- the surface layer of land that has fertility. Exist different kinds soils, almost all of them are used in agriculture. Knowledge of the fundamental points about the characteristics of the soil, which soil is the most fertile, and what to do to improve this unique quality, is extremely important for everyone who is involved in gardening and horticulture.
Work on cultivating vegetables and fruit crops on such grounds require a lot of effort, because:
Despite the presence of a large number of compounds, they do not reach plants well, because the density
- soil is elevated;
- it is difficult to process;
- there is not enough oxygen in it and air circulation is difficult;
- soil warming is slow;
- stagnation of water is often observed on the surface, since the soil has insufficient moisture permeability;
- in hot weather, a hard crust forms on the soil surface.
This type is easy to determine: if a lump of moistened soil rolls into a round sausage, the ends of which are easily connected by a ring, then it is clay soil.
Increasing the fertility of clay soil
Peat, sand, lime and ash - this is a list of those substances whose systematic application improves the structure clay soil.
Peat acts as a loosening material, which increases water absorption properties. But we must take into account that peat has high acidity, so lime must be added along with it, dolomite flour or ash for neutralization. Sand helps loosen the soil.
River sand is recommended for application, but construction (quarry) sand is ineffective, since it does not allow air and water to pass through well, is practically not fertile, and contains clay. Ash is an excellent nutrient enricher for the soil, and lime helps reduce acidity and increases breathability.
The cultivation of clay soil is helped by the addition of organic matter (preferably horse manure), growing green manure plants.
What to grow in clay soil
- planting in high ridges and ridges;
- fine seed placement;
- planting seedlings at an angle;
- frequent ;
- mandatory mulching.
The application of all of the above measures will help increase the fertility of clay soil and harvest excellent harvests.
sandy soil
This type of soil is classified as light. Her external signs is looseness, flowability. A dense lump of such soil practically does not form. Sandy soil has its pros and cons. TO positive qualities relate:
- fast warming up;
- easy moisture permeability;
- good breathability.
At the same time, sandy soil is characterized by rapid drying, cooling, and leaching of nutrients into the deep layers of the soil.
Cultivation of sandy soil
The fertility of this type of soil is increased by the following measures:
- systematic addition of additives such as peat, compost, humus, clay or drill flour.
- sowing green manure plants;
- high quality
If you systematically follow the given tips, then after 4-5 years the quality of sandy soil will improve.
To create fertile ridges on this type of soil, many gardeners use the following method:
- The garden bed area is fenced off.
- A layer of clay is placed at the bottom of the fenced area.
- At least 30 cm of imported sandy loam or loamy soil is poured on top of the clay.
Such artificial beds will allow as soon as possible and with at the lowest cost get good harvests.
What to grow in sandy soil
On sandy soil, you can get a good harvest of almost all garden crops, provided that you carry out frequent, small doses of fast-acting liquid fertilizing.
Sandy loam soil
If a lump of wet soil from your site rolls into a round sausage, but such a sausage does not hold its shape well and crumbles, then you have sandy loam soil in your hands. Its structure is light and resembles sandy soil, but with big amount clay inclusions. Therefore, it retains nutrients better and is able to retain heat and moisture for a long time.
On such soil, subject to the usual agrotechnical practices, all the main vegetables, as well as fruit crops, grow well. To increase the fertility of sandy loam soils, it is necessary to systematically add a sufficient amount of organic matter, sow green manure and high-quality mulching of the plantings.
Loamy soil
A handful of loamy soil easily rolls into a sausage, holds its shape well, but does not curl into a ring. The positive qualities of loamy soil include:
- ease of processing;
- sufficient amount of nutrients;
- good absorption and retention of moisture;
- sufficient oxygen;
- fast heating and slow cooling.
The structure of loamy soil does not require improvement; you just need to replenish the supply of nutrients by adding organic matter when digging (half a bucket per sq. m), feeding the plants with minerals, and mulching the plantings. On loam, almost all plants give a good harvest.
Calcareous soil
Calcareous soil has a light brownish tint, which turns off-white when moistened. In its structure it is very similar to sand, but has a higher lime content. It also quickly overheats and dries out.
