Easy Soil Test for your (new) garden

neophonic (33)in #garden • 8 years ago (edited)

Would you like to learn more about your soil?

This easy soil test can be made in field with minimal requirements on resources.
It can be used to find out how your soil looks like, which is of vital importance if you are going to produce your own veggies and fruits for better food self-sustainability, or even low-scale sales.

You do not need any lab, you even do not have to go shopping.
Of course, it is not so thourough, but it will give you a nice idea about composition of your soil.

What will you need?

Transparent Jars (For 3 samples, you need 3 jars.)
Soil Samples (It's good to have at least three to see the differences)
Water
Few hours or one day

Process

It is deadly easy.

Just dig a soil, put in a jar. Add water to top of the jar.
Mix it well. Really well.
Repeat with other comparison soil samples.
Wait at least few hours, or just let it rest for a day if you do not hurry.

Results

Now you can see that each jar does have a different contents proportions. How I have said, easy!

The heaviest soil parts are at the bottom, while the lightest ones are on the top.

You can analyze this way how much Clay, Sand, Dissolved organic materials and undissolved organic material is in the soil. Ideally, all the parts should be present in a sort of balanced portion. If unproportional part appears, you know what you might want to add to your soil.

For example, if your soil is full of clay, you will want to add more light elements to allow the soil to breath better - allowing the roots to thrive and allowing good water drainage.
If your top layers - dissolved and undissolved organic materials are too thin or are even missing, go and find local compost provider to get some. And of course, start composting on your own.

Happy gardening!

More photos, videos and tests are about to come.

Get early access here - https://www.patreon.com/greenwayoflife

#soil #permaculture #growing #gardening