Increases the fertilizer-holding ability of soil

Recycle Yard Waste

Page 98: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

COMPOST HAPPENS!

Page 99: Soil for Virginia Master Gardeners What you should know What you can do What you should be able to teach

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Minimize Waste to Minimize Work

Questions?www.AdvancedMasterGardener.org