Feeding the Soil Flashcards
Name some bulky organic matters
Farm Yard Manure Garden waste Mushroom Compost Leaf Mould Chipped Bark Green Manure Crop debris Composted Straw Waste Wool materials Composted waste from local authorities
What does FYM consist of and what nutrient is it high in?
Straw/other bedding
Horse, sheep and pig manure
Most have high Nirtage levels
If FYM is supplied fresh, what is best to do with it and why?
It must be stacked for a period to break down as it will be high in Ammonia-which can scorch plant foliage and roots.
What are the advantages of adding FYM?
improves soil fertility
improves soil structure
Adds organic matter and humus
Why does FYM need to be worked into a soil?
It needs to be dug in for continued decomposition.
What are the disadvantages of adding fresh FYM?
If it is added to wet, compacted, deep clay soils they end up needing more oxygen.
The soil may develop a gey colouring and smell like bad eggs
How is Garden Waste made?
Put all garden waste except perennial weeds into a compost bin, or wooden pallets with slatted sides.
Turn the compost frequently and cover with a carpet to keep heat in and rain out.
This is a “cold” method and can take 2years to be ready.
What is the advantage of having an open bottomed compost bin on soil?
It allows soil organisms and air in-good for decomposition.
What is Mushroom Compost?
A by-product of the mushroom industry
Consists of composted straw capped with chalk.
What are the advantages of Mushroom Compost?
As it has chalk in it, it raises a soils pH
A good alternative to liming
What plants would do well in mushroom compost?
Calcicoles: they like alkaline soil.
eg: brassicas-cabbages, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts
What soil pH would benefit from the addition of Mushroom Compost?
S soil with a pH below 6
What can happen to plants if Mushroom compost is used regularly?
iron-induced chlorosis, therefore poor performance.
If mushroom compost is used annually, what nutrient deficiencies could there be?
Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe)
What plant/type of plant would not benefit from Mushroom compost?
Calcifuges-acid loving plants (low pH)
And growing young plants in containers.
What does Composted waste from local authoroties have in it?
A mis of: tree waste/plastics/paper/cardboard
How do we normally receive compost waste from local authoroties?
Finely shredded and sterilised so there are no pests/weeds or smells!
What is Leaf Mould?
A mixture of any leaves from deciduous trees
green prunings and grass mowings
What leaves should not be put in leaf mould?
Holly and Laurel
What are the advantages of leaf mould?
rots down well-takes about 1year
Attractive mulch
Very good compost ingredient once well rotted
Why is leaf mould slow to break down?
The leaves have a high brown to green ratio so decompostion is slow.
How could you speed up the decompostion process of leaf mould?
Shred the leaves first before composting-it is usually the second year that the brown, crumbly material is produced.
How do you normally compost Leaf Mould?
In mesh cages or polythene bags punched with multiple holes.
What are the disadvantages of leaf mould?
Nitrogen (N) and Phosphate have left the leaves before they fall.
Potassium is readily leached from an ageing leaf.
Chipped bark products are good for what?
excellent for mulching
A good soil improver
What is chipped bark deficient in and why is this an advantage?
Bark is Nitrogen (N) deficient so doesn’t decompose quickly-it stays on the surface longer.
Disadvantages of chipped bark
Once it is incorporated into soil, it robs plants of their (N)
Light when dry so easily blown around
Floats of water
Difficult to manage on slopes
Birds toss it about looking for food underneath so paths look untidy.
Cocoa Shells: what are their advantages?
A good recycling product
Light to handle and spread
Costs are low
What do composted straw products manly consist of and what are their best uses?
Straw and horse manure
Best as mulch
What does a mulch do?
Supresses weeds Moisture retention Protects soil surface Decorative finish Maintains/increases soil OM insulates soi ltemps Protects crops from soil contact eg: straw under Strawberries
What is the definition of composting?
the decompostion of OM in a haep before applying to soils.
What are the conditions for successful composting?
Air water a mixture of OM mix Accelerators or activators shredding Ph Temperature Heap size
why is air needed for successful composting?
The soil organisms are aerobic so they need aerated conditions
Why is water needed for successful composting?
The decomposers need moist material to eat and live in.
They are inactive if the soil is too dry,
If the soil is water logged there isn’t enough air so the anaerobic organisms take over-gives poorer compost.
What is meant by Organic Matter Mix?
An equal measure of leafy/succulent/tender materials and fibrous/woody/tough materials.
what is classed as “green” organic matter mix?
leafy/succulent/tender materials eg: grass mowings
seaweed, young nettles, young leaves, kitchen plant waste.
What is classed as “brown” organic matter mix?
fibrous/woody/tough eg:
Cardboard, fibrous prunings, long grass, woody prunings, straw, sawdust, paper, autumn leaves, old herbaceous plants
Why does shredding increase the decomposition process?
Increases the surface area so more of the material is accessible to the organisms.
Waterlogging should be avoided.
How does pH affect the decomposition of a compost pile?
It should not be too acidic-soil organisms can’t break it down as efficiently.
Adding this layers of lime can help this,
How does temperature affect the rate of decompostion on a compost heap?
the better the temp, the more efficiently the Soil organisms can decompose the material.
How does the heap size of compost affect the rate of decomposition?
The bigger the heap, the quicker it heats up-but it has to be turned often.
Describe the key points to successful anaerobic composting. (6 points)
Materials used have to be kept moist No special bin necessary No turning of material needed No Nitrogen needs to be added Woody material must be well shredded Putting material in a black, sealed polythene bag works well.
How is an anaerobic compost heap made?
A mound of vegetable matter is covered by 25mm of soil.
A further 25mm of soil is added for every 250mm of vegetable waste
What is a green manure?
A crop specifically grown to be dug into the ground as manure.
Examples of green manure
Blue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius)
Winter tares (Vicia sativa)
Crimson clover
perennial ryegrass
Where would we tend to use a green manure?
Vegetable plots and organic growing systems.
Why are the lupins, clover, ryegrass good as green manure?
They all cover the ground quickly
Yield a large amount of leaf
What are the advantages of green manure? x7
Reduce soil erosion
Add Organic matter
Compete out weeds
Develop and maintain soil fertility and structure
Increase Micro-organism activity in soil
Cover bare ground
Capture soluble nutrients that would otherwise be leached
How is green manure added to plots?
Dig it in, or cut, left to wilt and then dug into soil.
What is a disadvantage of green manure?
If you leave it as a mlch, it makes it difficult to but the next crop in.
What is the definition of Hot Bed composting?
Microbial activity within the pile is at its optinum level.
What is an advantage of Hot Bed composting?
The compost is ready in a much shorter time- approx 3 weeks depending on environmental factors.
What are the ideal conditions for Hot bed composting?
Sit the heap in full sun
The size of heap-4ft x 4ft is most manageable
Right Carbon to Nitrogen ratio from start, 25:1
What are carbon rich compost materials?
Straw, shredded paper, small twigs, dried leaves
What are Nitrogen rich compost materials?
Grass, fruit and vegetable scraps, FYM, deadhead trimmings, coffee grounds, teabags.
The key to successful Hot Bed composting is:
all ingredients must be finely chopped, mixed together and have a small amount of finished compost to act as an activator and watered.
Turn regularly
Monitor the soil temperature.
