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Essential Nutrients for Plants > Feeding the Soil > Flashcards

Feeding the Soil Flashcards

1
Q

Name some bulky organic matters

A 
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
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2
Q

What does FYM consist of and what nutrient is it high in?

A

Straw/other bedding
Horse, sheep and pig manure
Most have high Nirtage levels

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3
Q

If FYM is supplied fresh, what is best to do with it and why?

A

It must be stacked for a period to break down as it will be high in Ammonia-which can scorch plant foliage and roots.

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4
Q

What are the advantages of adding FYM?

A

improves soil fertility
improves soil structure
Adds organic matter and humus

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5
Q

Why does FYM need to be worked into a soil?

A

It needs to be dug in for continued decomposition.

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6
Q

What are the disadvantages of adding fresh FYM?

A

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

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7
Q

How is Garden Waste made?

A

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.

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8
Q

What is the advantage of having an open bottomed compost bin on soil?

A

It allows soil organisms and air in-good for decomposition.

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9
Q

What is Mushroom Compost?

A

A by-product of the mushroom industry

Consists of composted straw capped with chalk.

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10
Q

What are the advantages of Mushroom Compost?

A

As it has chalk in it, it raises a soils pH

A good alternative to liming

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11
Q

What plants would do well in mushroom compost?

A

Calcicoles: they like alkaline soil.
eg: brassicas-cabbages, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts

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12
Q

What soil pH would benefit from the addition of Mushroom Compost?

A

S soil with a pH below 6

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13
Q

What can happen to plants if Mushroom compost is used regularly?

A

iron-induced chlorosis, therefore poor performance.

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14
Q

If mushroom compost is used annually, what nutrient deficiencies could there be?

A

Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe)

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15
Q

What plant/type of plant would not benefit from Mushroom compost?

A

Calcifuges-acid loving plants (low pH)

And growing young plants in containers.

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16
Q

What does Composted waste from local authoroties have in it?

A

A mis of: tree waste/plastics/paper/cardboard

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17
Q

How do we normally receive compost waste from local authoroties?

A

Finely shredded and sterilised so there are no pests/weeds or smells!

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18
Q

What is Leaf Mould?

A

A mixture of any leaves from deciduous trees

green prunings and grass mowings

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19
Q

What leaves should not be put in leaf mould?

A

Holly and Laurel

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20
Q

What are the advantages of leaf mould?

A

rots down well-takes about 1year
Attractive mulch
Very good compost ingredient once well rotted

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21
Q

Why is leaf mould slow to break down?

A

The leaves have a high brown to green ratio so decompostion is slow.

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22
Q

How could you speed up the decompostion process of leaf mould?

A

Shred the leaves first before composting-it is usually the second year that the brown, crumbly material is produced.

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23
Q

How do you normally compost Leaf Mould?

A

In mesh cages or polythene bags punched with multiple holes.

24
Q

What are the disadvantages of leaf mould?

A

Nitrogen (N) and Phosphate have left the leaves before they fall.
Potassium is readily leached from an ageing leaf.

25
Q

Chipped bark products are good for what?

A

excellent for mulching

A good soil improver

26
Q

What is chipped bark deficient in and why is this an advantage?

A

Bark is Nitrogen (N) deficient so doesn’t decompose quickly-it stays on the surface longer.

27
Q

Disadvantages of chipped bark

A

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.

28
Q

Cocoa Shells: what are their advantages?

A

A good recycling product
Light to handle and spread
Costs are low

29
Q

What do composted straw products manly consist of and what are their best uses?

A

Straw and horse manure

Best as mulch

30
Q

What does a mulch do?

A 
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
31
Q

What is the definition of composting?

A

the decompostion of OM in a haep before applying to soils.

32
Q

What are the conditions for successful composting?

A 
Air 
water
a mixture of OM mix
Accelerators or activators
shredding
Ph
Temperature
Heap size
33
Q

why is air needed for successful composting?

A

The soil organisms are aerobic so they need aerated conditions

34
Q

Why is water needed for successful composting?

A

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.

35
Q

What is meant by Organic Matter Mix?

A

An equal measure of leafy/succulent/tender materials and fibrous/woody/tough materials.

36
Q

what is classed as “green” organic matter mix?

A

leafy/succulent/tender materials eg: grass mowings

seaweed, young nettles, young leaves, kitchen plant waste.

37
Q

What is classed as “brown” organic matter mix?

A

fibrous/woody/tough eg:

Cardboard, fibrous prunings, long grass, woody prunings, straw, sawdust, paper, autumn leaves, old herbaceous plants

38
Q

Why does shredding increase the decomposition process?

A

Increases the surface area so more of the material is accessible to the organisms.
Waterlogging should be avoided.

39
Q

How does pH affect the decomposition of a compost pile?

A

It should not be too acidic-soil organisms can’t break it down as efficiently.
Adding this layers of lime can help this,

40
Q

How does temperature affect the rate of decompostion on a compost heap?

A

the better the temp, the more efficiently the Soil organisms can decompose the material.

41
Q

How does the heap size of compost affect the rate of decomposition?

A

The bigger the heap, the quicker it heats up-but it has to be turned often.

42
Q

Describe the key points to successful anaerobic composting. (6 points)

A 
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.
43
Q

How is an anaerobic compost heap made?

A

A mound of vegetable matter is covered by 25mm of soil.

A further 25mm of soil is added for every 250mm of vegetable waste

44
Q

What is a green manure?

A

A crop specifically grown to be dug into the ground as manure.

45
Q

Examples of green manure

A

Blue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius)
Winter tares (Vicia sativa)
Crimson clover
perennial ryegrass

46
Q

Where would we tend to use a green manure?

A

Vegetable plots and organic growing systems.

47
Q

Why are the lupins, clover, ryegrass good as green manure?

A

They all cover the ground quickly

Yield a large amount of leaf

48
Q

What are the advantages of green manure? x7

A

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

49
Q

How is green manure added to plots?

A

Dig it in, or cut, left to wilt and then dug into soil.

50
Q

What is a disadvantage of green manure?

A

If you leave it as a mlch, it makes it difficult to but the next crop in.

51
Q

What is the definition of Hot Bed composting?

A

Microbial activity within the pile is at its optinum level.

52
Q

What is an advantage of Hot Bed composting?

A

The compost is ready in a much shorter time- approx 3 weeks depending on environmental factors.

53
Q

What are the ideal conditions for Hot bed composting?

A

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

54
Q

What are carbon rich compost materials?

A

Straw, shredded paper, small twigs, dried leaves

55
Q

What are Nitrogen rich compost materials?

A

Grass, fruit and vegetable scraps, FYM, deadhead trimmings, coffee grounds, teabags.

56
Q

The key to successful Hot Bed composting is:

A

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.

Essential Nutrients for Plants (2 decks)

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