Plants on such soil suffer from a lack of iron and manganese, so their leaves turn yellow and poor growth. In terms of acidity, calcareous soil is alkaline.
Adding a large amount of organic matter is the most quality way increasing the fertility of calcareous soil. Organic matter is incorporated into the soil not only during autumn digging, but also by mulching plants with humus.
Such soils are favorable for plants that prefer weak acidity. When growing crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce, it is recommended to apply fertilizers that can acidify the soil (urea, ammonium sulfate).
Growing vegetable and garden crops on calcareous soils requires a large amount of watering, loosening, and reasonable fertilizing. This is a labor-intensive process, but otherwise you can get decent harvest impossible from calcareous soil.
Peaty-swampy soil
Many people consider peat-boggy soil to be fertile. But this is a mistaken opinion. It is loose, permeable, but contains insufficient amounts of elements such as phosphorus, potassium and magnesium, it dries out quickly and takes a long time to warm up. The addition of river sand improves the fertility of peat soils. In addition, it is necessary to add organic matter, microbiological additives, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, and clay. Only then will the soil become suitable for growing garden and vegetable plants.
They love peaty soil and crops such as gooseberries and chokeberries grow well on it.
Chernozem soils are considered the most fertile and potentially promising for agriculture, but, unfortunately, they are quite rare in personal plots. The structure of chernozem is granular-lumpy, it has excellent water-absorbing and moisture-holding abilities, and it contains a large number of nutrients available to plants.
Therefore, the first 2-3 years of planting on chernozem practically do not require fertilizing. Over time, chernozem, like other types of soil, will become poorer, so it needs the addition of organic matter during digging and sowing of green manure plants.
Chernozem soil is easily identified: a handful of soil tightly squeezed in the hand leaves a greasy imprint on the palm.
While watching the video you will learn about soil types.
No one involved in agriculture would agree with the famous line, “Nature has no bad weather.” Climatic conditions can be very unfavorable for farming. The same goes for soils. Any gardener in central Russia would be happy to have black soil http://keramzit-pesok.ru/chernozem.html, good timely rains and a sunny summer. But if the situation with moisture and heat is different years changes, then with the land you have to be content with what you have or buy what you want from the relevant companies.
Which soils are the most fertile?
Russian gardeners are lucky in this regard. True, not for everyone, but only for those living in certain regions of the country. The most fertile soils in the world are chernozems. They are formed on loess-like loams. According to their own unique properties literally comparable to minerals: they are not found everywhere and are of great value. Their humus layer can be more than a meter thick, and in ravine forests up to four, which is a record absolutely unattainable for other types of soil.
Where are black soils located?
More than 50% of all world reserves are concentrated in Russia. Mainly in the zone from the middle and lower reaches of the Don and further east to Western Siberia. Voronezh black soil was even kept in Paris as a standard of fertility. In addition to Russians, Ukrainians are very rich. They occupy almost half the area of this country and constitute approximately one twelfth of all existing in the world. There are chernozems not only in Eurasia, but also in the western USA, southern Canada, Argentina and Chile.
The names of soil types come from the names of the climatic zones in which they formed. In the taiga-forest zone there are podzolic And sod-podzolic; in forest-steppe and steppe - forest gray, black soils, chestnut; in the subtropical – red soils and yellow soils.
Many soils get their name from the color of their humus horizon: chernozem, gray forest, brown forest, podzol.
The soil on the surface of particles of clay, sand, and silt contains a large amount of iron compounds. It is because of the iron films on soil particles that it acquires its specific color. The presence of iron hydroxides gives soils various shades of reddish-brown or yellowish-brown. The black color of the soil depends on the presence of humic acid in it.
- Black color – more than 7%
- Dark gray – 5...7%
- Gray – 3...5%
- Light gray – less than 3%
Podzolicsoil - common in the taiga zone. Where coniferous forests grow. The top layer is forest litter, formed from fallen pine needles and branches. Below is a whitish layer that does not have a pronounced structure. Below it is a brown horizon, dense, with a high clay content, the structure is expressed in the form of large lumps.
