RHS Level 2 R2102 Managing Soils Flashcards
Plant nutrition and the root environment
State different ways to cultivate soil.
Single digging. Double digging. Rotary cultivation. Forking Raking Consolidation No dig Bed systems
Describe single and double digging.
Single digging: Remove a spades depth worth of soil at one end of your plot and place it to the side of your hole. Moving backwards dig another spades depth worth of soil and fill the previous hole. Repeat this all the way down the length of your plot. Move across and start the next trench and so on.
Double digging: remove a spades depth of soil. Using a fork lossen the soil at the bottom of the hole a forks depth. Work backwards filling in as per single digging.
Describe rotary cultivation.
Using a machine to produce a fine tilth. They can over time result in a Pan beneath the cultivation depth. This can lead to a perched water table.
Describe forking and raking for cultivation.
Loosening the soil by using a fork.
Raking the surface of the soil to create a fine tilth and remove and stones.
Describe the no dig method.
Heavy applications of well rotted organic matter in the spring to the surface which is then incorporated by earth worms and broken down by bacteria and fungi.
Green manures are grown during the autumn and winter months to prevent the leaching of nutrients and help improve soil structure. It is then cut/hoed down before flowering and left to rot down as fresh organic matter.
This method also provides a carbon sink.
Describe bed systems and the benefits.
The use of raised beds.
Enables easier access.
Can improve drainage.
Can introduce a different soil type.
State ways to improve soil structure.
Add more organic matter- opens up solid areas, binds loose particles. Encourages soil organisms.
Improve drainage- add grit, sand or bed system.
Aeration - prod with fork
Grow plants/green manures to break up clumps/pans.
Encourage soil organisms
Cultivation
Add lime/gypsum - helps form soul aggregates.
How can you avoid and remove compaction?
By not walking on the soil, especially when it’s wet.
By not creating a pan through rotavating.
Can remove compaction by:
Growing green manures, especially ones with longer roots which can help break up pans.
Forking or using a broadfork.
Avoiding cultivation when wet.
Mulching bare soil, especially through winter.
Why would you cultivate soil?
To lessen soil for aeration and drainage. To remove weeds. To end up with a fine tilth To incorporate organic matter Expose pest larvae to birds and weather. To expose to frost.
What are the causes of excess water?
Location- high water table, low lying area, high rainfall areas.
Compaction.
Impermeable areas creating run-off. e.g patios, driveways.
What ways can you deal with excess water?
Forking over a compacted area
Drainage channels can be permanently installed. Narrow trench, 90cm deep filled with aggregate called a French drain. Can feed into a soakaway- large hole filled with aggregate.
Hard standing can be made permeable to avoid run off e.g. gravel
Raised beds can deal with wet areas by being raised above it.
Plants which cope well in wet conditions can be used. Adapt to the situation.
Identify appropriate irrigation methods.
Watering can - Cheap, easy to set up. Time consuming.
Hoses and sprinklers - cover large areas. Uses lots of water.
Seep hoses - economical with water, accurate.
Identify symptoms of poor drainage.
Pooling on the surface for extended periods. Capping of soil where water has pooled. Cold colours of soil. 'Off' smells Mosses, reeds, sedges growing. Surface run off
