Soil improvement materials to improve the physical properties of the soil

March 16, 2021 10 Comments

Soil is the natural space where plants grow. The better and more fertile the soil, our plants show more vigorous growth, abundant flowering and better production performance.

To improve the physical properties of the soil and soil in our garden or balcony, there are various natural soil improvement materials that we can use.

In today’s article we will analyze which natural materials we call soil improvers, what they offer us and how we use them to facilitate and enhance plant growth.

Advertising

What are soil improvers?

Soil improvers are natural materials that we incorporate into the soil to improve its physical characteristics. Soil improvers are used in both organic and conventional agriculture, offering important solutions to growers.

By using soil conditioners, we can make the soil fluffier with better aeration, as well as help with moisture retention or better drainage.

Some soil improvers are rich in organic matter and provide nutrients to the soil while acting as natural fertilizers that enhance plant growth.

What soil improvers do we use in gardening and crops?

Soil improvers have many applications and we can use them in the soil of the garden, in pots on the balcony, as well as to improve the soil in our field. Let’s see in detail which materials have soil improvement properties and how we use them.

1. Compost

We start our list with compost, a natural material created by composting organic kitchen scraps such as coffee and tea grounds, vegetable and fruit peels, as well as plant material from our garden i.e. fallen leaves, lawn clippings , weeds and pruning residues.

Compost has excellent soil improvement properties and is also used in the garden and in pots as a natural fertilizer that enriches the soil with nutrients.

We can create our own compost, using the appropriate composting materials, or get ready-made compost from the trade. It is worth noting that most potting composts contain compost in their composition.

We make compost, a natural fertilizer

2. Manure

Animal manure, in addition to being a natural ecological fertilizer traditionally used in vegetable crops, fruit trees, aromatic and ornamental plants, is also an excellent soil improvement material.

In particular, manure contributes significantly to improving the physical properties of the soil, as it increases water retention, aeration and drainage.

Regarding its nutritional elements, manure offers the soil more nitrogen and less potassium, while it is also a rich source of trace elements. We can have manure from our own animal husbandry or get it from the trade.

Manure, a natural ecological fertilizer

3. Peat

Peat is a natural product that has excellent properties as a soil improvement material, that is, it helps our soil retain water, air and nutrients that would otherwise be lost from the soil.

As a material, peat is derived from the decomposition and humification of vegetation from various wetlands and bogs in northeastern Europe. It is the basic organic material we use for pots, but also for improving the soil in our garden.

The peat is contained in the peat mosses in a content from 1/3 to 2/3 of their total volume. It is commercially available in various types, including blond peat, black peat, and mixtures of blond and black peat.

What is peat and how do we use it?

4. Zeolite

Zeolite is a natural porous mineral with an alumino-silicate composition that, when incorporated into the soil before planting, improves aeration and water retention. It is commercially available in fine granular or powder form.

It is important to point out that zeolite can absorb and store a large amount of soil moisture and release it according to the needs of the plant. This has the consequence of saving water in drought conditions especially in the summer months.

Zeolite, uses in agriculture

5. Attapulgite

Another valuable natural mineral that is applied to all types of soils for soil improvement is attapulgite.

Attapulgite effectively contributes to the retention of moisture and the reduction of watering, the improvement of ventilation and the better absorption of nutrients by plants.

It is used in all stages of cultivation from fruit trees and vegetables, to ornamental and aromatic plants offering a number of important benefits. It is commercially available in processed fine grain and powder form.

Attapulgite, a precious natural mineral

6. Perlite

Perlite, another remarkable natural mineral, also has important advantages for improving the soil. Perlite provides the soil with better aeration for the development of the plant’s root system and greater moisture retention.

Perlite provides significant benefits to both irrigated and dryland crops. It is very often used before planting lawns and in pots. The addition and incorporation of perlite can be done at any time of the year and at all stages of the crop.

It should be said that perlite is contained in a small percentage in most potting soil on the market. We can also supply it in packages containing only perlite.

How we use perlite in gardening

7. Light stone

Pumice is a natural volcanic mineral suitable for soil improvement and potting soil. It is commercially available in granular form of various sizes.

As a material, pumice holds moisture and nutrients, which it gradually releases to the plants. In addition, the pumice stone helps to remove excess water during watering, ensuring better drainage.

Light stone, a natural soil conditioner

8. Leonardite

Another valuable commercial soil improvement material is leonardite, a dark-colored natural organic mineral derived from the composting of plant organisms.

Leonardite has a high content of humic components and organic matter, helping to better absorb soil nutrients by plants.

9. Ashes

In addition to the soil improvement materials on the market, we can use ash from burning wood. Adding ash to the soil makes the soil more fluffy, improves aeration and helps the root system of plants to develop better.

Fly ash can also be used to correct acidic problem soils, as it has the property of raising soil pH. At the same time, it helps absorb various trace elements, such as iron, zinc, boron and magnesium.

Ash: Uses in the garden

10. Algae

And finally, we will refer to the seaweed washed up by the sea, another natural material that helps to improve the soil and stimulate the plants.

Algae contain a range of nutrients, trace elements and natural growth stimulants. When incorporated into the soil, they enhance the growth of the plant’s root system, resistance to adverse conditions, while also improving fruiting.

Algae, natural fertilizer for plants

And a secret about soil improvement materials

We can combine different soil improvement materials to achieve the best result. Very often, compost and manure are used together when preparing the soil for cultivation, as they improve the soil and enrich it with nutrients.

Share the article with your friends: