LO 3.8 - Suitability of growing media for different crops applications for different growing media including

Question 1

Question

Clay soils have some particular uses, what are they?

8 points to make altogether.

Soil Texture

Answer 1

Clay soils:
* Retain water and tend to have poor drainage.
* Very hard when dry – cracks, hard clods.
* Relatively high in nutrients.
* Slow to warm up in spring.
* High power requirement.
* Root penetration and seedling emergence difficult.
* More suited to pasture than tillage.
* Occur throughout Ireland.

Soil Texture

Question 2

Question

Sandy soils have some particular uses, what are they?

6 points to make altogether.

Soil Texture

Answer 2

Sandy soils:
* Free draining, low moisture holding capacity.
* Low nutrient holding capacity, prone to leaching.
* Warm up quickly in spring.
* Easy to cultivate – low power requirement.
* Allow good root development – particularly good for crops such as carrots.
* Found in parts of Wexford and coastal areas of Donegal, Sligo and Mayo, parts of coastal north Dublin.

Soil Texture

Question 3

Question

Loam soils have some particular uses, what are they?

5 points to make altogether.

Soil Texture

Answer 3

Loams:
* Combination of large & small pore spaces - well drained but still retain enough water for plant use.
* Easy to cultivate.
* Allow for good root development.
* Suitable for wide range of hort. and agri. uses.
* Can occur throughout the country, particularly in parts of Wexford, Waterford, Wicklow, Kilkenny and
Tipperary.

Soil Texture

Question 4

Question

What is important about the soil in rootballed Trees and Shrubs sold from the nursery?

Soil Texture

Answer 4

Trees and shrubs sold as rootballed plants should be grown in a soil that has good cohesive structure – when they are lifted, the aim is to retain the soil around the root system.

Soil Texture

Question 5

Question

What is important about the soil in Trees and Shrubs sold with just the bareroots?

Soil Texture

Answer 5

Plants which are to be sold as bareroots are grown in lighter, less ‘binding’ soils so that the soil can easily be shaken off prior to sale.

Soil Texture

Question 6

Question

Stony soils, what are some things to consider?

6 points to make.

Soil Texture

Answer 6

Stony soils:
* Remove stones and gravel to assess texture of soil.
* The size & abundance of stones have a major influence on soil for crop production.
* High stone content soils hold less water than a similarly textured soil, so may be prone to drought.
* They are better drained and warm up more quickly in spring.
* Large stones store heat in the daytime, which is slowly released at night – this can help against spring frosts.
* They can have a damaging effect on tillage implements.

Soil Texture