As a result of the decomposition of pine needles, acids are formed, which, under conditions of excessive moisture, contribute to the decomposition of mineral and organic soil particles. Heavy rainfall, in turn, washes such soil and carries acid-dissolved substances from the upper humus layer to the lower horizons. As a result, the upper part of the soil acquires the whitish color of ash.
These soils are very acidic and therefore always require liming and the application of a full range of fertilizers. Podzolic soil contains only 1 to 4% humus.
In Russia, podzolic soils are common in Siberia and the Far East. Trees grow much better on such soils than crops.
Only at the base of the slopes, in damp places, podzolic soils are considered the most suitable for vegetable growing. The soils of these places have a bluish color and a steely sheen when cut. However, they tend to be too wet and need to be drained.
Soddy-podzolic soils- This is a subtype of podzolic soils. They are formed under small-leaved forests mixed with coniferous species. In composition they are largely similar to podzolic soils. Under the forest floor there is a humus horizon, no more than 15...20 centimeters deep, having a dark brown color, followed by a barren whitish layer.
A characteristic feature of these soils is that they are washed out by water more slowly than podzolic soils, therefore they are more fertile, but they also require liming and fertilizer and can be used for growing vegetables only after improvement.
To do this, gradually, no more than 3...5 centimeters annually, deepen the arable layer and introduce a large amount of organic, mineral fertilizers and lime. Spring cultivation of soddy-podzolic soil should be carried out to a shallower depth than autumn, so as not to turn the podzol to the surface.
Gray forest soils are formed in the territory of deciduous forests. An indispensable condition for the formation of such soils is the presence of a continental climate, grass vegetation and the presence of sufficient calcium (Ca). Thanks to this element, water is not able to destroy the soil structure by removing nutrients.
These soils are colored in shades gray. The humus content in gray forest soils ranges from 2 to 8 percent. The fertility of these soils is considered average.
Gray forest soils contain slightly more humus than podzolic soils. Despite a certain amount of calcium (Ca) reserves, they still have an acidic soil reaction and therefore require liming.
Brown forest soils are common in mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests. These soils are formed only in warm temperate climates. The soil color is brown. The top layer, about 5 centimeters thick, consists of fallen leaves. Beneath it there is a fertile layer up to 30 centimeters thick. Even lower is a layer of clay of 15...40 centimeters.
Brown soils are divided into several subtypes with a palette of shades of brown color, the formation of which occurs under the influence of ambient temperature.
Chestnut soils are common in steppes and semi-deserts. This soil has chestnut, light chestnut and dark chestnut colors. Accordingly, there are three subtypes of chestnut soil, differing in color.
On light chestnut soils, farming is possible only with abundant watering. Cereals and sunflowers grow well on dark chestnut soils without watering.
The chemical composition of chestnut soil is varied. The soil contains magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca), which indicates a favorable acidity (pH) level for most plants.
Chestnut soil tends to recover quickly. Its thickness is maintained by annually falling grass. You can get good yields from it, provided there is sufficient moisture. Since the steppes are usually dry.
Chestnut soils in Russia are common in the Caucasus, the Volga region and Central Siberia.
Soddy soils are distributed mainly in Belarus, the Baltic states, the middle and northern
zones of Russia. They contain a lot of humus, and therefore are structural and fertile. According to the reaction of the soil environment, turf soils are slightly acidic or neutral.
Chernozems are recognized as a standard. They have an optimal granular structure, they contain a lot of humus, have a high content of nutrients and a neutral reaction of the soil environment. When planting a vegetable garden on black soil, you should apply fertilizer only to maintain the balance of nutrients.
Voronezh black soil kept in the Paris Chamber of Weights and Measures, being the standard of agriculture.
Peat soils are located in the most humid places, occupy about 7% of the entire territory of Russia and are located mainly in the regions of the North-West, central Russia, Western Siberia and the Far East.
They have a dark, almost black color wet. In the thickness you can always see the incompletely decomposed remains of plants. Under the peat layer lies a bluish clay horizon. Such soils are rich in organic matter, but lack some absolutely essential cultivated plants macro and microelements.
Due to their high moisture holding capacity, peat soils require good drainage.
