Saturday, February 27, 2010

Organic Soil

Organic Soil

There is a good cliché that stays that everything happens for a reason. Leaders in every part of the planet show their stuff in order bring forth a good change to certain part of society. Inventions were brought to life by genius minds in order to uplift the lives of many. Happenings such as these with great magnitude can be aptly compared to the presence of basic industrial and agricultural methods. Just like any other technique, organic gardening and farming was born in order to give way to better soil conditions thus improving the quality of crops and livestock.

Whenever the concept of organic methods are placed as the center of attention a constant element is always in the midst serving as some sort of barometer for the effectiveness of the said methods. It is a given fact that the soil is a very important element in agriculture. Let’s get acquainted with the earth and dig into some of the basic facts about it.

Basically soil is considered as a natural body that is made up of layers called soil horizons. These so-called horizons are composed of minerals that have variable thicknesses. They can also have characteristics that are entirely similar with their parent materials which can be in physical, chemical, mineralogical, and morphological terms.

The characteristic difference mentioned above is brought about by the constant changes and activities that are occurring within the various sectors of the planet such as the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere. Weathering and erosion are some of the more common environmental processes that contribute to the alteration of the composition of rock particles that make up the soil. Due to the varying processes that manipulate soil development it is regarded as a mixture of organic and mineral entities that can be in aqueous, soil, or gaseous states.

The package wherein soil particles are formed can be described as loose that is why common sol structures are seen with pore spaces. Liquid and gaseous solutions can be located within these soil pores. Soil actually exists in a three state system. Apart from the liquid and gas components it is also associated with a common term that one can fully grasp. Soil is synonymous with earth from which our very own planet’s name is taken from.

Now let’s look at how significant soil is in lives of human beings. Primarily soil is utilized in the agricultural circles wherein its common task is to provide the vital nutrients needed in plant growth and development. The soil variation that is tapped on by the agriculture people is influenced by the species of plants that are to be cultivated. One usual element of the soil that is given proper attention is the moisture level.

The soil is quite flexible as it can go beyond the lines of farming and gardening. It is considered as a critical element in industries revolving around construction and mining. It is widely used as a foundation for any level of construction. The contribution of soil can reach up to the likes of road building, dam construction, and even surface mining.

Organic gardening and farming was created for a very significant reason. This is to continuously aid the soil in enhancing the agricultural industry. The end result of which will surely be favorable to many who constantly needs sustenance and proper nutrition.

Organic tastes best,
Greg

Composting

Composting

Man has been proven throughout the years of history to have unmatched character. He is able to withstand all sorts of trials and trying times in order to continue survival and propagation. This can be attributed to the ability of inculcating innovative changes into his surroundings so as to maximize the functionality of every resource available. Let’s take a look at how the agricultural people enhance the usefulness of the soil in organic gardening and farming via the presence of compost materials.

Basically compost is the combination created from food materials and other organic components. This mixing process is made possible by aerobic mechanisms that occur within the confines of black soil. The composting process has been evident in many places across the globe. Its simplicity has attracted a lot of individuals to utilize it within their household. Common farmers and industrial folks have also taken a liking to the benefits of composting.

Composted soil is considered as enriched soil and has been used as a medium in various fields and vicinities. It has been a common character that has been embraced by landscapes and gardens as well as horticulture and agriculture. It has been noted to have beneficial contributions such as fertilizer, natural pesticide, and soil conditioner. It is also found useful for land and stream reclamation, landfill cover, erosion control, and wetland construction.

There has been thorough recommendation of compost being a significant soil additive. This is because it has the capacity to bring humus and nutrients in the soil into an active state. Moreover, it facilitates the provision of an avenue for the growth of porous and absorbent materials that can support moisture and soluble mineral resulting into adequate plant nutrition. It can be mixed with the likes of sand, vermiculite, grit, soil, clay granules, perlite, or bark chips to come with loam.

Composting has gone passed the basic lines of agriculture into magnitudes that can prove to be helpful for global conditions. In recent times, there have been issues regarding the increase of the space being occupied by landfills thereby bringing recycling alternatives on the table. Composting has been tapped on as a way to boost recycling campaigns since it involves conversion of decomposable organic matter into useful and more stable entities.

New heights of composting have been mandate by law particularly in Western countries. It has reached an industrial level and exists in forms such as aerated static pile composting, anaerobic digestion, in-vessel composting. Actually there have been formulated guidelines that date as early as the 80s in Germany, Holland, and Switzerland. The United States and the United Kingdom are continually strengthening their policies in order to support composting.

In order to cope with new trends in the field there have construction of modern concepts of composting in order to enhance the method itself and correct the perceived problems associated with the old one. Rapid composting is now being advocated wherein the process can take place within two to three weeks. Other changes outlined focused on the monitoring of the moisture level and details in the compost content specifically bringing the carbon to nitrogen ratio of thirty to one.

Organic gardening and farming offers a wide array of methods and principles that is why a certain practitioner must be keen in knowing the smallest of details such as proper and effective composting schemes.

Organic tastes best,
Greg