It is important to choose the right soil and the right combination of fertilizers.
If you are planting a vegetable garden, it is important that the soil you choose is moist and loose, providing the flexibility to the roots to expand and grow and get maximum nutrients from the soil.
The soil with too much clay or sand is not ideal for the plants to grow. A perfect mix of soils is needed for the plants to grow optimally.
Sandy Soil
This kind of soil requires mulching for holding moisture in it and requires various kinds of organic blends to make it ideal for growing plants. This kind of soil usually gets washed away in heavy rains. It drains and dries out fast.
This soil is suitable for vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, lettuce, and zucchini. Bulbs and shrubs such as Sun roses, Tulips, Hibiscus, grow well in this soil.
Clay Soil
This kind of soil is loaded with nutrients and if the drainage is taken care of, this soil can offer optimum benefits to the plants to grow. Ornamental plants and fruit trees usually grow well on this soil. Clay soil is heavier to cultivate and gets warmed up slowly during the spring season.
Peaty Soil
This soil is acidic in nature and thus when it is combined with organic matter, lime and compost it offers many benefits for the plants to grow. High amounts of peat lend spongy and damp qualities to this dark soil.
This soil offers fewer nutrients because the acidic nature of the soil slows the decomposition process. This soil heats up easily and can retain water.
Suitable for vegetable plants such as legumes, salad crops, and root crops.
Silty Soil
Organic matter is added to this soil to make it more fertile and for improving the drainage capacity of the soil. This offers great benefits to the plants if the drainage system is channelized properly.
Silty soil holds moisture and has a soapy and soft texture to it. Suitable for all kinds of fruits and vegetable crops
Loamy Soil
This soil is acidic in nature and thus requires regular mixing with organic matter. However, this soil is the best soil for potted plants or garden plants. Loamy soil is a mix of silt, clay, and sand. This soil warms up easily but does not become too dry during the summer months. Loamy soil is an ideal soil for outdoor plants. Loamy soil is damp and fine-textured soil.
Loamy soil is suitable for all kinds of berry crops and vegetable crops grow in this soil, like bamboos, climbers, perennials, tubers, and shrubs.
Chalky Soil
Hummus is added to improve and enhance the workability of this soil. Chalky soil is stonier and grainier than other soils.
Chalky soil is found on a limestone or chalk bedrock. The alkaline nature of this soil may sometimes lead to yellowish leaves or stunted growth of the plants.
Chalky soil is suitable for vegetables such as cabbage, sweet corn, spinach, and beets.
The best soil for flowers, soil for growing vegetables, or for growing other kinds of potted plants:
½ cubic yard perlite
½ cubic yard peat moss
5 pounds limestone
5 pounds blood meal
10 pounds bone meal
Fertilizers
Fertilizers are chemical substances supplied to the crops to increase their productivity. The fertilizers contain the essential nutrients required by the plants, including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. They enhance the water retention capacity of the soil and also increase its fertility.
Types of Fertilizers
There are six different types of fertilizers.
Inorganic Fertilizers
Inorganic fertilizers are chemical fertilizers that contain nutrient elements for the growth of crops made by chemical means.
The inorganic fertilizers are of the following types:
Nitrogen Fertilizers
Nitrogen fertilizers contain nitrogen necessary for the development of crops. Nitrogen is the main constituent of chlorophyll that maintains a balance in the process of photosynthesis. It is also a part of amino acids in plants and constitutes protein.
Phosphorus Fertilizer
The main nutrient in a phosphorus fertilizer is phosphorus. Phosphorus found in the protoplasm of the cell plays an important role in cell growth and proliferation. The phosphorus fertilizer is beneficial for the growth of roots of the plants.
Organic Fertilizers
Organic fertilizers are natural fertilizers obtained from plants and animals. Organic fertilizers increase the organic matter content of the soil, promote the reproduction of microorganisms, and change the physical and chemical properties of the soil.
Organic fertilizers can be obtained from the following products:
Agricultural Waste
Livestock Manure
Industrial Waste
Municipal Sludge
Fertilizers also have disadvantages.
The ingredients in the fertilizers are toxic to the skin and respiratory system.
Excessive use of fertilizers damages the plants and reduces soil fertility.
Long-term use reduces microbial activity and disturbs the pH of the soil.
Nitrogen-rich fertilizers are used for the greening of lawns.
Organic fertilizers improve the texture and fertility of the soil.
Fertilizers increase plants’ tolerance towards pests, reducing their reliance on insecticides and herbicides.
Fertilizers improve the water holding capacity of the plants and increase root depth.
Potassium present in the fertilizers strengthens the straws and stalks of the plants.
Phosphorus present in the fertilizers helps in the faster development of roots and the formation of seeds in the plants.
Nitrogen present in the fertilizers enhances the growth of the plants.
Since chemical fertilizers adversely affect soil fertility, biofertilizers are preferred. They provide the soil with the necessary nutrients and microbes for the growth of plants. Acetobacter and Rhizobium are two widely used biofertilizers.
What are the different types of fertilizers?
The different types of fertilizers include:
Inorganic fertilizers are Nitrogen fertilizer and Phosphorus fertilizer
Organic fertilizers are Agricultural waste, livestock manure, and municipal sludge
What are the main components of fertilizers?
The main components of fertilizers include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
What are the three numbers on fertilizers?
A bag of fertilizers labeled 10-10-10 contains 10% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 10% potassium. This label is a national standard and is known as the fertilizer grade.