Due to poor water permeability with excess atmospheric precipitation swim in water.
Due to poor thermal conductivity, they warm up slowly in the spring, which delays the processing and sowing time.
They are also highly acidic and therefore require liming.
Peat soils are divided into several subtypes depending on the peat that forms them.
Lowland peat contains the most nitrogen, ash, lime, and is therefore slightly acidic. It lies in hollows, river valleys and depressions.
High peat significantly poorer in nitrogen and ash than the lowland one, since it is located on higher areas. There is very little lime in it, it is sour. High-moor peat is suitable for preparing composts.
Transitional peat It occupies an intermediate position in terms of nitrogen, ash and lime content.
Peat soils, after draining them, applying the necessary phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, as well as liming, are successfully used for growing vegetables.
Floodplain soils are formed in the floodplains of rivers. During spring river floods, a lot of silt settles on these soils, which makes them especially fertile. Floodplain soils have a neutral reaction of the soil environment and therefore rarely require liming. They are rich in phosphorus, but poor in potassium.
In the high part of the floodplain, sandy and loamy varieties of floodplain soils predominate. In terms of structure and nutrient reserves, they are inferior to the soils of the middle part of the floodplain, but they dry out faster, which makes it possible to begin cultivating them earlier. Groundwater here lies deep, when growing vegetable crops it is necessary to organize watering.
The middle part of the floodplain is represented mainly by loamy soil, which is characterized by a good granular structure and high fertility. Groundwater lies at a depth of 1.5 to 2 meters, which creates favorable conditions water regime. These soils produce the most high yields vegetables and potatoes.
In the lower part of the floodplain, the soils are also fertile, but heavy and excessively wet, which is explained by the high occurrence of groundwater(from 0.5 to 1.0 meters) and prolonged high water. These soils should be drained by installing drainage ditches, after which they are suitable for growing late vegetable crops, especially cabbage.
Soil map of Russia and CIS countries
More than a hundred years ago, V.V. Dokuchaev established the geographic zonation according to which the main types of soils are distributed on Earth. It shows where fertile gray soils are located. On the territory of Russia, zonality is more pronounced than in other countries. This is due to the large extent of the country from south to north and the predominance of flat terrain.
Soil types
In the territory Russian Federation Zonal soil changes are clearly visible. There are tundra lands, gley soils, soddy-podzolic soils, podzolic soils, brown and gray soils, fertile soils (chernozems), semi-deserts, chestnut soils, gray soils, and gray-brown soils. Red soils and yellow soils are common in the subtropics. In the mountains, a feature of soil change is altitudinal zoning. All types are divided according to composition and structure. Soil fertility also influences the classification.
Description of types
The northern part of the country is represented by tundra-gley soils. They are low-power, contain a small amount of oxygen. In the forest zone the most common different types lands. In the taiga, podzolic soils form under coniferous forests. Due to the decomposition of pine litter, acids are formed that increase mineralization and organic decay. From upper layers water washes out the humus and transfers it to the lower layers. As a result of this, the upper layers become whitish, which is why they got their name - podzol. If upper layer enriched with humus, then such soil is called sod-podzolic.
The most fertile soils - chernozems - are formed in the forest-steppe zone. They are characterized by the absence of a leaching regime, and due to steppe plants, the soil is enriched with organic substances. Because of this, a large layer of humus is formed. In arid lands, a chestnut layer forms. They are characterized by low humus content. Such soils are found in the south, where the climate is dry and warm and vegetation is sparse. When groundwater is close to each other, salt marshes are formed.
Chernozems
Black soil is considered the most fertile soil. It is characterized by a black color and a grain-lumpy structure. This type soil is formed under grass vegetation in the steppe and forest-steppe zones.
The following is characteristic of chernozem:
- A large amount of humus. Chernozem contains up to fifteen percent humus. Because of this, such lands have high fertility.
- Lots of microorganisms. Every type of soil contains microorganisms, but black soil contains the most of them.
- The fertile soils of Russia have a granular-lumpy structure.
productive land
Chernozem soils have the highest productivity. In areas with such land, warm temperatures, stimulating the intensity of metabolism in plants.
