Organic Soil

For all the gardening buffs reading this, there's an awesome technique doing the rounds of the gardening arena. It is a technique that uses different types of organic matter in soil, to make it suitable for a healthy and steady growth of the plants that are planted in it. It is called organic gardening. It uses an organic soil mix that can be prepared easily even by you. Want to know how? Well, you'll just have to read the article below then.

What is Organic Soil

One of the most well-known facts about soil is that there are different types of soil which are favorable for different types of plants to grow. Another thing that is well-known is that there are many dangers facing the soil that we use to cultivate the various food grains, fruits and vegetables that we consume. For instance, soil erosion and excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides which leave the soil infertile and barren. Harsh chemicals wreak havoc on the soil rendering it useless for cultivation. People studying soil science and the different soil types have evidence of the same. So, to save the soil and in turn, the crops that need to be grown, an option available today is organic soil. But what is organic soil? Organic soil solution is basically a type of soil that uses only organic material in soil for plant cultivation. Organic matter means anything and everything that is devoid of any chemicals or synthetic material whatsoever. A purely 'earthly' mixture of substances that render their nutrients to the soil on decomposition.

Recipe for Organic Soil

In order to make organic soil, which is a much viable option for mulching, you'll need to make the necessary organic soil amendments to the soil that is already present in your garden. Since organic soil consists of only organic matter, you'll need to test the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the soil. If these levels are satisfactory (consult a gardening expert or refer a gardening manual for this), then no problem. Otherwise, you will have to find some material that will provide these nutrients to the soil. For the organic potting soil, you will need any or all of the following.

• Compost: The technique of composting involves gathering different types of organic waste and placing them in a pit dug into the ground. The matter is allowed to decompose and get mixed with the soil. This soil is then used in gardens to help the plants to grow well.
• Household Waste: Though a part of composting, household waste, from the kitchen, which includes fruit and vegetable waste, food, water, etc. are also effective in helping to prepare organic soil. The nutrients from the waste are broken down by micro-organisms, making the soil rich and suitable for excellent plant growth.
• Manure: Organic manure derived from the waste of other plants and even animals is also a key ingredient in the preparation of organic soil. As with the ones mentioned above, the nutrients in the waste are absorbed by the soil, and then get transferred to the plants that are planted in the soil, thus ensuring that they have a healthy and problem free growth and development.

When you have prepared the organic soil using any or all of the materials mentioned above, you need to be careful about how you layer the soil. First comes the soil that is already available in your garden. Then comes the layers of the organic soil that you have prepared. Do this in a ratio of 1:2 for best results.

It is always better to use organic soil in gardening for obvious reasons. It does not harm the environment like the chemical fertilizers plus works wonders for the plants as well!