It’s highly unlikely that all gardeners are lucky enough to have naturally balanced soil. This calls for man-made agents to balance conditions. We call them amendments.
Substances, or agents, added to soil to improve its overall quality are called soil amendments. They may come from natural sources or be synthesized artificially. They compensate for nutrient deficiencies and enhance features such as aeration, water retention, drainage, structure, and permeability. It is a general term that is used for a bunch of commercially available products for your soil.
Since each soil has a different composition, the amendments for each soil vary.
Here’s a comprehensive guide we’ve worked on with years of gardening experience and immense research to help you choose the best amendment for your garden.
How to Amend Soil?
To amend soil;
Step 1: Conduct a soil test to analyze its chemical composition and physical properties
Step 2: Garden soils are generally sandy, loamy, or clayey. Based on the type of soil in your garden, choose a compatible amendment.
Step 3: Some commonly used amendments are manure, compost, peat moss, bone meal, and minerals such as sulfur and lime.
Step 4: Next, you need to calculate the amount of amendment needed.
Step 5: Using the optimal method for the chosen amendment, add it to the soil.
Step 6: Thoroughly water the soil and monitor soil and plant health.
Keep crops in rotation for healthier soil and better yields.
Soil Amendments Vs. Fertilizer
| Soil Amendment | Fertilizer |
| Designed to improve the physical properties of soil. They may or may not provide nutrients directly to the plant | Designed specifically to provide a particular set of nutrients that plants can uptake. |
| Made up of organic materials and naturally found minerals | Can be organic or synthesized both |
| Usually used for long-term, gradual improvement of the soil | Used for short-term, quick impacts on plant growth |
| They can be used by mixing in with the soil or as a top dressing | Fertilizers are directly applied to the soil |
How do you Choose the Right Soil Amendment?
Before you begin amending the soil for your garden, there are a couple of factors that you must consider:
1. Soil Type and Texture
Sandy soils require amendments that allow them to enhance their water retention abilities. Clayey soils require a boost in their aeration, porosity, and permeability.
The techniques and materials to amend them will also differ when the requirements are different. These requirements specific to the type and texture of soil must be considered while choosing the amendment.
2. Nutrient Content: pH and Total Dissolved Salts
Soil naturally contains nutrients such as phosphorus, zinc, calcium, and sulfur, which are required for plant growth. They contribute to the soil’s overall pH.
Before you amend the soil, thoroughly study the composition of what you’re adding. You don’t want to miss out on nutrients and salts that the soil requires. Similarly, you don’t want to double the amount of certain substances that are already present in the soil.
This will delay plant growth and make conditions worse.
3. Longevity of the Amendments
If you’d like immediate improvements that last short term, you can go for amendments that decompose faster. In the case of soil amendments, the slower, the better. If you’ve got the time and practice patience, slow-release amendments such as bone meal are a great choice for long-term soil improvement.
4. Cost and Availability
If you think adding an amendment to your soil will allow you to sit back and relax for the rest of your life, you have a second thought coming your way. They, too, need maintenance.
Consider them as booster shots for your soil.
The need to repeatedly add amendments with time and as required is why you should also consider their cost and availability. They have to be available so you can buy them. To buy them, you have to be able to afford them!
5. Application Method
Does the soil need to be prepared? Or plants that need to be topped.
All amendments may not be suitable for application at all growth stages, so you must keep an eye on and research well before finalizing one.
6. Compatibility with Crops
Do all amendments work for all plants? Certainly not! Ensure your chosen amendment encourages growth rather than adversely affecting your plants’ health and yield.
If you’ve got multiple kinds of crops, you might want to consider using different amendments.
7. Regulatory Conditions
Finally, don’t forget to check the state laws for the amendment you’re using. After all, precaution is better than cure.
Conclusion
Choosing the right soil amendment can put a full stop to numerous plant issues. Of course, you want to provide the healthiest environment for your plants. This makes it important to be conscious about the type of amendment you choose for your soil.
Consider cost, availability, longevity, and composition, and compare it with your soil type and texture. Don’t forget to check the regulatory compliance for your chosen soil aid.