They play a significant role in the creation of soils. natural conditions, which form a favorable regime for the accumulation of nutrients and their preservation. There are many worms and bacteria in the chernozem soil layer. They create favorable conditions for growing any type of plant.
Where is black soil found?
In addition to the territory of the Russian Federation, chernozem soils are found in America, Canada, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. The black earth region in Russia makes up approximately half of all fertile lands on the planet. Also, the black soil on our territory has a rich composition, while in other countries these lands are poorer.
Types of black soil
And what fertile soils are the best among all types of black soil? The characteristics of black soil determine the species. So, according to this criterion, podzolized, typical, leached, southern soil is distinguished. In the central part of Russia, chernozem has about eight percent humus. The layers themselves lie no more than seventy centimeters deep.
Steppe chernozem belongs to the typical type. It contains about ten percent humus. In layers North America humus content is no more than three centimeters. And this despite the fact that lands with its content of less than two percent are considered dead. Of all the black soils in Russia, Voronezh is considered the standard of fertility. It is even displayed in a museum in France as a symbol of fertility.
Formation of black soil
The formation of chernozem is a long and difficult process. It is influenced not only by flora and fauna, but also by the location of the land and the climate of the region. In the process of farming, if the land is not replenished with fertilizers, the quality of the black soil is lost. The cut fertile layer loses its properties after a few years. An example of this is the transportation of black earth layers to Germany in the post-war period. Over the years they have lost their properties.
Sale of black soil
IN last years Soil sales are growing rapidly. This leads to the destruction of black soil, which takes decades to create. The fertility of the land is influenced by many factors, among which the main one is the type of plants growing on the ground. If the plant has a powerful root system, then the fertility of the black soil will be better. This is due to the fact that large roots, when deepened, loosen the soil, allowing oxygen to penetrate deep into the formation. The most fertile soils are those on which trees and shrubs grow.
Use of black soil
Chernozem is delivered to various parts of the planet. It is used in landscape design in large cities where land is depleted. IN middle lane In Russia, chernozem soils are used to create the necessary fertile layer. With its help, water permeability, particle size distribution, and density are optimized. After adding soil, sandy lands become healthier and improve their fertility.
The territory of Russia is huge, but there is little land favorable for agriculture here. More than ten percent of the land area is occupied by tundra, approximately thirteen percent is wetlands, and the same amount of land is used in agriculture. The most valuable land accounts for approximately seven percent of the entire country's territory. Half of them are in the Black Earth region: about eighty percent of the country’s total production is produced here. Podzolic and chestnut lands are allocated for pastures and hayfields.
In the region where I live, there are several types of soil that differ in their fertility. Among them there are chernozems, which are the leader in terms of fertility. Now I will tell you what is so special about this soil.
Chernozem is the most fertile type of soil
Chernozem is black earth. Indeed, it is black. Therefore, many people who have lived their entire lives in a region with such soils are very surprised when they come to another region and see brown or yellow color. Basically, chernozems are concentrated in the steppe and forest-steppe zones.
High level The fertility of these soils is ensured due to the following characteristics:
- a large amount of humus in the composition (5–15%);
- the presence of various microorganisms;
- grain.
Even in the distant past, black soils were a guarantee good harvest. Soil properties such as theirs cannot be created artificially. No special fertilizers or minerals will make another soil as fertile. This is because it takes thousands of years to form black soils. They are formed under the influence of many natural factors, including climate conditions and biological features. Such soil is home to a large number of microorganisms, as well as worms, which contributes to the formation of a favorable environment for the growth of any plants.
Chernozems in the world
For Russia, chernozems are a real asset. Our country occupies a leading place in the world in terms of the number of such fertile lands. All the territories with black soils taken together in Russia account for 52% of the world's areas. Chernozems are also found in the following countries:
- Hungary;
- Bulgaria;
- Ukraine;
- Canada.
But Russian black soils have best composition. They contain more humus than the soils of other countries, which is key factor fertility. It is practiced to transport chernozem to other regions, for which a certain layer of soil is cut off. Many people think that in this way they can ensure fertility for a long time. long years, but that's not true. The soil is gradually depleted, and after a few years it loses its fertility.
